Marching Band Observation Report

Of all the things I’ve ever experienced, being in the Blanche Ely Marching Band was the most meaningful. Growing up I couldn’t fathom the value of life’s intangible things, but my perspicacity grew when I made the decision to stay in the band. The most important lessons I learned while being in the band would be: the importance of resilience,

The guard revoted and the winning vote was me. All the girls saw me as their savior, and I was not going to let them down. They were my babies and I was going to lead them to success. The girls became confident and felt better having me as a captain. Some qualities that I have that made me be a great captain was being on task. I could slide a few jokes but i'd never get off track. I also never really yelled at them or raise my voice, i'm usually calm and mellow. Which for me was good because whenever they goofed around I would slightly raise my voice and they would all get scared and know I was not messing around. I also did not have a problem with any of them and I got along with all and was their friend, if they ever needed anything. I think the same applies for band because I have no problems with any of the band kids because i'm well known and liked. I also don't let anyone bring me down and I always speak up for myself or for others. I think my personality and characteristics give me an advantage of being in the leadership spot of drum

However, none of the others compared to the passion behind DCMB’s performance. “It was really cool seeing some of my friends up there,” described TJ senior Alejandro Botello, “and I was so proud of them. I tried to distract them up a little bit, but I was super proud when they didn’t even flinch. We couldn’t have better musicians here.” Similarly, U’Ren had only positive things to say about the performance. “DCMB students represented Denver Public Schools very well,” he explained, adding that with recent budget cuts to educational program, it is often necessary to prove the skill of the band. At the Parade, this was exceptionally easy. “The only thing I think could have gone better would have been if all of the students could have been there both nights,” U’Ren

For 4 years, I’ve dedicated my efforts to the people I call family so that we could finally reach our goal an all superior year. By being marching captain, I have come to understand the importance of patience, open mindedness and what it feels like to dedicate my all to something. I have learned that not everyone learns at the same pace and that there is a creative solution that will enable anyone to succeed. These lessons that I have acquired from band are ones that guide now me in everything I do.

My sophomore year I tried out just to go through the process and be prepared, but my junior year I tried out for real. I was trying out as a minority. I was the youngest junior on the line, now the only girl on the line, and I had been on snare the least amount of everyone else on snare. After a week had gone by, we had our band banquet. During the banquet they would announce all of the new section leaders. They took us into the hall and I was told I was the new section leader for the drumline. This role is held very high in the Northgate Marching Band, because if you hold this position, you are a leader of the band. Now that I had the title I needed to accomplish one more thing. In drumline we have a center snare. The center snare is the most advanced player on the line, they count off all the exercises and they are the person you listen to when playing. Our audition process was intense, because again I was the one with the least experience on snare. I absorbed every piece of criticism I received and I applied every fix to better myself as a

Throughout the year I decided I would not allow myself to hold the group back. I would push through the back pain and the sweat and learn as much as I could through the season.

I get to work hard to accomplish something phenomenal. I have to march while playing music that I memorized. We have three after school rehearsals a week, and two weeks of band camp a week before school starts. All the hard work we put in is shown when we go to competitions.

Through music, many paths are able to come together. Although we come from different backgrounds, we are able to bond over the wonderful gift of music. The connection we have through music makes participating in the band program the most meaningful activity for me. The band program opened up my horizon and made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. The diversity of the people in the program taught me how to be versatile. The age range amongst the members vary in which in one moment you have to respect and listen to who is in charge, then the next moment your peers are waiting for your orders. Learning to respect and handle being respected is an important lesson I am still learning. The position of power is something that should not go

Ever since I stepped foot in my high school band program, I aspired to exceed my band director’s expectations and be able to perform to the best of my ability as a member of such a successful program. My band director has always been, and remains to this day, an exceptional

I didn’t make it but that didn’t stop me. I marched at the homecoming parade and played at football games. In the winter, I did a winter concrete and played a couple of difficult pieces of music. We had to practice twice a week to perfect it. During the spring, I was learning a drum song. We had to meet up every saturday to practice it. Unfortunately, we couldn't

Have you held positions in band previously? If so, how did you take advantage of this position to improve the performance and moral of the marching band? In high school I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be drum major for two years. During this time our band was going through a lot of changes, including a new band director for the first time in 40 years.

Awards received: BOA Class Champions twice, 1st place in the local Regional Competition twice. Bronze in MetLife Stadium US Band Competition.

For my freshman and sophomore years, I auditioned and was accepted into the symphonic band as a saxophonist. This was a major achievement for me because the symphonic band is our school's most prestigious band. I was unable to participate in symphonic band as a junior due to my surgery. Because of my passion for music, I did not want my jaw surgery to stop me, so I learned a new instrument in the percussion section. I participated in jazz band, concert band, and marching band. As a senior, I am back to playing my saxophone. I am also back to marching on the field. Additionally, I am an integral part of the band's leadership program. As a group, we find ways to improve the band program so that it will strive to be the best that it can be. I want to ensure that students behind me have the same opportunities I did so they can achieve their musical

I worked hard to keep up with the people I knew were good. They passed me and I have been improving each year. I reached a point where I was said to be guaranteed a spot in wind ensemble, the highest band. I got comfortable in my situation and took things a little easier and kept trying to get better. The month of my audition, I have worked harder than ever before in my music (career). I practiced more than ever before in my life trying to deserve being in wind ensemble.

Sophomore year of marching came. This year was a surprise for everyone. With our show being named ‘Masterminder.’ The band members marching were under control by the color guard soloist; the puppeteer. This show was pretty exciting, too. The judges also thought that. We made it past regionals AND semi-state. What? Yeah, we all thought the same thing. We had made it. We had FINALLY made it after so many years of just trying to get past regionals for once. It was a bitter-sweet feeling waiting for placement awards at Lucas Oil Stadium. The instructors went around to each band student one by one. The congratulated us on an amazing season. I started tearing up, but that isn’t surprising. As we marched our way out of Lucas Oil Stadium that night, I knew that this was only the beginning of a new generation for the Marching Marksmen.