Family : My Band Family

As most, I began in sixth grade. My instrument of choice was clarinet and, since then, I have been selected to our district and all-state honor bands in four consecutive years, beginning in eighth grade. I have continued performing on the clarinet through high school because it serves as solace from the stress that I surmount from

All of this contributed to me joining the marching band, beginning in eighth grade, which has taken over my life now, in the best way possible and given me a defined place. It’s nice to be a part of something like

Building upon the invaluable benefits I gained through jazz band, my participation in our marching unit

I come from a big extended family compared to your typical family. I have 14 aunts and uncles. In my immediate family, I am the middle child. I have an older sister who is is 21 and is a junior in college. My brother is 15 and a freshman in high school at Global Leadership Academy. I am currently a junior at the same high school.

Around the 8th grade is when I decided to change my life. I was my heaviest,

An individual thing or person regarded as single and complete, but which can also form an individual component of a larger more complex whole.

They had warned me it would be lots of after school rehearsals, clinics I would have to attend, and concerts I would have to attend as well. I told myself I could definitely do it. So I accepted the invitation and joined the top group. From being in the symphonic band my 7th and 8th grade year, I knew I had matured as a player tenfold. Then, high school came around. I told myself all the time that I would be the best one there as a freshman. Oh boy, was I wrong. When I went for freshman band camp in 2010, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Learning to march in time with the band and having to memorize the music all at once, I told myself I was fool coming here. But the passion I had for music kept me going. So I suffered through band camp for 4 weeks in a row. Memorizing the music, marching and playing at the same time definitely made me mature as a

It was 8th grade, and I was almost a highschooler. Almost a highschooler! And I couldn’t believe I was being treated like a toddler still learning to walk.

band be like? I honestly had no idea what to do, my mind was a jumble of

Band affects nearly every part of your daily life while you’re in it. Every aspect, including multi-tasking, discipline,

As a student who makes it their goal to involve himself in every musical activity, I have had the privilege to play music in large groups like a marching band, big band, and orchestra, in addition to small groups like a jam band and a traditional gypsy jazz band. I’ve participated in competitions at tens of schools, auditioned into region bands, and played big band charts on the steps of the Navy Memorial. With that being considered the group that had the most profound effect on me is a student-run Jazz combo, a small group of around eight high school musicians who played jazz standards at smaller high-class events. My four years in this group contain some of my most significant experiences of my high-school career. These experiences were what changed a nervous and absent minded freshman into the confident student leader that I act as today.

Most of my friends were in grades much higher up than me, and one of my good friends was a senior my freshman year. She was the leader of our section (though she didn't always act like it). Our center marimba was very good at leading us however, he knew what he was doing. I was always so fascinated in seeing how the people

One by one I felt my career possibilities being limited: I can’t be a doctor- I can’t handle blood, and I can’t be a scientist- I can’t deal with a lifetime of chemistry or physics, and I can’t be an astronaut- I’m scared of confined spaces. I had given up, and convinced myself that I wanted the high-paying, and intelligent career I had always wanted, even though it wouldn’t make me happy. What other option do I have? Smart kids don't go into music. Amidst the darkness and confusion, I heard a voice, the voice of my band director, she said, “do what makes you happy, I know you won’t regret it in the long run”. In the back of my mind this made perfect sense, so I started to question myself, what makes me happy? I searched and searched through myself for the answer, and then it finally after 10 years, came to me- music. It had been right in front of me all along. Band was the only part of the day I was never stressed about, and always looked forward to. I always listened to classical music in my spare time, and was always constantly practicing the flute, oboe, or clarinet to relieve stress from all of my other classes. The Band Hall had essentially been my home for

I first joined the band in the fourth grade playing the drums. I played for about two weeks then I quit because I didn't like it, mostly because of the teacher. In the sixth grade we got a new music teacher and told me I look like a trumpet player, so I gave it a try. I was taking music lessons but after the first one my music teacher told me she had to leave because she

I grew up in a household slightly different from the average household. This abnormal household showed me that no matter the family unit someone can have a positive influence in their life that will push them to achieve their goals. We lived in Maryland so the cost of living was high my parents had to work multiple jobs. This means my brother and I really had little to none parental or supervision growing up. I am only four years younger than my brother so I would hang with his crowd of friends rather than mine. In my household, my mother’s niece, Monet lived with us she is about ten years older than my brother. When my brother and I would wake up and I would be the only person in the house. I can remember waking up and smelling the freshly cooked waffles and bacon downstairs. Monet was my mother’s brother, daughter. Monet became so close to my brother Avery and I she was almost as if she was our sister. I can remember growing up and she would always say, “You don't have to take the route I took, its many more exits on the highway.” Even though I was young I was not blind to the fact of Monet role in the community and her neighborhood job I never judged her, she did what she had to do to make ends meet. It was an experience every day, or anytime being with Monet. She was so popular around Maryland it was almost like everywhere we went we received respect love. Now that I look back at the past, I see that Monet has taught me a lot that I know and live by today. I could