Teen's love of Foghat's 'Slow Ride' inspires quest

[Fenris]

By Chris Moran
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

March 19, 2005

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Daniel Dorman's tale begins with a ring and ends with an overpowering anthem. He used Gandhi-inspired tactics to confirm the power of one person to change the world – or at least high school lunch period.

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The ring is, by Daniel's reckoning, an "E-sharp" bell that dismisses fifth period and calls Bonita Vista High School students to lunch. It annoys Daniel, and once he decided it needed to be replaced, there was only one worthy substitute: "Slow Ride," the classic rock staple by 70s rockers Foghat.

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"Gandhi beat the British Empire by not eating," Daniel said, so getting his school to broadcast "Slow Ride" was surely attainable. Also, the 17-year-old said, "I have a lot of free time."

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Daniel previously distinguished himself at Bonita Vista High by having an apprentice – a student who followed him everywhere, addressed him as "The Daniel," performed menial tasks for him and dressed like him. That meant wearing a derby hat and carrying a pocket watch.

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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20050319-9999-6m19foghat.html#

[RandomKoolzip]

1. "E-sharp" does not exist on the western scale.

There is no sharp/flat between E and F.

[Don Claybrook]

2. E# is played as F n/t

[RandomKoolzip]

3. Then why call it an "E-sharp?"

An F is an F is an F. And this writer deserves one for not correcting the kid.

[ClassWarrior]

6. (psssssttt... I think it's part of the gag...)

NGU.

[RandomKoolzip]

7. It still rankles.

IF you're gonna write satire, at least be SOMEWHAT accurate. This is why the guys at the Onion excel.

[Don Claybrook]

9. Enharmonic spelling

That's what they tell me, anyway.

In each key, there must be one note from each "letter". So in a key with E#, there's already an F, so you have to use the E# even though you're playing an F.

I'm not a music expert by any stretch of the imagination, but this is what my music theory textbook tells me.

[Zuni]

11. that is true

in sheet music, you often have double sharps, double flats
it is arcane and weird, but you are correct. E sharp does exist in the mind of the bastard who created sheet music rules.

[AllegroRondo]

18. you got it

its used in a couple really sharp keys, because you can't have more than one note with the same letter.

For example: C sharp major (7 sharps).

You already have an F sharp in the key, so you can't have an F. You have to call it E sharp.

[TrogL]

16. There is such a thing as e-sharp

It is a semitone above E. You can only play it on non-fretted string instruments, synthesizers with modifiable scales or by singing it.

[Blue-Jay]

17. Yes there is. See below.

True, most people who specialize in an instrument that is concert-pitched (in C) haven't seen many E Sharps, but that does not negate their existance. It's all a matter of key signature.

[NVMojo]

4. Howard Dean needs to give this kid a job, FAST!!!

[Reverend_Smitty]

5. Damn now I'm gonna have Slow Ride stuck in my head all day!

neat story though. I wish I could have had apprentices in high school

[Bossy Monkey]

8. OH MY GOD, THEY'VE CLONED CARROTTOP!

Or...
Oh my God, Carrottop and Kid Rock had a baby!!!

[Zuni]

10. There is no E Sharp

The note is properly called F natural.

[Blue-Jay]

13. Actually, I've played pieces with E Sharps in them.

When you're playing in a key signature with lots of sharps, the arranger will routinely use an E Sharp or a B Sharp to make flow of the notation easier to read. Just as they'll use double sharps or flats. It's a notation thing; composers use them all the time.

[Zuni]

20. I know music theory

and on sheet music, an E# exists, just like an A double flat depending on the key of the piece

On a piano, though, the note is an F natural.
I have never found it easier to make up notes, like an A## or a C##. I have always found it easier just to put the note in it's right place

[LynzM]

12. Wow.

Just, wow.

[trogdor]

14. "I have a lot of free time." - yeah, right.

Methinks this kid is taking too many "cake" classes and doesn't get enough homework.

[Magrittes Pipe]

15. I never believed in "heroes."

Until now.

[Schema Thing]

19. Ironically, "Slow Ride" is the anthem I played repeatedly

on the jukebox at the bowling alley I spent many "B" period lunches, skipping whatever blowoff class I was assigned at that time.