Day 3: Bandfest and Pizza Night

Our view of the stadium from the press box

This morning our programme was amended slightly - we were to get up an hour earlier for a treat. A tour of the world-famous Rose Bowl stadium. It is hard to say just how privileged we were, as it is nearly impossible to get into the Rose Bowl, especially at this time of year surrounding the Rose Bowl game. Even for those not interested in the sport, it was amazing to see how important the game and stadium are culturally and what a complex feat staging it is.

We were shown the press box (with a great view of the pitch), a picture of the original stadium (which showed how more primitive building methods meant a less straight top of the stadium), the media interview/conference area and were told stories about the running of the game (such as how the first games had no artificial lighting either inside or out, so both watching the action and finding one's car afterwards was difficult!).

Ross Mercer posing for his picture

After this, we went outside for photos (individually and as a group) then proceeded to the float building area. Each Tournament of the Roses Parade uses hundreds of floats which are worked on throughout the year, and we saw the effort and techniques used to do so. In fact, four companies exist which create floats solely for this parade all year, and many others are involved.

Following this, we travelled to Bandfest. This is an event showcasing all of the bands involved in the Rose Parade to an audience of thousands. For lunch, we were catered for by In'n'Out. Most performers received one burger, but we were given two because this Christian company liked the Salvation Army. In the event, Craig Bates had a couple that people didn't want, and eventually devoured four.

Dr Cobb receiving the band drum

After a round of SYB singing heartily in the car park (including a rendition of the English national anthem), it was time to perform. It was a little nerve-wracking watching the excellent US university marching band before us, having only begun marching together the day before, but we took our place on the field and marching across it to the running track. We then played our pieces - Blessing and Honour, Dance Like David and Wonderful Day - to a great crowd. Afterwards, our bandmaster was presented with our first gift, a Rose Parade drum, giving rise to a tour catchphrase: 'Doctor Cobb!' (said, of course, in an American accent). We marched off to loud cheers, got changed, and travelled to San Diego.

However, we didn't go straight there - first we went out for our evening meal at John's Incredible Pizza Company. Here, we could have as much pizza as we like (Craig managed, honestly, at least ten slices of pizza on top of his earlier burgers), and then received credit to use the rides and games. I personally went straight on the large spinny one, and then the bumper cars, and wasn't even sick.

Worryingly, the credit given to us could be used on the penny pushers; the Salvation Army was paying for us to gamble! By using the arcade machines like this, one could collect tickets spewed out by them at the end and use them to buy prizes. I won over 1,000 and used them to buy a Lakers ball, a toddler's drinking cup, a crayon which was actually an eraser and a green plastic frog which was supposed to jump when you pushed its rear end. In all honesty I panicked after the Lakers ball as I didn't want to appear indecisive.

After this, we returned once more to the coach and headed to a new camp for the night (as it would have been ridiculous to drive the couple of hours to Mount Crags). Some of the accommodation was wonderful - some of it was not so good. More of this tomorrow.

Day 2: Hollywood and Marching Practice

Thankfully, after the huge travelling and rehearsing of yesterday, we were able to get a full 6 hours sleep. We were still tired though, so it was great to hear that there was another practice scheduled for early on in the day.

Singing in Chapel

This was not before Chapel, held in the main hall of the camp. This was a chance to gather with other young people who were going to be doing the Rose Parade with us in a few days: we were the visiting band, and those who were staying at the camp with us for the week came from corps all over the USA. For most of us, it was our first real chance to experience Army life in another culture, and even though we didn't at this stage properly engage with the other young people from America, it was still interesting to hear the different voices and conversations. After a period of prayer and singing, we heard a message about the importance of surrounding yourself with good friends - not just those who will 'support me whatever I choose to do' - but those who will question and challenge our decisions when they maybe aren't the best ones for us.

After this, we had a rehearsal. This was an unusual one in two respects: firstly, there was just one piece on the agenda, Stand Up, Stand Up, the new Rose Parade march as written by Paul Drury from Scotland and chosen by users of Saytunes. Secondly, we were rehearsing with our friends from the USA who we'd just begun to get to know in chapel. The purpose of the practice was to learn the march off by heart for the parade (in order to look good on TV, of course, by playing with no music). This culminated in a play-through at the end where everyone stood up to play without the notes in front of them but sat down when they made a mistake. Unsurprisingly, the tubas were all sat down by bar 7 and at the end only Ed Mylechreest was left on his feet out of the entire ensemble.

