Upon learning the position of Drum Major has an opening, I did not immediately consider pursuing it. Simply being able to play my instrument in band was enjoyment enough, or so I thought. Pondering the idea more thoroughly, I came upon the realization of all that I could accomplish musically holding the position of Drum Major. I realize that this opportunity has many potential benefits in regards to my future. Being Drum Major would allow me the opportunity to hold a broader leadership position in the band than my currently held position as section leader. Earlier on I had mentioned that I did not immediately consider myself for this position. One of the items that changed this is learning that the Drum Major is able to march with the band this coming year. I feel that by doing so, I would be viewed as a part of the band, and not just the kid on the podium. This is a very …show more content…
important aspect for me as I thoroughly enjoy playing in the band, and being a part of the “Marching Band Family”. For these reasons, I am officially applying to run for Drum Major. For starters, having the responsibility of being Drum Major would help further my music studies.
By being responsible for the processing, understanding, and relaying many different key and time signatures simultaneously throughout the ensemble will increase my understanding of many core fundamentals of music, specifically in the area of music theory. Additionally, I would be provided the opportunity to be familiar with all parts, whilst knowing who is responsible for specific tasks within marching band. Learning and growing in my comprehension of these areas would assist me with planned career path of a Music Teacher. Holding the position of Drum Major would also provide deeper understanding as to what a Music Teacher’s responsibilities entail. Reading the various pieces for all the instruments and parts, while conducting the right time signatures at the right moments, and making sure everyone is following their drill sheets are just some of these responsibilities. The skills I will learn as Drum Major (if given the position) will provide me with an advantage when I lead an ensemble of my
own. Drum Major as a listed experience on both college and job applications would provide a distinct advantage in my future career path. Specifically, this communicates that I’m trustworthy, and possess leadership skills, such as when I successfully led a fundraiser for my quartet, and raised $520. It additionally shows that I have a true dedication to music. This position would further advance and refine my leadership abilities that I currently possess that have been learned from being a section leader, leading a saxophone quartet, being active as a Boy Scout, and holding the position of librarian for the Flint Youth Wind Ensemble. The addition of Drum Major to my list of accomplishments and responsibilities will greatly impact my future in a positive way. I feel, as Drum Major, I will be able to lead the members of the band while balancing my approach as to not be seen as an overbearing ruler, nor as a lax leader, but as an active member of the band who’s truly vested in the success of the group as a whole. I feel that this is the Drum Major’s unwritten responsibility to the band. Sometimes, this will require the need to be a leader, and not a friend. However, It is also important for the Drum Major to have a positive relationship with the members of the band, which I do possess. The Drum Major should still hold a firm position, while emphasizing positivity and encouraging thoughts. A leader like that is most effective in a group setting, and I will be that kind of leader. In addition to those items above, I feel that I have been an integral part of this band for the past two years, and have felt that I have helped make important decisions with Mr. Orkisz while doing everything he has asked of me to the best of my ability. Other items that I feel have helped prepare me for the responsibility of Drum Major, while providing me with the necessary skills to be effective are the following: Played at every district and state solo and ensemble since seventh grade. Coordinating outside groups to play for the band concerts, such as The Rose Quartet Founder of The Rose Quartet Founding member of the Goodrich Honors band Member of the FYWE - 4 years Held leadership positions in FYWE (current Librarian) Skilled at playing all four mainstream saxophones Private lessons at the FIM - 5 years Member of Central Church of the Nazarene’s orchestra - 4 years Played with the FYPO Played in the District Honors band Attended numerous music clinics Member of the National Honors Society Goodrich Alto Sax section leader - 2 years Active member of Boy Scout Troop 340 To conclude, I feel that I could bring my own unique outlook into the position of Drum Major to help further the success of the Goodrich Marching Band as a whole. I feel that my enthusiasm for band and music itself could greatly improve the morale for the band. Band has basically been my life since 6th grade, when I really started understanding all I could do with it. Since then, my love and dedication to music has only grown, and will continue until the day I die. I’ve always wanted to be more of a leader than a follower. Being Drum Major would allow me to prove myself as a leader as well as give me valuable insight into what it is truly like to be a band director. Band should be a positive environment, and people should enjoy being a part of it. Thank you for your consideration.
