Personal Narrative-Marching Band

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.

When I was in marching band finding my identity was one of the hardest things that I had to do. It took me to my senior year to fully understand what it meant to fully identify myself as a member of the Titan Regiment. What made me understand that I was a member because of recognition that I received in my last two years? Having the honor to lead my saxophone section in marching band and to be an inspirational figure to them recognized me. When this happened, it confirmed to me that I was really a member of the Titan regiment. This community defined me because it's built on top of my leadership skills that I currently had and it also help me to make more mature decisions as I got older. This experience did that by challenging me

1. Thirty pounds of metal resting on my left shoulder, I marched for hours in the blistering hot sun. The sousaphone was my greatest enemy. In 6th grade I was chosen to play tuba for our middle school band, I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me. Two years later, I had gotten pretty good. I made all state band, won some awards, and was 1st chair. I had no intention in joining the marching band my freshman year.

We were this close to being stripped of our "Undefeated" title. The band sat there in the bleachers, stunned as the announcer pulled up the scores and was ready to reveal first place. Blood rushed through my veins and the butterflies in my stomach were more active as ever. After all of our hard work, it would have been a shame if we did not conclude the season with a bang. The announcer raised her microphone and everything seemed to come to a halt.

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,

Never in a day would I have dreamed of joining the marching band. As an eighth grader, the idea of joining the marching band sounded horrendous. I never imagined myself as that “nerd”. Now, today as a senior in high school, I am so glad that I made the spontaneous decision to join as marching band was a significant chapter of my life.

The marching band has also felt like a home away from home. If I wasn’t at home with my parents, I was on the band field. While being in the marching band at my high school, my long-term goal was to become their drum major for my last two years. I wanted to be the drum major that would cause the band members to put every ounce of passion into performing the show. Once I decided this during my freshman year, I put my heart and soul into my band. I stepped up to any work my band director needed help with. Whether it was fundraising or running OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) events or lining the band field, I was there to show my band director I was ready to be a leader. My setback came when I didn't achieve section leader for the flutes

Everyone knows who the band kids are. They see the band members marching under the Friday night lights and listen to their non-stop chatter about band. It’s easy to pick them from a crowd. I, despite my chagrin to admit it, am one of those kids.

Over the last six years I've heard marching commands over a thousand times. They are easy to execute when called separately, but slightly harder when called continuously. The march off has been a tradition in the band for the last forty years. Always on the parking lot at exactly 11:45 just fifteen minutes before lunch. When asked what a march off is, the best way I can describe it is as a giant game of Simon Says but with marching commands.

A field show in marching band is structured like a story. A beginning movement sets a mood and an introduction to your show. Then comes a slow ballad that addresses a turning point in your story. Finally comes the closing movement, your resolution.

When I was in the eleventh grade, we moved to Idaho. When we arrived, I went to register for school. It didn’t take me very long to discovered that they didn’t have a marching band. I was very upset. The thing I loved more than anything, at the time, was marching. Now, that was gone. That’s when I met Ms. Taylor. She, like myself, was new to the school. We learned together how the group worked, and we both expressed our love for marching band. By the end of the year, we had even made plans to create one. But, as the end of the the school year slowly approached, she informed me, and the rest of the band, that she was leaving us. I was so upset. Not only was I upset that she was leaving, I was also upset that we wouldn’t be able to start a marching band. Before she left, she took me aside, and told me that I could do anything I wanted to. She said that if I wanted a marching band, all I had to do was make a plan, and accomplish it, so I did. I took the opportunity of doing anything with my senior project, and I started a marching band. That accomplishment solidified my desire to become a music

A few days preceding my official start of attending this brand new school, my guidance counselor promptly decided to give me a tour so I would somewhat able to to navigate myself. As she asked me question after question about what classes sparked my interest and the current state of my grades, band inevitably came up. As we travelled our

I participate in marching and concert band. As for concert band I have participated in it for 3 years, and i have only been in marching band for half a year.I enjoy being in both ensembles because it gives me a chance to make beautiful music and connect with my fellow band members. Most of the reason I’m even at where I am is because of my bad instructor Mr.Barz.

My past has had lots of good times and has had some down right shitty a.f. times. But it’s in the past, so I’ll try not bringing up those memories. So let’s start in the beginning. It was 6:00am at Hamot hospital in Erie,PA, and all of a suddenly you here a huge “OOOUUUCCCHHH!!!!!!!!!”, then badabing badaboom it was 6:01am and I was born. Apparently when I was born I was very yellow looking. Nothing was wrong with me I was just born yellow. After a couple months I started growing out of it, and eventually turned the color I am now, which after lots of discussion and debates with people it has been determined that I’m almost the inside of an almond color. Anyway, after the hospital I lived with my Mom and my Grandmother at her old house in Erie.

You walk through the hallway at school being called names, being mocked, and getting laughed at. People hold their arms in positions to mock the way you play your horn. You get called “Band Nerd” or “Geek” or “Loser”, and the scrutiny is sometimes overbearing. But as you reach the end of the hallway, you meet your group of friends that have become like family to you. You’ve spent an unreasonable amount of time in the scorching heat together, and you’ve spent late nights on the bus playing games and falling asleep. You all learn from each other, teach each other, help each other, and become part of something bigger than yourself together. You become family. You are a band member. Do the people who