Honor Band-Personal Narrative

Summer before junior year of high school, I was looking at a lot of standardized tests, essays, a heavier school workload, college applications, and getting a driver's license; my most immediate concern, however, was the soon to begin marching band season. Spring semester of sophomore year I had decided to audition for a leadership position in the band, and I suppose I was the best candidate because I managed to snag Section Leader for my instrument, clarinet. As the final days of July passed by, I anticipated the start of a season where I would be mentoring and teaching my fellow clarinet players the complex art of marching band. A few days before leadership camp I received a letter in the mail from the Head Band Director, Mr. Larry Brown, and immediately I knew things were not going to be what I expected.

I signed up to be in band class in the sixth grade, expecting the class to be equivalent to elementary school. I expected the class to be effortless and enjoyable. However, I was enrolled into the “advanced” band, as opposed to the beginner band, because I had played my instrument prior to being in middle school. So on the first day of advanced band, the band director informed us that we would be having a seating test. Every single

In elementary, I was known as the best player for my patience and understanding of every piece we played in orchestra. “Your daughter is my best student in all 4 schools that I teach,” exclaimed my orchestra teacher, Ms. Nichols, to my mother. Ever since then, I have been practicing my violin every minute of every day. At the end of my sixth grade year, I received a letter stating that I have been invited to audition for the East Valley Youth Symphony. The desire I had to audition felt like someone hitting me with a hammer.The tears of joy that fell from my parents’ faces were overwhelming, but I knew there was no reason to celebrate because it wouldn’t be easy to get into. At that instant, I had a panic attack and couldn’t stop until the next morning.

I don’t remember if it was my choice or my parents, but in 5th grade when we were given the choice to be in band, I was very anxious to start. We got to meet with Mrs. Jones and try a few different instruments before making a decision. My top three choices were percussion, trombone, and clarinet (only because my sister had played it). I tried the clarinet first and thought it was alright, but not my favorite. I tried the trombone next, and while it was difficult, I really wanted to keep trying. I also tried percussion- she just had me keep a beat on my leg- and I thought percussion may be difficult for me, but I still wanted to do it. In the end, Mrs. Jones decided I would be best fit for the clarinet, mostly because I could use my sisters and not have to buy a new instrument. I was happy with the choice, mostly because I was excited to be playing anything!

My friends were also trying out for the field hockey team. Kylee asked, “How are you not nervous, I’m so nervous.” I just answered her, “I don’t know, I don’t really get that nervous.” Which is true I don’t get that nervous for really anything. In line 6th grade was in the back and then 7th grade was in front. Six of my anxious friends waited in line for me. Paige had said, “I want to go first just to get it over with.” My friends and I replied at the same time “okay”. Then I took a minute but we decided what the order would be for us to go in. 4 of my friends went in front of me and 2 went behind. While we waited in we were talking about how we would be sad if we didn’t make the team but so excited if we did.

During my junior year, all high school students of the Coachella Valley were given the opportunity to audition for the All Coachella Valley Honor Band, with a guest conductor H. Robert Reynolds. This was a significant educational opportunity I took advantage of. The audition consisted of a couple of scales, and excerpts from the music that was going to be performed on the day of the concert. When the day came I sat in front of the judge with my music and clarinet, where my nerves began to rise. Before I began to play my heart began to pound along with my hands beginning to sweat. Throughout my audition I had a few mistakes,but I stayed persistent and completed my audition. After I finished my audition, the judge said I had done great, I was

The Honor Guard tryouts, they were a great deal to those wanting to be the best of the best. You had to train and endure everything that was thrown at you, prepared or not. Everyone that makes it goes it by showing off every movement and command they have learned. Even still you can’t prepare for everything. Laubach had always said throughout the process for training and performing the event. That was to work hard and have the endurance to continue on, even when you do not want to. I tell that to people today when they feel like they can’t continue on.

