What does band mean to me? Band, specially marching band, looks as if it is a completely complex thing to be a part of. As a child I always desired to be in band, watching my sister march in band before I even was in junior high, and my brothers march at their football games some years later. I continually wanted to be like them and take part in the same thing because every time I went to watch my brother at his games I always had a blast listening to their band play and witnessing all of the excitement. Then it was eventually my turn to be in a marching band, and of course I needed to be in percussion because my brother was in percussion and seemed like he was having the most fun. I remember going through beginner band and mastering snare and bass drum basics and rhythms, then I learned how to read music and notes properly and became a decently quick learner. …show more content…
Then it came to 7th and 8th grade when I discovered how much I loved to play marimba and the way it truly became what I wanted to do. Eighth grade was my first year ever of marching band, although I was just a band manager and couldn’t play because I wasn't in high school yet, I still got to go to all of the games and competitions and experience what marching band might be like when I would finally be in it. Next thing I knew, I was in marching band, freshman year, I played for the Terminal Velocity show of 2020 on the xylophone. For my first year it was pretty stressful, fast forward 4 years later and it is still stressful. After all of those years of doing marching band, it really makes you wish you could go back and never leave. I’ve learned so much from band, like how to be a team, how to be patient, social, and to not give up hope even when it seems like it may be hard and
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 is family. When your student walks onto campus, he or she is instantly adopted into the strongest society on campus. They will be spending their school days among the top achievers on campus, with fellow students who look out for one another and steer each other away from trouble instead of towards it. Teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers watch over all the kids as if they were their own.
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.
A community is a group of people who share something in common whether it be location, interest or a common goal. Communities are what bring people together and that is exactly what happens in marching band. Marching band is a way for people to find their place and make friends. It is very important not only for growth in music, but also for growth in character and friendship. There is only one requirement for marching band and that is to be able to play an instrument and be willing to practice hard. The people who join marching band do not need to have similar like and dislikes, majors, or even anything remotely in common.
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.
Band is an elective given in elementary schools through college schools around the world. Many schools come together and compete with one another. School bands also perform at football games, basketball games, and in parades. Most school marching bands are accompanied by a color guard, a group of performers, who add a visual interpretation to the music by using props, flags and rifles. A school marching band apparel includes a military type of style, the school's colors, along with the school's name and mascot. It is important to have band as an elective in schools because it helps kids display their emotions and maybe for some it is a hobby. Band directors have said that having band helps young emotional development, helps contribute to a more intellectual culture, builds teamwork and self confidence. It is hard to imagine being in this amazing class and coming upon these out of the box stereotypes and misconceptions of being a nerd, lazy or unathletic. These stereotypes and misconception mainly come from basically movies, shows and books things that are being aired. For example, a kid show, spongebob, kids from ages three to twelve are watching these shows maybe even teens and adults. A spongebob episode fifteen, season two is titled “band geeks”, putting this low degrading name on the group of kids performing at football games with instruments
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
They argue that there is not much to marching band. In truth, there is a lot to marching band. A person must be able to play the song on their instrument. Some instruments are even heavy. Then that person must learn the drill. After that they have to put the drill and music together. Some bands even memorize their music. These bands will do this at least three times. They will also practice basic marching. If a person works hard, they could even get a scholarship for college. In most schools a student can get a gym credit for marching band like other sports. Unlike other sports there is not a bench. Everyone plays the whole time. Finally, there is no quarters or innings. A band gets one shot to be the best. That is why marching band is a
It gave me memories, opportunities, my best friends, and the best group of seventy or more people I could have ever hoped for. Without band I would not have gone on to any of the leadership positions I acquired, would not have met my best friends from my hometown or at college, and I would not have accomplished nearly as much as I have. It gave me confidence, respect, and discipline, qualities I am very grateful to have. Above all else, it gave me music. The ability to play an instrument is something I will never lose, and a talent which allows me to express my emotions and thoughts in a less forthright manner. I firmly believe that the marching band is the soundtrack to every student’s high school career, whether they are in band or not. Because with every football game, pep rally, and national anthem they hear, a family of band nerds sat in a room for hours each week perfecting it. No high school experience is complete without the band marching on at half time, or crowds of people cheering along to the fight song or alma mater. Marching band is the kind of activity that changes you in ways you do not realize until much later when you look back on the experience. Even if you were not involved in the band- it still affects you somehow. Because it is more than music and awkward
I am not from a very musical family, so band opened up a completely different world to me. Participating in band allowed me to be more well rounded in my school activities and created a better sense of culture with in me. Playing saxophone in our high school band was an extremely enjoyable experience, I personally enjoyed listening to my part and corresponding parts. Listening to the tones of each individual instrument, as a perfect harmonic sound protruded. It was relaxing as it was a break from my rigorous course load. Band gave me the opportunity to be creative, which was generally absent in my daily life. Having the opportunity to play a musical instrument has also enhanced my intellectual abilities. Studies have shown that playing
been in band for three years in middle school, high school band was a whole new world full of
Personal Narrative- Marching Band Competition This season was only the second year that I had been in marching band, even though we did do parades in middle school. The year before, I was selected to be drum major of the upcoming marching season. I was excited to meet the challenge of getting back to the state championships. It was also nerve-racking because I felt if we didn't make it to state, it would be my fault.
The definition of the word community is not only the “coming together of individuals.” It is when individuals, all of whom have a related interest come together to form one mass, one body of people, all ready to experience and share collected emotions, energies, and attitudes. This type of communal experience is often expressed amongst crowds attending concerts, whether it be a grunge rock show or a fancier classical performance. Although there is no head banging during a symphony, both performances have the same two communities: the band and the audience.
This family lets people be who they want to be whether it’s playing an instrument or tossing a flag. Band is where you treat every performance as if it were being profiled and adjudicated, it’s giving it your all and striving to be the best no matter what you’re doing, you have to want to be the best in order to be the
From my experience of playing with an orchestra and also a band, I have boosted my team skills, perseverance, responsibility, interaction, and stage fright, all of which are important aspects of being successful in life. While being a part of a band or orchestra, it 's essential that you learn to cooperate with those around you in order to make beautiful music together. The time and effort that it takes in order to learn how to play an instrument teach the qualities of patience and perseverance that almost every musician possesses. Responsibility is also taught while maintaining your instrument in working condition or such as remembering to get to your performance, rehearsals, and making it on time to practice. Being a part of this musical community can also greatly affect anyone 's social skills. Being surrounded by many other musicians who share the same interests as you, makes it easy for a person to open up and create strong