Personal Narrative: The Round Rock High School Band

Life is a myriad of personal struggles, the depth of which depend wholly on the individual. One can decide to passively exist or proactively contribute. High school, a prime example of this crossroads, offers students a plethora of opportunities to distinguish themselves academically, artistically, and athletically. For me, being a part of my school’s band program has been the outlet that has enabled me to flourish.

Anyone who has ever been in a high school band likely knows about the trumpet player stereotype: trumpet players are egotistical, and they are always trying to outdo one another. I know that stereotype well because I am a trumpet player, although I did not always know that I would gain a passion for music the way that I did. I was initially unsure of what instrument I would play or if I would even enjoy being in band. When I joined band at the beginning of sixth grade, we were allowed to try playing various instruments to determine which one we wanted to learn. The trumpet and alto saxophone were the first instruments to stand out to me, so I tried playing the trumpet first and was able to produce a fairly reasonable tone. On the other hand, I tried the saxophone, and it yielded what I described as a "farting noise" at the time. Aside from my sixth grade humor, I decided that I wanted to play the trumpet, and I have never regretted that decision.

I have played trumpet since I was in the fourth grade -- that makes a grand total of 8 years. I had always taken private lesson and taken a keen interest in perfecting the instrument. At the beginning of high school, I decided to switch teachers and start working towards the district band audition. Just like with everything else I do, I was going to put all my effort into making district band. To be honest, I did not think I was going to make district band freshman year of high school simply because it was my first time auditioning. But when it was all said and done, I received a spot in the district band ensemble. It was the best musical experience I have ever had. I have never heard so many great musicians together before, and to be a part of it was absolutely incredible. I knew that I had to do anything I could to be a part of this group year

A love of marching band acts as fuel for the commitment the members put into it. The activity has rapidly grown into an important event I look forward to in the fall and whenever there is an upcoming event. Likewise, the band room has created a home. Marching season brings out excitement and determination in me in wanting to put on the best show we can. Moreover, band has inspired me to become my better self through physical, mental, and emotional challenge. It has helped boost my confidence as well. Overall, I have definitely grown as a person because of marching band. I would love to have a role within the student leaders of a sport and art that has

When I entered High school it was a completely different experience. I used to play sports, why was marching band so demanding of me? An immediate change was present in the level of musicianship needed to be recognized above the others. My band director’s name was Ms. Mello but she was beyond mellow when she was judging our musical capabilities. She was a great friend but would tear kids apart when it came to musicality or standing out of form in marching band. Luckily for me, I was one of the few middle school musicians who practiced somewhat in middle school. I was recognized as a great musician for a freshman in high school. During the concert band season, there were two bands. The advanced group, the wind ensemble, and the beginner group, the concert band. I admit that there was another freshman trumpet player who made the Wind Ensemble when I did not even bother to audition. In the concert group, I would advance far enough that the director trusted me to be the principal trumpet player, above the older musicians in my section. When sophomore year came around, I earned first part for marching band and I made my Wind

I joined my high school’s marching band my freshman year, playing trumpet. I love playing trumpet, and being part of the trumpet section. I played trumpet during my Freshman, Sophomore

I stood on the podium, looking out at the field and took a deep breath. The fans in the stands behind me were a buzz in my ears as I made eye contact with every member of the band. I held my hands up and clapped three times and then SNAP! The instruments were up and I counted off, starting our first marching band show of the season.

Summer band wasn’t easy but it did teach us lessons such as discipline, teamwork, resilience, and time management. Being in band is commitment all year round and through that commitment you are taught skills other people aren’t exposed to. Learning how to adapt to others is a skill you need to survive in a band. There are 200+ people in a lot of high school marching bands, which means over 200 different characters you have to work with no matter any difference. With most of us coming from different backgrounds of course there are going to be differences. Two years prior to high school there was a school split between and I lived on the edge of the zoning border. I lost most of my friends the following year and thought I would be by myself all throughout high school. When I joined band I knew that wasn’t going to be the case. The band was essentially my family and my directors were my parents. My school had a large band population so I never had a class without at least two other band kids. Also, the band kids were considered to be the smarter kids and since we all took Per-AP/AP classes we all had classes together. You couldn’t separate us because it was just that strong of a bond. Band on top of that was all

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

When I first joined the marching band in high school, I was very insecure and unsure of what to expect because it was very unfamiliar to me. Near the beginning of the season, our director and staff began to teach us how to march and play simultaneously. Many people were doing fine but some were struggling and I was one of those kids in that predicament.

I've been in marching band for four years, so you could say it’s a pretty big part of my life. I started in eighth grade and I joined the pit where I made a lot of new friends. I stayed in the pit for three years until this year. I switched to clarinet because pit just wasn't fun for me anymore. I'm glad that I switched because the girls in the clarinet section are all my friends now and I made lots of good memories with them. This year, our show was “Through the Woods” and it was fantastic. We worked so hard every moment that we could and had lots of fun together. It was a great group and we did really good. We made it to Semi-State again at Decatur Central High school, but on that cold October night, our name wasn't called when the announcer named off the bands that would go to State at Lucas Oil Stadium that next weekend. It was sad because we all thought that we had it in the bag.

I remember walking into the band hall that Monday morning, looking around the room admiring all the tambourines and xylophones displayed in the back of the room. A wide grin shot across my face. As I came to my seat, there was a paper that had my name on it. On the paper it had a little section that said “Please write down the instrument you want to play.” Instantly, I knew what I had wanted to play, the trombone. The reason I picked the trombone is because I remember watching my brother marching on the field, playing his solo so beautifully. I knew from then I knew what I wanted to play. So a

I shared my story: Okay so, somebody said that I should watch out. I asked “why.” They said, “wait and find out what they meant.” I was walking down the hallway and somebody said “hey, you nigger, we don’t want you here!” I turned around and started running away from them. They caught up and grabbed me then threw me down. They all hit me in my face and was kicking me as hard as they could. I went to the nurse and said “all these boys just started beating me as I was walking down the hallway.” She asked “did any adult seen it and then I told her “no.” When I told her no she said “get out and she didn’t believe me.” I left and as I

When I was in high school, there was a band in my school that compete in the state competition every year, but I do not know whether this band still exist now or not since I have heard that they do not have enough members now. I was a member of it back then.