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.…
The event that I decided to go was BYU Baroque Ensemble, a production made by BYU students, taking place at Madsen Recital Hall Harris Fine Arts Center on November 3. The idea of making a baroque orchestra is where musician get together to make a perfect composition of music, the baroque orchestra is made up mostly of stringed instruments, when you listen you feel something different that makes you see it from another perspective, you just can’t stop listening and focus on every note that the musicians are playing. The type of instruments that were utilized in conjunction were the basso continuo, played by a viol, cello or bassoon. Other parts were added between the melody and the bass by a keyboard instrument, usually a harpsichord or organ and the development of tonal harmony, in which the melodic voices movement remains under the functional chord progression.…
“Can I get a Wolfpack?” someone yells across the field. “Wolfpack!” I yell back with 190 other schoolmates. We repeat this call and response two more times before letting out a fierce cry.…
Personal Narrative It took us about 3 hours to get to Shakopee, it was only 60 degrees, but with the thousands of people lined up, waiting to get in, it felt like 90. We stood in that line for two hours. For awhile, we talked, we met a variety of people, we laughed, we were excited. But once we got closer to the front of the line we all got quiet, this is it, we were in, we were all going to see our idols.…
Competition days are long and tiring, but always full of excitement. There is a process as to how the day will go depending on when we perform, where we have to travel, and many other aspects. Most of them start out the same way and go in a similar order every time, but there are always surprises that come along the way during these days. As the day starts on a competition Saturday, the Worthington Kilbourne Marching Band arrives normally in the late morning or early afternoon.…
My heart was pounding so quickly I thought it was going to fly out of my chest. I’ve been waiting almost a month for this and it’s finally happening. I was at The Who concert. My mom told me to pick something fun to do as a graduation present and as soon as I saw the concert online I knew this was the one.…
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.…
I worked like crazy in the garden, made albondigas soup and cooked a pot roast yesterday, which is a good thing for the upcoming weekend. My Costa Rican coffee is outstanding this morning and the weather is gorgeous with blue skies and temperatures in the low 60s and highs in the mid-80s, which is perfect for more gardening and some reading on the patio. Yep, already looking forward to the weekend! I'm so happy Marilyn asked me to do this in her absence because it has me contemplating the things I love most. Every day my friends post images of pets, wildlife, flowers, crafts, quotes and children and I recognize it's a joyful expression of themselves.…
Behind the curly hair, the spontaneous laugh, and the vivid imagination, something sparked a fire in my soul. Throughout my life I have felt so lost, like a pier soul trying to find something to attach itself to. I consequently tried to find my purpose in this world and find a passion that was worth embracing, but nonetheless I would fail. It was not until my freshman year of high school, when I finally got that indescribable feeling. I had found what to attach myself too, I had found myself within the music.…
Different moments of our lives change us and shape us into the man or woman whom one day we will become. One moment that changed me was when I got my first instrument. Getting my first instrument was exciting, yet challenging at the same time. When I told my mom that I wanted to start playing music, I didn’t realize how hard it can truly be. I didn’t think of how much patience and time I would need to put into my practicing.…
"Good better best, never let it rest, 'till your good is better and your better is best." These simple words were spoken to me by my high school band director Cheldon Williams on the first day of my high school experience. This, followed by my experience of marching band and my eventual learning of piano sparked a period of introspective thought, and mental growth, that transcended to where I am today. Never in my life did I think my hard work and dedication inspired by Mr. Williams words would land me at Interlochen Center for the Performing Arts Boarding School. These words became a core part of what I am, and from freshman year on would encourage me to never set a limit on my potential, and my overall worth.…
“I have homework in all of my classes and a three hour steel band practice? This has to be a joke!” I thought to myself, lumping my thoughts together while getting home from school. Lumping is when someone groups things together without discrimination, which in my case, normally involved a lot of school work. When I hear the word “lumping,” the week of the Steel Band’s radio show comes to mind immediately.…
Good evening and I hope everything is well. I felt that today's rehearsal was quite good and I definitely look forward to seeing the finished product. Unlike my day (Of joy and happiness being a part of CPYO), something very upsetting came to my attention. Today Emily was extremely negative.…
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.…