We perform in front of the famous sign

At 10.30am we got on the coach to travel to Hollywood. Steve Cobb had been telling us for months how unglamorous it was, but nevertheless that iconic Hollywood sign, the stars of the Walk of Fame and the hundreds of shops and people performing did not fail to impress. Admittedly some of the shops were a little tacky (cardboard cut-out of Charlie Chaplin, anyone?), but the afternoon outdoor concert in the Hollywood and Highland Center more than made up for it. One man was heard to comment at the end '6 tubas? That's divine...' - and he was clearly correct. Seriously though, there was a great atmosphere from those who listened to us, and we seemed to be well-received.

For some, eating out was a new challenge. Huge, high-in-fat, deep-fried portions of food arrived on our tables to looks of disbelief. As well as this, the vending machines looked vastly superior to British ones. It couldn't be easier to get something such as an iPod from one of these units.

Marching practice under the bright floodlights

More food was to follow after a long journey to Biola University, where a slightly lighter menu of pasta-based dishes was served to us. Then it was time for marching practice. This was largely fine (excepting the inevitable chafing) apart from the turns. For those on the right of the 9 or 10 strong lines, it was very easy - very small steps, of course - but for those on the left, it meant huge, fast lunging just to keep the lines straight. It felt ridiculous. Unfortunate, really, that turns were a problem, because we were doing laps of a soccer field and they happened to come up every 20 seconds.

Percussion was also very exciting. Unlike usually simple, straight-forward, British style marching rhythms, these ones had everything - exciting bongo fills were everywhere, and every 8 bars they seemed to have left a gap for members of the band to shout 'woo'.

Eventually, instruments were put to one side and a brilliant new piece of equipment was brought out - huge lengths of PVC piping! The idea was that each row had a length, and they were to hold this instead of instruments. Naturally, this was very funny.

Of course, it had been a long day. Again. We wanted to be refreshed for the next day's events. Steve Cobb decided to treat us - by holding another midnight practice. What a way to end the day. Thanks Dr Cobb.

Day 1: Arrival

Luggage waiting to go on the coach to Heathrow

Today was the day we had been waiting for for around two years. From Steve Cobb first suggesting the trip to California as a possibility, to Phil McMonegal posting on every member of the Southern Youth Band's Facebook page 'woo yeah, one day to go', excitement has grown about our tour of America as we found out new details about what the week would involve.

Having said that, it already feels as if we were last in England a week ago. After a lengthy check-in at Heathrow Airport (they had forgotten that we'd paid for excess baggage for our instruments already), there was an 11 hour plane journey to contend with. Thankfully though, with a large choice of films, regular free food and drink, and good company, it passed enjoyably enough.

At this point, I'd like to say that we drove to camp and got some much-needed sleep - but I can't. Firstly there was immigration to contend with at Los Angeles International Airport, seemingly run by Joe McCarthy's granddaughter, and a perilous drive to the Salvation Army's Camp Mount Crags involving steep mountain drops to the right of the suddenly vulnerable-looking coach.

We were glad to finally be in our rooms for the week. The beds are comfy and double-sized, there are coffee facilities, and en-suites so big that it takes almost an hour just to reach the toilet opposite the door. Certainly about 57 times better than dear old Milton Abbey School, home of SSCA.

Our first practice in America

It was now 7am back in the UK. We had been awake for around 22 hours, and our beds looked inviting. All we wanted to do was get in them and sleep.

Sadly Steve had other ideas. At 11pm local time, he decided it was the optimum moment for a full-blown rehearsal of our 50-piece brass band. Needless to say he was not the most popular man in LA that night as he played through seemingly our entire repertoire whilst accepting no excuses about fatigue.

Perhaps he did so because he wanted a peaceful night's sleep? That's certainly what he got (barring an incident early on where two people walked into his room instead of theirs) because everyone fell fast asleep as soon as their head touched the pillow, exhausted from an incredibly long day.