What Is The Importance Of Quitting Band In Middle School

Improved Essays
It was the second week middle school when my band teacher had asked for me to stay after class: “Rachel you should think about quitting the band.” At that moment, I had felt my mind go blank; I was devastated. I had always known I was a bit behind in learning the notes and developing the sound of my tone; however, I had never once thought about quitting band. I loved music; just turning on the radio brightened my mood. I felt impatient in my other classes, waiting until I could go and pick up my instrument.
The moment I decided to join the band was in elementary school when our class went to watch the middle school band play their Christmas concert. Although several of my friends had told me that classical music was dull and only useful for putting others to sleep, I loved listening to it. I would try to figure out what instruments were played and their individual part. I was glad to be able to listen to a live band without the need of speakers or headphones. I would watch the musicians diligently read their music as their fingers almost seemed to glide over their instruments. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to become one of them, to sit up on that stage and play a role in the band, no matter how minor the part.
…show more content…
To know that she thought I should even consider quitting made me feel that I had let myself and my teacher down. After that day, I was called to the guidance office to decide if I would stay or leave the band. I was torn on whether to listen to my teacher or myself. As I sat in the guidance office, the counselor gave me two choices: to quit band or to get a tutor and practice until I could catch up with the other students. After deliberating over it and talking with my parents, I decided that I would stay in the band no matter how difficult it might be. I would not run away no matter how rough the road ahead

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Trombone Qualities

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages

    If I have not challenged myself to practice and to confront challenges, I could not have become the principal player in our school’s jazz band and wind ensemble. After several breakthroughs, I decided to share my inspirations to the younger generation. This year, I am one of the coordinators of the Molding Musicians program supported by the Cypress Boys and Girls Club, teaching the fifth and sixth graders how to play an instrument. I appreciate the fact that my achievements did not come from an easy work, but rather a persistent standing against…

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Why I Hate Marching Band

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I hate marching band. Leaving that trap of a class was the best decision I made in my entire high school experience. Once I had had enough of band, I joined theater. Joining theater fit my schedule well, introduced me to new people, and opened my mind to possibilities I hadn't considered before. The time I wasted in marching band was grueling.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Students of all grades and interests gather in the band room before school begins. They compare homework, discuss conclusions, greet friends, make plans together, practice, or just hang out. New students feel that there is something special going on and hang around to see what it is. They could read or learn stories about past band member’s ones who achieved amazing results during high school as well as ones who are doing wonderful things in colleges and careers. They feel connected, not just to a group of peers but to a continuous line of musicians just like them who have passed through similar musical experiences.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After countless lessons with Mr. Chavez, I felt that I accomplished so much with the amount of praise he had given me. However, after the first week of band camp, he and our front ensemble technician, Mr. Bishop, sat me down to tell me I would not be playing timpani that season. These two instances taught me to always strive to do my best and when failure arises, one must be able to move on or try…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The unique opportunities and skills that music offers are essential. These skills include “creative thinking… collaboration… the ability to listen” and “the power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously” (Lipman, 2013, para. 4). Although these are all skills that can be developed in other activities, music is an effective way to practice all of these skills over years of practice. The appeal to pathos that Lipman uses is that she appeals to the fear of missing out. Her argument is strengthened through the argument that those who do not practice music during their life miss out on such great qualities such as “creative thinking” and…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Participating in marching band helps increase my confidence and allows me the freedom to express myself through music. Before I used to not take concert band seriously, but joining marching band shows how much work and dedication one needs to put in to become an amazing musician. The hard work and structure of marching band help guides me to be a better hard working, responsible, and dedicated…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    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.…

    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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.…

    • 1616 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At the end of the year I found my self wondering if should stay with the clarinet. Part of me said no because I wasn't very good and that I should sell the clarinet. Another part of me argued that I should keep it. This part of me had better reasoning than the first part. It pointed out that I could read sheet music better than any other kid in my class and that I wasn't very good because I hardly practiced.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I was finally free. I had more free time, less stress, and had lost the feeling of sweat dripping down my back. Quitting marching band was one of the best decisions I had ever made, and even though I was happy to be free, I had reservations about quitting. In my mind, band was where I would find people I identified with, but in reality, I didn’t find anyone who shared my interests. I longed to find a group that I fit in with.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Why bother being like everybody else when when you could do your own thing?” my eldest sister told me when I joined band in the sixth grade. In middle school I decided to play a brass instrument which was not popular for a girl to play. Most of my friends had chosen a woodwind either a flute, clarinet or saxophone.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During my high school years my experiences have been positive and diverse. Freshman year I joined marching band. Sophomore year I began working and earning my own money. High school has taught me much about myself, others, and community. I have found that lifelong learning is key to personal growth and success.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Consequently, I was among the worst performing students in my class. My teachers thought I was generally unintelligent and anti-intellectual. However, outside classroom, I developed an insatiable desire for music and musical instruments. Every evening after school, I would set aside at least two hours to learn to play the guitar and…

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    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.…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being a member of a band has taught me measurable and immeasurable life lessons. I see the measurable lessons everyday by which I have a sharper memory and how much the proficiency on my instruments has improved. The immeasurable lessons have to do less with skills and more with heart and personality. I’ve learned a lot more about myself through band than I could have with anything else.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays