The first risk I ever took was the one that completely changed my life. My middle school band directors were discussing marching band. I asked when the meeting was, and so I went. I didn't know a single thing about marching band or what it even entailed. I joined on a whim because my friends were doing it, and I wanted something to do that summer.…
Today My wagon train and I are leaving Ft. Kearny in search of Courthouse Rock, but first we have reach the California crossing and cross the south platte river. The river is too wide to be bridged and to shallow for a ferry so we have to cross it by using the sandbars. When we got in the water one of the children from another wagon almost drowned because of the current. It took us 30 minutes to get from one end of the river to the other.…
On May 9, 2015, Garvey’s Advanced Band and Mustang Choir went to the Trills and Thrills Festival at Burbank Middle School. We had to be at school by 7:15 AM since it was our call time, and that was way too early for me since I usually sleep at 12 AM. I was in Advanced Band and I played the clarinet. Of course I was excited to play at the competition, but I was also nervous since we were going to Six Flags afterwards and I had a huge fear of heights.…
Adrenaline ran through my veins all day, and Disney references spilling out of my mouth like a broken record in a player. No one else accepted my elation, but I on the other hand, had a countdown down for this jaunt as soon as I heard of it in August. As I sat down on the dirty, sweaty gym floor like the rest of the band, I began to process everything that was happening. In 26 hours, 48 minutes, and 28 seconds, according to my countdown, the entire high school band would be in Orlando, Florida. In four days time, our provincial marching band would be featured marching in a parade in the Magic Kingdom of the happiest place on earth!…
In my small town of Centre, Alabama, I had no pride. I did not think our school had amazing programs or good representatives at events. All this changed when I joined the high school marching band. We practiced hard and worked without stopping. I soon realized that Cherokee County has pride in at least one program, their marching band.…
Throughout a difficult semester of challenges, the band hall served as my haven. It was my home, and I would never regret the time spent there. Whether it was just hanging out with friends, or doing homework, there was always something special in the band hall. Everyone was open, friendly, and helpful, and they always supported me when I was down, or when no one else would be there for me. I have made lifelong memories and friendships that have been created there.…
It is 2014, I am 14 and it’s 5:00 am on a Saturday morning, I am just waking up to go to NEIBA (Northeast Iowa Band Association). 9 other band members will be going too. We have all been selected to participate in the 8th grade honor band. This is not the first time that I have gone to one of these associations.…
As I looked around I came to the realization that these kids around me had the same love for music as me. A little sprout of hope started to form as I started to progress in my musicianship. I knew music would be a big aspect to my life because of my roots, but it was not until high school when I would finally find…
When I started high school, I knew that the only thing that I wanted to join was the school band. I knew that going into this I had to be a part of the marching band, but I did not quite understand what that entailed. The marching band was so much different that what I was used to coming out of middle school, but I have not regretted my choice to join once. When I began my junior year, I was made co-clarinet section leader with, someone who I considered my friend, Crystal, a senior at the time. This was my first time ever being in a sort of leadership position.…
Coming out of fifth grade, I didn’t know what music really was. It just seemed like a bunch of guys playing a plethora of notes in my opinion. But once I joined middle school band, that all changed. Sometime during sixth grade, I had the sudden epiphany that I need to pursue music for as long as possible, because it felt special. It still does.…
I sat in a crowded auditorium with nothing but my thoughts before I tried out for the Contra Costa County Honor Band. After about two hours I was led into the audition room drenched in sweat with my oboe in my trembling hand. I managed a pretty good audition, but after replaying the audition over and over in my head I doubted whether I would get in. A week later, my band director congratulated me on making principal oboe and handed me Maslanka's Symphony 7, with about 4 parts marked solo in bold letters.…
In sixth grade I joined the chamber orchestra at my school. We met friday mornings before school, and played harder literature than the regular orchestra. This undoubtedly helped me become a better violinist almost instantaneously; it was one of the first times I was surrounded by players that were miles ahead of me. I loved it but I noticed that as I got older, in seventh and then eighth grade, I was back on top and the music wasn’t nearly as challenging.…
Thank you so much!” I said bawling my eyes out. It was a dream come true! I counted down the days until the concert and each day felt like a month. All that was on my mind during school was All Time Low and Warped Tour.…
What is my story? I have yet to live my story I am a 16 year old girl. What story do I have to tell? There has not been one huge or main event happen in my life that has influenced or impacted me. As a 16 year old there have been several small but very important things that impacted me.…
It was 8 a.m. during summer break and I had just walking into the high school to start my first year of marching band. Millions of thoughts rushed through my head, “What if I forget the music? What if I mess the drill up?”As I walked to the field one of my friends introduced me to someone who would become the greatest mentor during my high school career. Alex Murphy was the lead saxophonist at Kingsway Regional High School.…