Sweat dripping down my face and butterflies fluttering around my stomach as if it was the Garden of Eden, I took in a deep breathe and asked myself: "Why am I so nervous? After all, it is just the most exciting day of my life." When the judges announced for the Parsippany Hills High School Marching Band to commence its show, my mind blanked out and I was on the verge of losing sanity. Giant's Stadium engulfed me, and as I pointed my instrument up to the judges' stand, I gathered my thoughts and placed my mouth into the ice-cold mouthpiece of the contrabass. "Ready or not," I beamed, "here comes the best show you will ever behold." There is no word to describe the feeling I obtain through music. However, there is no word to describe the pain I suffer through in order to be the best in the band either. When I switched my instrument to tuba from flute in seventh grade, little did I know the difference it would make in the four years of high school I was soon to experience. I joined marching band in ninth grade as my ongoing love for music waxed. When my instructor placed the 30 lb. sousaphone on my shoulder on the first day, I lost my balance and would have fallen had my friends not made the effort to catch me. During practices, I always attempted to ease the discomfort as the sousaphone cut through my collar bone, but eventually my shoulder started to agonize and bleed under the pressure. My endurance and my effort to play the best show without complaining about the weight paid off when I received the award for "Rookie of the Year." For the next three seasons of band practice, the ache and toil continued. Whenever the band had practice, followed by a football game and then a competition, my brain would blur from fatigue and my body would scream in agony. Nevertheless, I pointed my toes high in the air as I marched on, passionate about the activity. As a result, my band instructor saw my drive toward music and I was named Quartermaster for my junior year, being trusted with organizing, distributing, and collecting uniforms for all seventy-five members of the band. The responsibility was tremendous. It took a bulk of my time, but the sentiment of knowing that I was an important part of band made it all worthwhile.
Band teaches life skills. Where independent thinking is the model in most academic classrooms, teamwork is essential in band. Band students learn to work with and for each other. The three R’s in band include Respect, Responsibility, & Reliability. Our students learn to appreciate one another for their individual talents and their contributions to the organization as a whole. They learn positive social skills –the most important factor in our program –where we teach such qualities as confidence, pride, and self esteem; all values that will serve these young people well throughout the course of their life. Citizenship, team motivational skills/leadership skills, time management, organization skills, dependability, and honesty are instilled into band members. Band teaches students to face challenges and strive to reach higher and higher goals.
The low reed section to me is not just my section, it is my family, and I would love to have the honor of calling myself mom. However, Lauren will always be the original mom and my biggest role model in band. She was the first one to give me hug whenever I was upset, she made sure I didn't get sunburned during band camp, and was overall the most loving, caring section leader I most likely will ever have. As section leader, I would like to devote all my time, love, and leadership to my section and show what an amazing marching experience truly is. Throughout this essay, I will evaluate what Lauren did well, what she could have done better, what I would do differently, and why I am the person for the job.
...a life lesson. The military style of drum line is what has helped me improve in my schoolwork, my family life, and my friendships; I was trained to never give up even if success seems impossible.
I'd like to make sure that freshman weren't scared about Drumline. To help them know they had someone who could help them with music. I would try my best to build the Drumline up as a whole and to make sure that I was only saying positive things to build others up. I would love to try to avoid that because the Drumline to me is a family. We all may fight but deep down we all love each other, care for each other and don't want to see anyone brought down. I would try to do create activities during band camp to make it much more fun. I also think a leader should have the basic knowledge of all the instruments in the Drumline and Pit so that he or she would be able to help anyone that's struggling with whatever it may be. Also, a leader should be very devoted to whatever he or she is a part of. He or she should really practice a lot for Drumline and make it a habit of focusing mostly on Drumline. I've seen how I have grown in the last few years from just practicing and sitting down and going through stick control and even just
My older sister loved the marching band, so I always got dragged to their performances. I could not tell what was so appealing about it all; it consisted of walking on a field while playing instruments and flags being swung in the air. Participating in a marching band was never what I intended nor wanted to do. The idea bored me, but my mom insisted.