I practiced. Finally, the end of my junior year season came. As soon as we stepped off the field from state finals awards I started talking about being 2016 field commander. I went home, watched our old shows and conducted them. Somewhere around the end of April, our band director gave my opponent and me the score and a recording of the music for the upcoming show. He told us that he wanted it memorized for the audition. I started practicing immediately. I spent my lunch break and my last 2 classes listening to the recording and reading through the score. One day in class our director tells us that our band will be marching in the Great American Brass Band Festival Parade. What would we do for that? We would play the upcoming seasons music. So, we should be having the auditions for field commander soon. I was excited, though I knew I didn’t have a high chance because my opponent was the “favorite” choice. How did I know she was the favorite? Because as I talked to a friend about the parade, their response was “I’m not sure about performing since (our previous field commander) isn’t sure if my opponent wanted to, I mean, or whoever gets the position..” So I practiced harder and longer than anything I had ever done. Because I wanted the position

It all started at the end of last summer. I'm the Drum Major of my school’s band, and for that reason, I was the most nervous I had ever been in my life. At any one point, there were over 150 people watching my every move, and it was nerve-racking. Last summer, they watched me through the hardest time of my entire life. I was given the position in April, but until August, it was essentially just a title.

Whether I play the jazz, classical, or the melodious ruckus of the marching band, the alto saxophone is how I reimbursed myself of my stress and anxiety with an indescribable feeling nobody but a musician can understand. This feeling is comprised of two parts: the playing and the team. While the playing produces a euphony that leaves you anticipating every breath you huff into your horn and dances out the bell, the team is my favorite part. Never have I anticipated or desired to be first chair, because I had always known that the second chair is the best. Despite the first chair getting all the glory, without the warm, complementary tones of the second part, the first, and even the band, could never achieve the beautiful potential it has. Together,

On October 7th, I got a chance to observe Chris Watson’s middle school ensemble. This ensemble was made up of five percussion players and a trumpet player. This was his first year with this school. The year previous that class was basically a percussion class. He was telling me that he had to change a lot in this first year. It was great opportunity to observe this school because it was an experience I will not forget.

There, my dad and I sat in the band hall, this would be the first of many times that I would step foot into a band hall. I remember feeling so excited to get to play an instrument. My brother Jake, who had passed away when I was 8 due to heart failure, would have been so proud to hear I was following in his footsteps and taking up the saxophone. I remember this day like it was yesterday and thanks to my brother’s influence on me band would be my life for the next 7 years.

In seventh grade, I decided to audition for the higher ranking jazz ensemble at my middle school, Jazz I, one of the few bands in the school that had both seventh, and eighth graders. As always, I did a great job of finding things to worry about. Things such as what if I wasn’t good enough to be in the band? Since the moment that I picked up my dad’s trumpet and tried to play, I’ve loved playing. I wanted more than anything to be in the jazz band. We had played some jazz in band before, but nothing like what they play in Jazz I. I brought home the audition sheet the day that it got posted on the wall, and practiced every night until the audition. On the day of the audition, I walked into the room, greeted the teacher, and played through the sheet of scales and exercises as well as I could.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I auditioned for District III. District III is an organization of music educators in the region of Maine, spanning from Freeport to Camden. District III holds various music festivals for different age groups. I auditioned for the high school honors band. I wasn't very aware of the audition piece and I didn't take the needed time to practice it. The day of the auditions, I entered a large gymnasium full of talented high school musicians from various schools in the region. I realized all of these incredible people have dedicated a lot of their time to the auditions. I knew I didn't put in all the time I actually needed to orchestrate this piece correctly. I didn't make in into the honors band, but I was affected greatly.

When I first joined the band, I was a quiet, emotionless guy. I didn’t have any close friends in the band either, so honestly, I wasn’t having the best time. The people around me always seemed so happy to talk to others, and it confused me in a way. But then when band camp rolled around, people started to talk to me, so naturally, I began to respond to them, and eventually I began to start conversations for myself. I was a whole lot less awkward as days turned into months, my stuttering was reduced to almost none, I'm pretty loud, and I'm pretty friendly too.