Well, that's something. But based on that one example, maybe we don't need precise translations - like the prefectures for example. Just a general sysnopsis of what it is about. The things we need specifics with are insights into why they did what they did with non-musicians, info on their training/schedule, when they got together for practicing for the first and last concert, etc.

Not much to report. I did get the timings into a file for the First and Last Concert and sent them to the translator. But based on how long it took to finish the Making Of videos, I expect a LONG wait before I get anything more.

Found lots of errors in the "Making of" file I had when I finally went through the whole movie. Quite a number of random characters errors - all brought about my the fact that the original file (word Docx) uses a special kind of quotes and apostrophes. Every one I failed to correct to a plain text version would look fine in my file, but mess up when playing back on VLC. I think I finally go them all.

Anyway, any of you who have the files I sent who see display problems, that's the reason why.

dabigkahuna wrote:

Found lots of errors in the "Making of" file I had when I finally went through the whole movie. Quite a number of random characters errors - all brought about my the fact that the original file (word Docx) uses a special kind of quotes and apostrophes. Every one I failed to correct to a plain text version would look fine in my file, but mess up when playing back on VLC. I think I finally go them all. Anyway, any of you who have the files I sent who see display problems, that's the reason why.

Thanks for the heads up... Maybe I'll get a chance to check things out next week.

I'm also reevaluating some things they say.

We know from the early part of the video that none of the girls had played jazz. We also know it says some had never played instruments at all. Leaving the question as to whether some did play instruments but were they the same ones they played in the movie or something else.

A person playing, for example, piano who then has to learn any of the other band instruments is essentially starting from scratch other than being able to read music. But a person who played clarinet could switch to saxophone fairly easily, assuming they were reasonably proficient on clarinet.

Of course, if some already played the same instrument, there would be the question of how well. If they were in beginner band back in 4th, 5th or 6th grade but that was about it, they'd have an advantage, but still have a hard task getting up to this level and remembering something they only did years ago.

Anyway, further on in the movie wen they are talking about selecting the actors, the director says they first looked for people who could play instruments.

During this time they apparently selected some (don't know how many), but couldn't find the 5 lead characters. So they looked for the personality and left out the prior instrument playing experience and finally got the leads (and maybe more - doesn't say).

Other statements and observations seem clear that none of the leads played those instruments before - and from the sounds early on, I'd say probably no wind instrument at all.

But the other 12 players, I'm not sure about, though I'd say most certainly were not proficient players to start with. I'll have to look at the places they are playing and evalute more, but it can be hard to tell if a person is struggling because the instrument is new to them or just because they are just starting to learn a piece of music.

I asked my translator to double check two items. One was where Juri first tries the saxophone and says, "It's soft, it's soft."

Made no sense to me, but she says that is the proper translation. Only thing I can think of is if she was referring to the saxophone reed, but while reeds can be considered hard or soft (or in between), that isn't something a newbie would be aware of.

The other items was where Juri is doing her interview and says her father bought here a keyboard for $2, which she thought was too expensive. That certainly made no sense. Turns out that it wasn't the keyboard she was talking about, but rather that it cost $2 to download a piece of music.

i'd say that any previous musical experience could be beneficial.. sense of rhythm, mentality, approach, etc.. but the motor skills would have to be trained up from scratch if the prior instrument was completely different from the new one. similar to learning a new language?

po0t wrote:

i'd say that any previous musical experience could be beneficial.. sense of rhythm, mentality, approach, etc.. but the motor skills would have to be trained up from scratch if the prior instrument was completely different from the new one. similar to learning a new language?

All depends on the details. Any formal music training on any instrument would help in some ways - especially getting the rhythms and recognizing the notes. So, for example, when I get a piano player to join beginner band, they have an advantage. But they still have to develop the proper skills on how to blow the air, properly set and change lips for different notes, tongue and slur the notes, and, of course, develop all the coordination for the fingerings (or slide). If they play piano, they will probably have more skill in that area too, but it only carries over so far.

Now, if a person played any wind instrument, then they have some basic concepts for the air too. And tonguing/slurring are at least similar though not always exactly the same.

If a kid plays clarinet, switching to sax isn't very difficult. Moving from flute to sax isn't quite as close (because the flute doesn't use a reed). Moving from a woodwind to brass will have more differences (or vice-versa).

There would also be the question of how long they played a different instrument AND how long ago. Don't know what is normal in Japan, but here, kids generally start beginner band in 5th or 6th grade (sometimes 7th). Kids may only be in band for a year or all through high school. The kids in the movie were, I think, as young as 15 and as old as 21? Something like that. Few people continue on their band instruments past high school and those that do probably usually because they play in college bands.

All these situations are why I keep trying to gather any info I can on them. I doubt I'll get more - these things probably aren't talked about much in the concert video, which is the only big thing I have left to get translated.

In any case, we know NONE played jazz before - and that can take some adjustment. And apparently the lead actors didn't play their instruments before and, based on how poorly they sounded at first, I'd say they never played anything close to what they did in the movie!

I'm trying to remember if they said no one played the instrument they did in the movie before. Have to watch it again. Might have just said they didn't do jazz.

Good news - just got the First and Last Concert translation today. I was told that when the girls were speaking, it was sometimes too difficult to understand though.

I sent the file to a couple of you in emails, but I don't have everyone's email who has been posting here so, if you didn't get anything from me, send me a private message with how to send the raw file of the translation.

Not a lot of new info. There are references to "2 years" since they started. But since the concert was in December 2004 and as I recall they started around March or April of 2003, it should be less than two years. But a person I know who lived in Japan awhile once told be that if you measured time from, say, March 25th to May 2nd, in Japan they would often refer to it as three months rather than just over one. Maybe the same thing is done with years.

Also, at the end when the director talks about each of the girls, he refers to three who were chosen because of their "music background" - but nothing about what that background was. Likewise one trumpet player (I think the star) used to play clarinet (she says not very well). Anyway, other than reading music, they are hugely different instruments.

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/YkeXevrreO0/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/q0QWLbTM1PU/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/JGKC3d1VISA/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/O-kWC4q5e5Q/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/2LBdbzeugxc/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/C6qDQiq59eU/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/-M_ibBXq0_8/

came across a series of vids that seem to have more footage of band prep.. more than the DVD extras i think? strange that they weren't included.. or are they included in some special edition?

anyone know where to find higher quality?