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.…
I believe myself to be outspoken enough to command band members to dress to one another, yet not too intimidating as to drain the fun out of the process. Since freshman year, I have improved upon my dressing to forms and getting to the right dot at the right time and having participated in theater has augmented my appreciation for correct spacing and saying true to the drill written in our drill books. I would love to see both underclassmen and upperclassmen improve upon their marching skills and ability to make forms and I would be honored to help them do so. As a brass captain, I feel as though I would benefit the band because I am enthusiastic and would encourage the brass put forth 100% effort toward every warm-up and play-through of the music. I would be sure to emphasize nuances of the music in rehearsal, such as dynamic changes and accent marks because I believe that a musical performance--no matter the ensemble--is not truly successful without genuine expression.…
To add on to the name "Joe Cool", I have been selected to be a baritone section leader and brass captain for the Harlingen H.S. marching band, making each individual marcher sound and look as sharp as the leaders, lead trombone for the Harlingen High School Jazz Ensemble, giving the jazz ensemble my color of sound, lead euphonium in the Harlingen H.S. Honor's Band, performing solos a sonorous sound, and elected to be the Harlingen Band…
Being a drum major has helped me become a strong leader for the band and myself. As drum major I am the leader of the band, I direct them at parades, football field shows, and pep bands. I make sure everything is in order and help organize all our events with our director. Because I am drum major I have been able to help our band achieve the best they can and show it to our community by performing for them at their events throughout the year. With being section leader, I am able to help my clarinet section succeed, learn, and have fun by answering any questions and helping them with anything that is needed.…
Playing the trombone is one of my greatest skills that I developed over time in my life. I may seem effortless when I play the trombone, but it took me several challenges to get to where I am. When I was in sixth grade, a middle school band inspired me to join band in middle school. With my family being a “fresh off the boat” immigrant, however, I was insecure about myself since I was not much fluent in English. Worse than expected, my first band experience disappointed me.…
The Drum Major is the leader of the parade. The Drum Major Instinct causes one to aspire to be the most recognized and important. The essential qualities of a drum major are those who greatly desire attention and to be the best of his peers. People who fall victim to the drum major instinct are willing to do whatever they can to be the “leader…
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!…
When I was a freshman, I joined marching band. Marching band taught me some very helpful characteristics that I started applying to my life. It taught me responsibility, people were relying on me more than I’d ever experienced. It taught me commitment, I had a job to do and I had to be committed to doing that job to the best of my ability or I’d be letting down myself and those around me. Most importantly, I learned confidence; I had always been shy and introverted until I was able to break out of my shell through marching…
"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.…
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.…
Wearing a heavy, uncomfortable uniform with a feathery plume strapped to my head while simultaneously playing an instrument and stomping around a football field does not sound very glamorous at a glance. However, this is how I chose to spend the majority of my Saturdays and Tuesday nights when I signed up for marching band. Enticed by the promise of a magical and musical trip to Disney, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I suffered through hours upon hours of music memorization and painstakingly trying to perfect my form and sync my steps to everyone else’s. The goal is to move as one, to melt into one band whose sounds and movements are precise, identical, and smooth.…
Unexpected Lessons: (Things I Learned for No Reason in Band) "What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow. " This quote is from The Phantom Tollbooth. There are experiences in life where we learn lessons for no reason at all. These things teach us lessons that we don't expect. These are lessons that are learned for no reason at all.…
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.…
People and music are inseparable as Macdonald (2008, 39) argues that ‘We are all musical. Every human being has a biological, social and cultural guarantee of musicianship.’ It is hardly possible to live without hearing music in daily life, and people has been building musical identity since they are born by negotiating through it. Thus, music is a significant matter in personal identity and analysis of one’s life can reveal one’s musical identity. This essay will demonstrate the analysis of my musical identity based on my life.…
I first gained an interest in music in elementary school music class. After playing recorders and learning about the history of music, I was inspired to learn as many different instruments as possible. I began piano lessons in third grade, and started learning cornet a year later. After many years of attending music camps, playing in school and church bands, joining marching band and drumline, and experimenting on my own, I have grown immensely as a musician. My main instruments are trumpet/cornet, piano, marimba, and ukulele.…