"A mellophone is just a straightened out French horn," that's what Mr. Schaeffer says. He's been leading the band at Grandview High School for 28 years now and one thing he knows for sure, "You can't have a marching band worth a good God damn without a decent mellophone player. Kendall, will you play mellophone for me?"

Most everyone else in the band gets to play their normal instruments but when your normal instrument is 3rd trumpet you don't have a lot of options. The "3rd string" gets to play the "special" instruments which include mellophone, baritone and sousaphone for horn players, and the prestigious cymbal carriers for drummers.

So I'm starting my senior year as one of two mellophone players - me and Steve Henderson, one of the worst trumpet players ever. About 5 years ago, he jammed the mouthpiece so bad it couldn't be pulled out by a machine. He carries his horn in a paper bag and never clears the spit valve. On the bright side, the theme from "Titanic" will be our toughest piece, so I think we'll be okay.

I have to learn a new key signature. The mellophone is in F Major (like the French horn), the trumpet is in Bb. Same fingering, just the notes are different on the staff. But this shouldn't be too tough since our hardest piece will be the theme from "Titanic."

I think I may finally get a car. My brother, Alan, got a better job and wants to get a truck. That means I may get to drive the LeBaron. I need a car. It's embarrassing to always get picked up or dropped off by your mom.

Summer was uneventful. I practiced a lot with my rock band - TYRANNY! We had a couple of gigs. Brian Frischer's (lead guitars/vocals) little brother, Phillip, had his bar mitzvah so we got to play the reception. "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Jeremy" were not really well received by Brian's relatives. I guess it was a little loud inside the Temple. But our matching Tyranny T-shirts that Brian's mom made for us looked cool.

That's about it for tonight, steno pad, I'm going to bed.