Personal Narrative: My Life As A Jazz Band

It would be good for his career if he did the Jazz band. He could maybe make a career with his friends but more likely to make a career with the Jazz band. He could make an actual living from it. He could provide for a family later on in life. He would also be able to afford things he needed. It could make his life easier.

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.

On November 17th, 2016, I attended a jazz concert and had quite a time. The experience was captivating, and gave me a warm feeling inside. There were three different bands that play in the hour slot, and all of them sounded magnificent, but “The Santé Fe Jazz Combo” and “Santa Fe Big Band” stood out the most. The only thing these two bands have in common is that some of the musicians play in both bands. Otherwise, these jazz fanatics are polar opposites.

From the day we’re in our mother's stomachs, to the day we die, we have always been listening to music. For me, listening to music all my life helped me develop a passion for it. When I was around the age of 6 my dad introduced me into the world of Rock. The very first band I remember listening to was System of a Down and ever since then, I fell in love with rock music and all its possible variations; for a long time this was all I listened to. It wasn’t until high school that I started listening to all sorts of genres and realized that I wanted to have a career in the music industry. That's when I learned about producing music.

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

Once i got to highschool i started to take my music a little more serious. I feel like i can express myself in music, just speak my mind. I’ve been writing since i was 10 years old, and started realizing recently that i feel something different when it comes to music. I just write about anything, whether its a dream, what i’m feeling or even things going on in the world. When we look at people we dont look deep enough, This is who i

Unquestionably, playing the trumpet in a diverse range of musical ensembles over the past nine years has led to experiences that have not only shaped me as a musician, but furthermore as a student and as an individual. As early as middle school “Black Dog Jazz Band,” I struggled with the confidence on center stage to perform solos, even with sheet music and the exact notes to be played. Progressing through high school, my skill and my perception were transformed, as improvising measures of music of my own creation were no longer a source of insecurity, but rather an opportunity to display my creative expression and capability as a musician. Fast and difficult chord changes and previously unheard melodies were now uniquely mine, and I perform with a self-assurance in my own interpretations. This composure stemming from years of soloing and jazz band undoubtedly seeped into my academic life, as the poise and self-assurance with which I similarly deliver oral presentations has been clearly and positively impacted.

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.

     Jazz is a style of music that began and has been revolutionized within the United States. Jazz music first appeared in the city of New Orleans and eventually moved onto Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New York City. Jazz unites different elements of African, African- American, religious, brass brand, and blues style of music. The music of Jazz, and its changes through the years, is now a form of music that is known and respected throughout this nation and the world.

In eighth grade I was first chair trumpet player for the J.A.M.S. band. I led the band in most songs and the band teacher made me feel like I was the best trumpet player ever. In eighth grade I was again accepted into a junior high honor band just as I had been in seventh grade. In eighth grade however I was not concerned about chair placements at the honor band as I had been in seventh grade. When I went to honor band in seventh grade I received a second chair placement. An eighth grader received first chair. Therefore, I thought I was almost guaranteed first chair as I was an eighth grader now so in my mind no one would beat me.

“Are you sure this is the one you’d like?” my father asked me. Little did I know how much happiness this saxophone would bring me. I still remember walking into the sweltering upper school cafeteria awaiting to choose the instrument of my choosing. I saw all of the new, shiny instruments but only one instrument jumped out to me, the alto saxophone. It might be all of the pearly, white buttons or the shiny, metallic gold finish but this instrument was for me. As soon as I laid my eyes on it I knew I had to have it. How was I supposed to know that in the coming years, I would grow as a person and develop into a tenor saxophone player for MHS?

I have always enjoyed music since I picked it up my first alto sax in the 6th grade. Of all the enjoyment music gave me and all its feelings it can create I could finally make some of my own. For the 7 years I have been playing in school it still remains a large part of my life. It gives me a great enjoyment to push myself everyday to do better. The dream of one day playing in a great college jazz ensemble propels me forward in my music because of the disadvantage of my school's jazz program. Playing saxophone in a classical and jazz context is what makes me a perfect fit for Sam Houston State University.

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.

Not only were they attempting to direct our talent into beautiful music, but they had cared very deeply for us. They cared so much for us that they did not want to give us the satisfaction of being lazy or encourage degrading behavior- they wanted us to keep excelling and improving in every aspect of our lives. This concern for us did not even stop at just the jazz bands, it continued on into non selective bands, such as the marching band. Shortly after being forced to quit jazz band my junior year to negotiate with my mental health, I fell into an even darker place because I did not have the outlet I normally had. Not being able to play jazz was a sudden and shocking change in my life, since I had been doing it for four consecutive years. At the time, I thought it was a necessary decision I had to make to better my mental health, but I realized it was the exact opposite when it was too late. I was not able to play my saxophone like I used to, so I clung onto marching band, which I actually hated my first two years because it was a “stupid” requirement if you were in a jazz

Marching Band has been a part of my life since I was about 9 years old. “I’m with the band” has been something I’ve said since I was in the fourth grade. In 2008, my band director, Mrs. Bollaro decided she would create a Pep Band, which soon turned into the ALJ Marching Band. My oldest brother, Eddie joined, and two years later, my other brother, Giulian joined. I was always mesmerized by the pretty flags and the spinning weapons, so it was not a surprise when I decided to join colorguard. When I finally made it to the eighth grade, I was allowed to join the colorguard. From the moment I knew what colorguard was, I wanted to be a part of it. My mom, and two of my aunts were in their high school colorguards, so being in colorguard meant more than just spinning. Joining marching band meant that I was following in my family traditions, and continuing what my family had started.