The Importance Of Jumping

I have been turned down spots for solos and symphonic bands. Early on, I struggled to make friends with others. During my freshman year I labored to learn our high energy marching and parading style. Multiple times I wanted to quit and throw in the towel. I thought because I wasn’t “the best” that I shouldn’t continue with band. But my gut told me to stick with it. I began to practice more often, not just music, but marching, and parading as well. I began to receive tutoring lessons from one of my directors. I slowly but surely began to make friends with those around me. Before every audition, I spent more time than the last honing my skills. I aspired to improve. Not before long my efforts started to pay off. From year to year, I drastically improved my musical and marching ability, while making friends that will last a lifetime. As time went on I began to realize just how valuable an education in music is and how much of a fool I would have been to throw it away. If I would have ended up quitting band I would have become a completely different person. I would have lost much more than I would have gained and my life would be forever

I came into my audition only auditioning for the ensemble, leaving the audition I ended up receiving the titular role of Pippin. There was also a dance audition, where we were asked to learn the choreography to All that Jazz from the musical Chicago, this was a challenging experience because I have had no professional dance training but I ended up doing very well and responding well to the choreographer and her teachings. This whole process helped me to develop my confidence and social skills. The auditions were the most like professional auditions I’ve ever attended, and therefore allowed me to better understand what the real musical theatre industry is like and give me a taste of what it would be like if I continued onto large productions. I was very lucky to receive the lead role, as I didn’t even audition for it, despite not seeing this at the time. There was a long break between auditions and the beginning of rehearsals, almost three weeks. This seemed like a very long period of time due to not being able to tell any of my fellow cast mates that I had received a

A couple of months later competition season came and I was so nervous to go out there and perform in front of a lot of people. After the first

The auditions were in January of 2012. I did not know of the results of my performance, and neither did Mr. Carter. I began to put it off until for the rest of the day. I really did not know what to think. I believed that it was a successful audition, but my doubts had come into play, and the thought of it all started to just make me nervous. I mean, how could a child, who knew little about music, possibly accomplish such a

I auditioned for my school's play Harvey freshman year. I worked intensively on my audition. Anticipation flooded my body when I heard the cast list was posted in auditorium days after the auditions. Immediately after my last period class, I dashed to the auditorium to look at the list and see what part I got. I scrutinized the list multiple times and didn't see my name. I felt incredible sadness, disappointment and embarrassment, but figured the director decided this because I was a freshman and did not know the school very well, and the upperclassmen were more experienced and deserving than I. So, I accepted my failure and decided to try again next year.

As with most kids, I was a bit nervous about my transition from middle school to high school. One advantage I had was that I participated in band in middle school and planned to be in the band in high school. The Round Rock High School band has a history of excellence and I was looking forward to being a part of that organization. This was an extraordinary time and I looked forward to being a part of the band with great anticipation. Being a part of an organization such as this makes the transition to high school seem much easier and it seemed I had a ready-made group of friends that I could rely on and ask questions of if necessary. After all, the Round Rock High School Band has over 300 members.

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

I knew the music was tough, but that was just what I wanted for myself. I practiced a piece and some scales. I did a live audition, made it in, and am extremely proud of myself. Another example is when I wanted to get into CMU’s honors band. I re-recorded my audition tape until I got it perfect, and submitted it with confidence.

When I received the results of the audition, I saw that I did not get in. This result paper did not make me upset or make me want to throw in the towel, it only made me want to work harder. I started to practice flute more and more everyday, practicing different techniques so I could be ready for any challenge that is brought upon me.

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

The production process for “The Audition” was unlike any other show I’ve been a part of. The scenes were rehearsed and broken up into sections that were often blocked out of order, and other elements of the show like the dancing and singing, also started out as separate entities from the rest of the show. This came with multiple challenges, but many of them worked themselves out in the end. The dance and choreography was especially exciting for me, because it is something I enjoy and have a talent for. That being said, there were still challenges that came along with it. I had to learn how to teach dance to people who have never set foot inside a dance studio which is no easy task. Luckily, the more

Of course like the band nerd I am, I was really excited to try out and hopefully be a part of something that is much bigger than yourself. So a couple weeks after trying out, I figure out that I have made the marching band as a freshman! I also figured out that some of the Washington clarinets made it too. So after I passed eighth grade, summer finally came and I had to learn all of this challenging music that was above my knowledge and had to turn them into to a website to prove that I was practicing. Near end of July came and I had to go the dreaded band

I am auditioning for the positions of Sousaphone Section Leader and Drum Major. I have a slight woodwind background though I transitioned to playing tuba three years ago. I have marched for the Brigade for those three years while playing sousaphone. Before high school, I devoted most of my days after school in the fall to assisting the band in any way they needed. From Band-Aid to Assistant Section Leader, I have always done my best to make it to every practice and every competition. Granted, I have missed a couple marching rehearsals for medical or scholastic reasons, but all were excused. I have always been one to encourage others to participate to their best ability while at rehearsal in order to make the most of it. I have never gotten

I first joined the band in the fourth grade playing the drums. I played for about two weeks then I quit because I didn't like it, mostly because of the teacher. In the sixth grade we got a new music teacher and told me I look like a trumpet player, so I gave it a try. I was taking music lessons but after the first one my music teacher told me she had to leave because she