Looking around and seeing bright lights and feeling all eyes on you. Hearing both sides of the stadium cheer and shout for their teams and getting nervous during the last few seconds of the second quarter and at the same time being very proud of what the band has accomplished in the brief amount of time it took to learn the pretty intense and complex drill. Then suddenly you get the adrenaline rush that pushes you to perform. Many people would agree that being a drum major is one of the most eminent positions that is held by students who are Being the Drum Major of any band shows that you have the respect and trust of the members of the band and it’s directors. It also shows that you are passionate about what you do, responsible and that
One of the biggest decisions of my high school career came my sophomore year when I decided to try out for the role of drum major in my high school band. This decision was very tough to make due to the fact that I was a sophomore, and although I already had three years of experience under my belt as a band member at Northview High School, I knew that it would be very tough to earn the respect of my peers if I succeeded in becoming drum major. Out of the three years I had spent in the band, the biggest influence on my decision to try out came from my very first marching season, between August and December of 2012. From that year forward, after seeing many areas that the band could improve, watching how underclassmen and middle school band members
When someone asks me what marching band means to me, it’s very difficult to come up with a simple answer that everyone can understand. Marching band means belonging to something bigger and more worthwhile than just a “team”; It means having a stake in something that is a treasured part of both our school and our community. Even if it means going to bed feeling every muscle in my body ache and knowing I may wake up feeling worse, I always look forward to doing it all again the next day (and the next year). Marching band is a challenge that pushes the limits of my physical and emotional endurance in such a way that I can’t wait to come back for more because I know I will be a better person for it.
Where I learned how to become a leader through the leadership ensemble within the marching band. Where in my senior and fourth year of marching competitively, I became the Drum Major, and earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic Competition. From marching band I progressed into jazz music, where I became the lead alto saxophonist in the top jazz band at my school during my junior and senior year. I was also one of three saxophonists in the top band at my school. I picked up the clarinet, the flute, and the soprano saxophone on my way through high school, and have played all three as well in my performing ensembles. I played in the pit orchestra of the theater production of “All Shook Up”, and was the principal saxophonist at my high school. Too be short, I am very involved in all things music in the past and currently. Band and music have been a place for me to rely on, something that brings me joy when sad. Allows me to express myself through sounds and through instruments. It is truly a talent and a hobby that I hope to continue through college and through life because of the joy it brought me and creative outlet it was throughout my
And why did Dr. King referred to himself as a drum major for different causes. A drum major is the leader of the marching band during rehearsals and in performance. His/her job is to carry-out the instructions of the band director and other instructional staff regarding what needs to be done with the band. Rick Wilson (2008) Dr. King wanted to be remembered as a Drum Major for Justice. He implored his congregation to remember his attempts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort prisoners. ‘‘Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice,’’ King intoned. ‘‘Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter’’ (King, ‘‘The Drum Major,’’ 185–186). The death threats that he received daily did not stop Dr. King from preaching his message of service to others and
As a freshman in high school and band, I was nervous, and very unconfident. But band changed it all for me. I found that helping people out was much more rewarding than just being a good player or marcher. Leadership is the best skill I've learned from band, and it will
The best leadership accomplishment that demonstrates my potential to make significant contributions to the campus community and broader society is cheerleading. Cheerleading has made a huge impact on my life and has created many opportunities for me. It has paved the way for my high school career. Cheerleading provided me with opportunities to lead, volunteer, perform and show the athletic ability of our squad.
Many like me are familiar with the simple name bass but the double bass is my favorite instrument in the orchestra. The double basses are usually located over on the right side of the stage in an orchestra. There are often six to eight double basses of the orchestra that are playing. This instrument is acknowledged as the “grandfather” of the string family. The double bass is used in many genres such as traditional jazz, swing, traditional country music, and bluegrass music. It is used in one of my personal favorite genre of music which is rhythm and blues. The qualities and features of this instrument that captivated my interest is that for one, this instrument is not hard to miss as it stands over six feet long. They are also very large
Besides academics, fine arts and sports in school, I have attained leading roles in different groups. This year, I am the Spirit Leader of Student Council encouraging monthly goals and themes and assisting in school events. From creating a student council with a group of peers three years ago we have had success in many events and have found new ways to spread spirit, gather important information and assist with financial groups. Recently, I stepped up to be the leader of the fundraising committee for our ...