“Tuba number ten, please do not talk in this audition. If you have a question please step out and ask the door manager. Let’s begin! Please play your Bb major scale,” and “Drum major, is your band ready?” send me to an entirely new world of focus. My heart races when I hear these words. Everything I have ever practiced eludes me in these moments yet could not be more clear. The struggles I have dealt with in music have completely changed my view on every aspect of my life. Failure is inevitable in music, but the setbacks of auditioning, my musical walk, and my time in marching band have made success even sweeter than I could have ever imagined and have taught me a great deal about myself. Auditioning has always haunted me. The nerves build up regardless of preparedness and whether or not I can handle it could potentially be detrimental. Over the years, failure in my craft has taught me that fear is not an option. Fear has held me back. Being judged is all part of a musician's life. We go to assessments to be judged on performance and musical ability. The same thing goes for singular assessments. Auditions judge an individual for how well they do under extreme pressure. Auditions, to me, do not fully show the potential of an individual musician. For example, I can play a mean tuba, but when I get behind that screen I lose every ounce of musical ability I have ever known. For example, One time in the 9th grade, I auditioned for all district band. I had practiced for so long
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.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that children get asked quite frequently. Most of the time, a child aims big and chooses an extravagant career, like an astronaut, a police officer, or a doctor. Obviously, it is impossible for a child to obtain one of those jobs at such a young age. However, acting in Hollywood is a possible career for a child. If a child is talented enough to be a star, then why not let them pursue their passion? While the life of being an actor in Hollywood seems like a dream to most children, fame comes with many terrible obstacles for some stars. Over the years, there has been a large debate on whether or not acting in Hollywood as a child is as picture-perfect as it seems. Hollywood is filled with tons of secrets. Why should a child be put into such an untrustworthy environment? Acting in Hollywood is in no way safe for children.
It is during monotonous afternoons in the sweltering heat where one discovers the true limitations of his or her resolve. Remarkably, our exuberant group of approximately 160 members repeatedly managed to accomplish a new feat and set a precedent after every repetition. Much of this persistence I attribute to our band director, whose passion and resolution roused us to attain superior versions of ourselves. Often, he would remind us that “what was acceptable yesterday is not acceptable today”, a sample of his wisdom that prompted me to audition for the role of drum major. A drum major is essentially the foremost proprietor of student leadership within a marching band and he or she functions as a musical conductor during performances. Though I was not chosen at the conclusion of my freshman year, my commitment only intensified. I auditioned once more at the end of the following year and was selected. Suddenly, I was thrust into a renowned position of liability. My success depended on effectively communicating with individuals unfamiliar to me on a daily basis and defusing stiff situations. Stressful and tedious as I have discovered the role to be, it has bolstered my confidence and allowed me to acknowledge the mantle of leadership in a new
After doing exceptionally well in my district-level audition, I had the opportunity to continue to try out for the state level. Now, throughout the first audition, I had the help of a few people. Of course my middle school band director, Mr. Carter, had helped me on this treacherous road; however, a man named Andrew Bennett had also decided to chance with me.
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
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
For the 2017-2018 SIHS marching band season, I am applying for the position of Drum Major. I am choosing to do so because I believe I am a strong and competitive candidate for multiple reasons. Something I think is very valuable in considering someone for a leadership role is their determination. In marching band, giving up is never an option no matter how hard things are. When you’re in charge of the entire band you can't give up because everyone's leaning back and relying on you.
I practiced. Finally, the end of my junior year season came. As soon as we stepped off the field from state finals awards I started talking about being 2016 field commander. I went home, watched our old shows and conducted them. Somewhere around the end of April, our band director gave my opponent and me the score and a recording of the music for the upcoming show. He told us that he wanted it memorized for the audition. I started practicing immediately. I spent my lunch break and my last 2 classes listening to the recording and reading through the score. One day in class our director tells us that our band will be marching in the Great American Brass Band Festival Parade. What would we do for that? We would play the upcoming seasons music. So, we should be having the auditions for field commander soon. I was excited, though I knew I didn’t have a high chance because my opponent was the “favorite” choice. How did I know she was the favorite? Because as I talked to a friend about the parade, their response was “I’m not sure about performing since (our previous field commander) isn’t sure if my opponent wanted to, I mean, or whoever gets the position..” So I practiced harder and longer than anything I had ever done. Because I wanted the position
I aspire to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where I intend to graduate with a double major in History and International Relations with the goal of working for a humanitarian aid organization.
I go to a lot of auditions. Last year, I went to seven. The year before it was five. They’re very important, because I need to get experience auditioning, and I look forward to receiving criticism for the adjudicators. However, one part of auditioning that I’m not used to is failure.
Ever since my older sister, Molly, had gotten into our high school’s marching band I have longed to join; that was almost 3 years ago. As the years went on I went into middle school and started my band life there. I went to 6th grade as a new percussionist. I wasn’t the most social person so playing in front of people soon became the main worry. I would deal with this difficulty all of middle school. But I learned to overcome it at my tryouts for the marching band.
Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Health, United States, 2002. Flegal et. al. JAMA. 2002;288:1723-7. NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, 1998.
“Your assignment is to write a persuasive essay and present it to the class in a week. You will be graded based on how convincing it is. Today we will be choosing topics,” announced Mr. Bowerbank, my 7th grade English teacher and ruler of classroom 110. My class simultaneously groaned at the prospect of work. I simply lifted my head with intrigue as it was already May and about time we had our first essay. He then proceeded to give examples of topics we could choose and gave us some time to think before we had to tell him our topic. My classmates were already rushing to tell the teacher their idea lest someone else steal it. That meant the usual abortion, death penalty, or drug use topics were out. I really couldn't think of anything and the teacher was slowly making his way through the remaining students like an executioner beheading criminals in a line. I have always thought that he would make a marvelous supervillain if he had a curly mustache, a tophat, and a cape. Eventually my name was called. I slowly dragged myself over to his desk. Even sitting down, he still seemed to tower over me. “What is your topic Cindy?” As usual in such desperate times, my mind turned to food. “Waffles are better than pancakes.” I figured that a waffle was just a differently shaped pancake with a nicer texture. “Hmm. Excellent topic. I look forward to your essay!” I survived to live yet another day.
Why spend money that is really needed for other things? Why live uncomfortably? Why be trapped in this hole called a home that belongs to another person? Why not live free and peacefully? When a person rents he or she usually throws away money that could be used to purchase something that belongs to them. Money is not easy to come by so why pay out hundreds toward something that is not benefit to the person paying it out. There is no good explanation for making a decision like this. The best option in a situation like this is to buy a house. Buying a house is a better option than renting an apartment.
Southwest Airlines has developed the ability to attract top talent while retaining those already working within their company. This human resource function is one that companies are striving to continuously improve. In which many companies try to duplicate Southwest’s approach, but are not as successful as the customer service oriented airlines themselves. The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. Fulfilling this mission statement begins within the recruiting and selection process. Finding the right people, with the right attitude, can be more challenging as one may think.