The Best Decision I ever made: Joining Band
Five years ago, I was introduced to the subject of band by my best friend and that introduction sowed the seed to join. The next decision I faced was the important choice of an instrument, which was not very hard for me. I chose the clarinet because it was the only one that responded with a grateful sound. Without my license and parents working late at night, I had to search for a ride since I assumed my friend, who attended band on a different day, could take me. Getting up an hour earlier than most students proved to be a struggle for me, but as time went on it became less challenging. Joining band was and is more than a musical exercise for me; it equates unity with harmony, personal growth with rhythm, and benefits with melody on the larger playing field of life.
Harmony is defined as the combination of sounds to produce chords which can be compared to the coming together first of my instrument and me and the two of us with the band. My clarinet and
…show more content…
Similarly, band practice allows me the freedom to follow my own inclinations just as much as I also have to follow the drum major. Reconciling the two is a matter of rhythm because rhythm sets the pace, one that you set for yourself as well as one that someone else sets for you. Participating in band requires a substantial time investment and is rather demanding. Therefore, I had to learn to be organized and to prioritize wisely to meet all the scheduling details ranging from school, homework, my job, science Olympiad, band practice, friendships, and many more. As a result of my interest and passion for this extracurricular activity, my time management skills and self-discipline have greatly improved. I am evermore in step with the demands put upon me and those of my own choosing - or so I
The band program means a lot to me because it has helped me become more outgoing and friendly to people. It has also helped me gain much more of an interest towards all things music. When I was a kid I always wanted to be a teacher, but I never knew what I wanted to teach. When I joined band and attended different music classes, I became interested in something that meant little to me at the time. During my time in band it became much more clear to me that I wanted to pursue music education. The band program means a lot to me because it made me who I am today and I hope to help someone find themselves through music like I
I created my ideal schedule with my father, until I got to the section of the request form that said “electives.” This is when I turned to my dad and said, “Dad, I don’t want to do band in high school. I don’t want to do marching band, nor do I want to do concert band. I hate it and I want to be done.” Unfortunately for me at the time, my dad replied by saying, “You’re going to do band for a year, and if you don’t like it, THEN you can quit.” So I hesitantly requested marching band and submitted my application for the ninth grade.
I started band in the 6th grade, I honestly thought that I wasn’t going to make it to my senior year, but here I am a senior in band. I am not forced to be in band I can get out at anytime anyday, but I choose not to. It is hard when you are marching and it feels like 100+ degrees. You feel like you want to pass out, but you just have to suck it up and be tough. Throughout the years I have been in band I have created friendships. I have my closest friends in band. I have created many memories in band that will last a lifetime, that I will share one day with my kids. I do not know what I would do without band. Getting in band has been the best decision I have ever made. Band has been the highlight of my high school years. One of the scariest moments I have experienced in band was when we messed up at U.I.L. contest, I was terrified I did not want us to make a 2, it all happened so fast. It was time to get our results, we made a 1, I was so happy. The judges said that if you were to close your eyes and listening to us, you would not know we messed up. We never stopped playing and we recovered so fast, we were so matured when this happened. Band takes up
In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.
Band has become my second home and my drum has become my heart. They have shown me that I am capable of more than I think. I’ve been able to discover more about myself being in percussion than I was while playing flute. My family is the people I go and spend 9 days out of the week
I have been actively participating in the school band for five years. While most of my fellow classmates have dropped out of band, I have stuck with it because, I know band teaches me valuable
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
When I first joined marching band after seventh grade, I missed the first summer practice to see a concert. At that time, I had no idea how much band would come to mean to me nor the unexpected amount of dedication needed. Before marching band, music was merely a casual thing, but it has transformed this old hobby into a greater priority. After just one season, this shift was noticeable. I certainly did not consider missing two days of a Disney World vacation to march at nationals when first reading the schedule. But this beloved sport worked its ways in a few short months. Through two marching seasons and a winter concert, band became one of the most prominent activities in my life.
I have been a part of a band program since I was in fifth grade through junior year, so I know how to work in a team.While in the band program I worked with the community a lot,from marching in parades to fundraising.I also have learned the importance of being on time and the importance to sticking to commitments that have been made from this program and my part time job where I worked in stocking and customer service. I have younger siblings so I have learned to put others before myself since I was always babysitting them because my parents worked a lot.I’ve also had at least one pet ever since I was born so I know how to prioritize my time between school ,time to myself,and time for my pets.I also have developed empathy from these animals
What I mean by this is we never let someone feel depressed about himself or herself, even if they were doing something wrong. We were a family and helped uplift each other by giving suggestions on what we could have done better and to move on from there. Also every member of our band had a bond with each other. Some bonds were stronger than others because some people would have disagreements with each other, which is an example of engagement. Alignment is found for people playing the same instrument, and those who find their identity through imagination can be seen in the band as a whole, becuase we make up the different piece of the band through our own individual identities. As Wardle said “ Newcomers and old-timers come together to develop “interpersonal relationships...”(Wardle 288). I found this most useful to me, so I found my identity through engagement. I found it most useful becuase I learn from example, and having the older members of the community help me truly aided me on my journey through
Both in middle school and high school, I stayed in the elective Band. There exist two types of bands in the school: Concert Band and Marching Band. In Concert Band, you choose and play an instrument. Based on which one you play, you could receive the melodic material or the accompaniment. Marching Band, however, has elevated difficulty by forcing you to march and play simultaneously. The marching instruments could be the same instrument, an alternate form of the instrument, or another instrument if you play a concert instrument which you cannot march. I play an instrument called the tuba which almost always has the bass line, usually plays longer notes than the rest of the band, and gets an occasional solo by a fluke
Most schools offer a variety of activities, classes, and clubs. I personally was never interested in school or anything to do with it. Then I came across band and was instantly hooked. Band has concerts, marching band, and you get to meet new people. Band is my favorite class and here are some reasons why.
Lastly, being in band has made a great impact in my life because, I love it, I love music, and I enjoy being in something bigger than myself. I love the feel when each individual comes together to be part of something bigger than oneself. My main example would be marching band, due to all the individuals that it takes to make an entire show. Over two hundred and fifty individuals are asked to do various of tasks but at the end it is all worth it because, after every show or performance each individual will put all they have onto that field. Not only do I enjoy being in something bigger than myself but I also have a passion for music. Ever since I was little I was always interested in music and I wanted to play an instrument so when I got into
When the question is brought up, “What does band mean to you?” I immediately think of the responsibility, hard work, and dedication and band has given me the chance to learn and strengthen. In addition to these life skills are many others, such as leadership, teamwork, and friendship. The Force has made more than just a difference in my high school career, it has impacted my life and has provided me with skills that will follow me throughout my life. Band means to supporting each other as we work through the hard times and grow closer as a family. Band means working hard and taking on responsibility for yourself. It also means being dependable, that people can count on you and your ability to achieve the unthinkable.
“Roll those feet! Keep those toes high! Square your shoulders! Keep the tempo moving!” This can be heard by directors, in most marching band rehearsals, as the band is racing around the field while playing mentally demanding music. Competitive marching band, the highlight of some high schoolers’ fall season, is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a group of musicians who play instruments while marching together at a parade or sports event” (“Marching Band”). In comparison a sport is defined as “a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other” (“Sports”). High school competition band is where a band practices from July to November to prepare one show to be