We are the kids who say "Ni!"

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

At my school (Yes, school. I’m 16! Do I get a Baby of the Boards Award? :slight_smile: ) we put on a musical production every two years, and have an overseas trip in the years in between for the concert band. The entire music department is run by one woman. She manages the concert band, the orchestra, the singing & music in the productions, the overseas trips, the concerts & competitions as well as general music classes.

I took part in the 2004 production of Fiddler on the Roof, singing in the chorus. Now this glorious teacher who I speak of had some interesting vocal warm-ups. I’m sure you singers out there would be able to identify with some of them but little schoolchildren such as ourselves do not always have a huge grasp on the concept of maturity.

We had massage circles. Bad idea. We did this grunting thing. She made us make grunting noises down low, like a “big bear,” then medium grunts like a mama bear and THEN came the “little baby grunts”… ick. We also did a humming thing, where we all just had to fill the hall with humming, like in A Mighty Wind. My very favourite voice exercise, however, was one with the intention of focusing our voices, getting them in the right resonance in our head and making the hall reverberate with a resounding “Ni!”. And no, this teacher would not be a Monty Python fan. I’m quite sure of that.

My brother was in the orchestra for Fiddler, and after the first time they heard our little “Ni!” thing he would not leave me alone about it. The next time he was all ready with a well timed “We are the Knights who say…” just before we did that. According to him, practically everyone in the orchestra got the reference.

We did Cabaret for this year’s production, and this time I flute-ed in the orchestra. To my delight, they did the same voice exercises as two years ago. It was very different from an observer’s perspective, somehow. I couldn’t resist following in my brother’s footsteps with the whole “Ni!” quote thing. When I did, I was taken aback by the sea of puzzled looks from the people in the orchestra. Only one or two of them got the reference that time round! It was like… it was like they hadn’t even seen the movie or something!! I couldn’t believe it. :eek:

Sigh. I really needed to get that off my chest. You understand, don’t you?

I hope “Ekky-ekky-ekky-ekky-z’Bang, zoom-Boing, z’nourrrwringmm” eventually becomes part of the routine. It would be great for anunciation.

2

So, bring us a shrubbery or…you will never pass through this thread…alive.

One that looks nice.

And not too expensive.

Now… GO!

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Hi, bundykala, welcome to the SDMB! [adds another KiwiDoper to The List.]

I have no idea why this year’s orchestra wouldn’t get the MP reference – I mean they’re the orchestra fer cryin’ out loud, it’s not like their busy social lives are preventing them from watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail… :stuck_out_tongue:

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Bah! It should be compulsory viewing for everyone!n If anyone fails to do so, set the white rabbit on them.

Welcome, bundykala. :slight_smile:

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Or turn them all into newts.

6

my name = most obsure monty python reference. i win. :smiley:

7

I thought it was the Chicken of Bristol.

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Oh, and for years, in the earliest time of the public Internet, I used Mr. Neutron for a screen name. I loved the Mr. Neutron sketch, though nobody else seemed to. I admit it does drag in spots, but still–the character was hilarious.

9

I won’t interupt this thread for a pound.

Ok 3 bob.

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There’s a penguin on the thread

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yes. i changed it due to an unfortunate incident involving, you guessed it, a chicken. in exeter. in a river. i don’t want to talk about it.