Marching Band Reflection

To be in a marching band, one has to almost become one with the band. The instrument played is not a single aspect, but a part of a much larger whole that must be comfortable and confident together. When I first joined the band, I was not one of the more comfortable and confident people that fit in with everyone else. Most all band members are loud and proud of who they are, compared to myself, who always hid behind others and hated being the center of attention. However, almost everyone has that moment when they realize that everybody else is just as self conscious, just as scared, and just as awkward as they are. People can tell themselves that they are not, that they do not really care what others think, but until one realizes that the same …show more content…
They all had different personalities, but worked together in such a way that all of the baritone players they had authority over respected them. When I became an upperclassman in the band and had other beginning learners start looking to me for support, I found that I could call upon the lessons I learned from their teaching and the way they interacted with us to find inspiration on how to become a leader that was respected the same way. Over time and through experiences of my own, I have found that I actually enjoy teaching others and seeing them grow as players and people from the lessons they learn from me and the other band leaders who have a responsibility to make the band what it is and achieve …show more content…
I do not like showing my weaknesses in front of others. If I cannot do something, then I will more often than not revert back into trying to disappear from gaining attention and let others take the lead. I dislike allowing myself to feel like I cannot be as good as others, but I become hesitant in practicing my weaknesses in front of others where they can see and know that I cannot do something correctly. Marching was one of the biggest things that held me back for a while. With playing, I could at least blend in with the others by playing softly and holding the baritone up correctly, but with marching, it incorporates the whole body and is entirely visual. I will admit, I am not graceful, I trip over my own feet more often than I should, and when you march, you have to know your body, and trust it. It cannot be your sole focus when marching and playing or you would never learn how to do everything right. Through perseverance and trying my hardest however, I have become one of the best marchers in the band. I find even out of band, I walk with more confidence and my posture has improved drastically. I have achieved more than I ever thought I would when I first picked up my baritone, and it has all been through personal