My Freshman Year: Band Analysis

Junior year is the year I learned more about myself than I had my entire life. At the beginning of the school year, my color guard team found out that our coach resigned. I was never the girl to lead others; I was a follower. We only had three girls and the senior on our team was not authoritative, so I took the initiative to help the team. I convinced one of our new members to get some of her friends involved and made one hour practices twice a week to teach the girls. It came time for our school pep rally before the Homecoming football game and our time to perform alongside band. The girls looked clueless and flags were flailing around as I felt a sense of humiliation, frustration and shame not just in myself, but for the whole band that we represented.

At first, I only knew two other people in the band. I was just that one quiet kid in the back row. The whole band was made up of just brass players, since the woodwinds had different practice days. By the end of my sixth grade year, I knew just about all the band members. In my seventh grade year, we had the woodwinds join the band. The band was suddenly

On my first day of summer pride, it was very rough and hard. Summer pride is a activity where you run and workout over the summer for the next football season. I was always tired after right after every practice and go home take a shower and then go straight to sleep. Although every practice was tiring it was worth it for are next football season. I liked summer pride, because are coaches were always having us lift weights, but what i did not like where we woke up at six in the middle of the summer. The running was also frustrating because it would be very hot and humid outside. The first freshman football game was against McArthur and was one of the best games of the season. We worked hard for are first game, and we won. The game ended up

The band is in the stadium. The announcer calls “Upperman High School” jarring each ear with anxiety. The band is called to attention in preparation for the score call. The band stands at attention with each drop of sweat intensifying the setting. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The members of the band spend weeks or even months of preparation for this moment. The key to their preparation is their band area where they utilize the band room, the practice field, and the trophies. What they do in this band territory will now decide the next ten seconds of their lives.

I was surprised when I was accepted into Region Band, (I did really bad on my audition.) and we had to go out of town for the clinic. An hour and 15 minutes, we arrived at Fort Mill High. We were late. So I went inside the room, where all of the Region Band people were, and everybody was there. I felt nervous. So, I went to my seat and just stared at the music. I knew for a fact I couldn’t play that music (Mostly “Crosswinds March”) but we practiced and I realized, it wasn’t that bad. At 5:00, we left and we stopped by the hotel to drop off our luggage and to get ready for dinner. The best part is the fact that all the teachers were on the first floor and we were on the fourth. We ended up going to the Southpark Mall for dinner and we were there for 2 hours. My two friends and I ended up buying two pizzas and walking around the mall with them. This felt like freedom to me. Not having a teacher tell you what to do or where to go. But after we left the mall, we went to Sports Connection for an hour. I ended up hanging with the same people I hung out with in the Mall. My people ended up playing laser tag, so I hung out with A French Horn player. She and I went on a 3-D ride that had werewolves. That was fun. After the ride, we left and went back to the hotel. I went straight to bed. The next morning, we were almost late leaving and we missed breakfast (but the good thing is we weren’t late to practice.) We practiced our music and took breaks and next thing you know, it’s concert night. The concert was really outstanding. Afterwards, I left the high school and headed on back to

Everything was load and I was backing away, new to this all. Not sure if I should stay or go. Ready to go home. Wasn’t sure what was going on. I took a seat in the corner of the room. After the bell had rang, everyone was getting quiet and making sure that they can get hear their name getting called for attendance. It took a fews days to adjust to. Then everyone became like one big family, even on the hottest days we stuck together, getting ready for competitions. I had stayed in band, and love it. I had learned to play violin later that year but for my fourth period. Then I had went to band class for seventh period. I didn’t learn how to play another instrument in band but what I did do was Color guard. It was a chance going into a high school

My sixth grade year was the most significant year of schooling for me. A few weeks into school, and not knowing anyone in my classes, I decided to talk to the school band director to find potential in me playing an instrument. At the time, I didn’t know anyone in band; I just wanted to become apart of it.

School I was having my first concert as a part of the Dallas Ranch Middle School beginning band.

When I started band, I was in the sixth grade, which was a year later than a lot of people in my band. Neither my parents or step-parents were in band, so they were hesitant to let me join. Once I was in Mr. Sacco’s music class, and got to experience what his personality was like (super fun, caring, and spunky), and told my parents. I joined band immediately, or as soon as I could, sixth grade. Even though I was a year behind, my band director as well as the others in my section helped me a lot. Since the beginning of my band experience, I have made many close friendships and had a ton of amazing experiences that may not have happened if it weren’t for band. Everyone always has the most fun on band related trips, from going to auditions, to going to Florida for a week. It has truly been an honor to be in the Ava Pride Band for the past seven years.

Band is the best experience I had in my high school career. I remember the exact day when I made the Rummel/Chapelle Band. I was feeling so nervous for my audition because I did not know if I was going to make the band. I went for my audition in the director's office and played for them. I played two scales and one piece of music for them to judge me on. I came out of the office feeling relived because the audition was over, and I played wonderful. The director came out with me and told me and my parents that I had successful made the Rummel/Chapelle Band. I was so happy to start this new journey in my life. The very first thing in band is marching season. Marching season in one that is very fun and also very tiring.

Those days of band during the summer helped me realize many things about myself, I was to gullible, to naive, to childish, many things that fall into that category. Band helped me mature and be responsible, I was no longer the hyperactive child in jr. high, I grew up and changed into something better. I am now more mature than I ever thought I was going to be, I can take on challenges and not be afraid. I have more responsibility now, I am proud to say that I am now section leader for the rest of my high school

Band in general has always been a huge part of my life. Ever since sixth grade I have been dedicated to concert band. But in middle school it wasn’t anything life-changing. The life-changing part of band didn’t happen until high school. Ninth grade was when I started Symphonic band, Marching Band, and Pep Band. Symphonic Band was very straight-forward, we performed at many concerts throughout the year and at the end of the year we were judged at our state-assessment, where every year we consistently got the highest rating of superior. Marching band was much more complicated than Symphonic Band. It required commitment, and a lot of it. All of August, Monday through Friday was spent at the practice field, and if it was raining, we were rehearsing

In fourth grade I joined band. I got my first pick, trumpet, and I was thrilled. I spent the summer before fourth grade playing anything I could, while simultaneously developing a love of music. Fourth and fifth grade band were fun, but it wasn’t until sixth grade that I started to

In middle school, all students were required to play some form of instrument. Most students took the traditional route choosing band or chorus, but my school offered a unique program in guitar. Guitar seemed like an interesting instrument to play and my brother had already started guitar and loved it. I could instantly imagine myself rocking out some guitar solos and learning hot new songs. I quickly learned that I wouldn’t be rocking out any time soon. First of all, most of the music we played was classical, but the greater challenge was learning how to play. My first year of guitar in middle school was pretty rough; the first teacher never showed up and after that we had a revolving door of teachers. Some had guitar experience and others

Trying to find a seat during lunch is probably the only thing I stressed about as a high school student. I asked people whether an empty seat next to them was taken. “Hey is this seat taken?” I would say, and would get the look of, “you cannot sit with us”. This happened because I was not a part of their clique. After spending three years in high school, four major groups stood out.