No one else in the entirety of the marching band was anticipating our five day journey with as much enthusiasm
No one else in the entirety of the marching band was anticipating our five day journey with as much enthusiasm
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.…
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.…
As part of an old high school tradition, hundreds of students crowded into a dimly lit cafeteria and danced until the air hung heavy and sweat glistened off every square inch of exposed skin. The schools that began the tradition of the modern homecoming dance most likely did not expect it to evolve into what it is today; at some point, we, as students, lost the true purpose of the event and instead became preoccupied with image. Even though I would have liked to think that those things did not matter, I still found myself altering my appearance that Saturday night to try and show off the best version of myself. I was not alone; other females joined me amidst a pile of cosmetic products and styling tools, and we had the pictures to showcase…
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.…
Being in percussion, during football/marching season, you’re either in Drumline or Pit. Drumline is the section of percussion that marches while Pit is the section that does not. I, as an eighth grader, tried out for Drumline, and was already planning the year ahead expecting fantastic memories. However, I was not fully aware of my skills, or lack of. I was not granted a spot on Drumline and was placed in Pit.…
"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.…
On September 30th the marching band got to go around to different schools and perform their show that they have been working on since the beginning of the school year. First they went too Farley Elementary to start off the tour, then they went to the Aldersgate Village Retirement to perform in front of the community. Lastly they went to Auburn Elementary for their ending performance place. When they performed their music they got the kids to interact in between every new set , like doing the “Hey” song while doing the actions that the drum majors showed them to do. Even a few band kids got to go and stand with their section and got to listen up closely.…
One of my most significant challenges I had to face was actually from this year when I decided to join my high school’s marching band. Although most high school students join the band their freshman year, with many coming from musically experienced backgrounds, I on the other hand joined in the last year of high school, with no band experience coming in. My first weeks in band was stressful, as my peers had to teach me all the intricacies of band, from marching technique, how to play my instrument, and memorizing my music as well as field positions. Joining the tuba section of the band only added to my piling stress, as tubas are not only the heaviest instrument in the band and therefore one of the hardest to march in, tubas serve as the backbone…
On Friday, September 30th, the 7th through 12th grade students neared 200 as they marched the homecoming parade, representing the future of the bands. After the parade, the marching band performed movement one of Rock, Paper, Scissors, then welcomed the 7th and 8th graders onto the field where they performed Bad Romance. Overall, the Harrisburg Marching Tigers went into their third competitive season strong, and came out more experienced, prepared, and energized for their next…
Not a single quality rendered me unique or worth remembering and the world enjoyed reminding of that. Ridicule besieged my dark, bushy hair and tall, lanky body. My horn-rimmed glasses eternally needed cleaning from a constant cycle of misplacement.…
While yes that is true I was excited and hyping up Camp i also kind of hyped up the Chicago trip in a way because of a comment i said on Friday after school and that was “we got to play some really cool Sousa (John Philips Sousa) marches in band…
During high school I participated in many different extracurricular activities. Being involved in the marching band was one of the most rewarding experiences I had in high school. I wasn't a part of the band, but the color guard. When I first started color guard, I asked myself why I would dedicate the last two weeks of summer to twirling a flag. By the end of the first week of band camp I realized this is what I wanted to do in high school.…
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.…
To accept a challenge is daunting, whereas to seek out a challenge is rewarding. This realization came to me during my middle school band experience and has followed me to this day. No longer do I wonder why the avid runner enters a marathon or why the science whiz takes incredibly difficult chemistry courses. Although these tasks seem mountainous to others, those who enjoy these activities run toward the challenge with open arms. My challenge came to me in the form of a clarinet, some sheet music, and the glory that was being first chair, a position of distinction among the other clarinetists in the band that was designated to the most skilled player.…
As I leave Mandarin after the bell has rang, I walk towards the center of the quad where the stage is on the left side. Me and my big group always hang out there, we don't remember why but I do know that we have a great place to eat, talk, and hangout . As I sit down, my best friend Diego comes up to me and asks " Hey Ian are you going to the homecoming dance this Saturday?"…