Marching Band Struggles

The History of Marching Band There are many things that have influenced my love for music. However, the most influential of them all would have to be marching band. Marching band has been a major part of my life for 10 years. Marching band has been a way that musicians for many years have portrayed music throughout history.

I hate marching band. Leaving the trap of a class was the best decision I made in my high school experience. Once I was through with band, I joined theater. Joining theater for my schedule well, introduced me to friends, and opened my mind to new possibilities I hadn't considered before. Marching band was physically demanding.

There is a great debate on whether marching band is a sport or not. In marching band the performers have to get a physical. Also there are competitions for marching. Another thing is that most people think that only nerds are in marching band, but most people don’t know that the people in marching band are actually using more energy than the football team. Marching band is a sport because of the Physical exertion, the mental fitness, and the time it takes to practice.

Out of all the things I would do in high school, nothing would impact me more than joining the North Rangers Marching Band. It would give me more skills than any other aspect of my life that would prepare me for a future and allow me to evolve from a shy child to an adult with skills that prepared me for my future. I went into high school as a shy kid, with no true direction, at least until I discovered my schools marching band. Although coming in two years behind most of me peers, I knew that this was where I was meant to be, and with that, my mind was set and I was determined. Throughout the next two years, I would face countless difficulties with this that felt at times like tests of my willpower and what this band meant to me, but luckily I would push through, and in the end, would be left with a stronger person.

When I was a child my mother would take me to the Oktoberfest parade each year to watch the marching bands. I still remember standing on the sidewalk eagerly waiting for the sound of cadence from the drums; the bass drum like the pulse of a living creature and the sound still playing in my mind long after the parade had ended. Years flew by and suddenly I found myself standing in block band awaiting the three sharp chirps of the drum major 's stainless steel whistle a signal that would spark a chain reaction causing each row to step off like a well-oiled machine. Standing as still as statues we waited until the drum major had called "Band ten hut!" after one short whistle and one long whistle the signal that we were about to step off.

Throughout my high school career, I was forced into many situations where I was challenged to connect with my peers and serve as a role model for future students. Whether it be my involvement in the school marching band, or helping students in community tutoring sessions, I have always made it my goal to better the people around me through my own efforts. Throughout my high school career, I have put forth my best effort to connect with my peers, transform individuals, and make a difference in my community. Joining the school marching band at the beginning of my freshman year of high school was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

The time had come. The award ceremony of the last competition of the marching band season, the National Championships for class IV A was beginning shortly. Being at the J. Birney Crum Stadium with the rest of band, as well as other marching bands from around the Northeast, was surreal. The energy was crackling through the air as we waited with anticipation for the ceremony to commence. Minutes before, all of us were watching a lively performance by Sacred Heart University.

Color guard is extremely special and important to me. Many ask, “what is color guard?” “What do you guys even do?” When an audience watches a performance, what most people see is a bunch of people jumping and dancing across a football field, in strange costumes with flags and weapons in their hands, to marching band music. It may seem a bit ridiculous and whimsical to someone that has never been to a marching band competition.

Easy to encounter, not so easy to overcome, failures claw at hopes and successes. They bring down those who are weak enough to let them in. They strengthen those that can get past them. I got past one that almost ruined my chances for new opportunities.

Throughout my life, I have participated in a lot of activities and have had several different experiences. In the past, I have been involved in several different activities, such as Marching Band. Not only that, I have also made commercials for a product that I invented for my high school economics project. With these experiences, they make oral and visual literacy the easiest types of literacy for me to do.

I’m at home on the high school parking lot. It’s the only space the administration grudgingly affords our marching band, and yet it’s ours. The band family lives and thrives off people supporting each other, we are there for each other when no one else is. I was elected by this family to be their band president last spring, and I have been completely changed. Despite the flashy title, I am still just one member of this 140 strong group, and I am still pushing to fulfill the responsibility placed on my shoulders.

Imagine you were standing on a massive football field with thousands of eyes on you. Your legs quiver with excitement, ready to show the audience what you and your closest friends have got. And it begins; your very first marching band performance. This is the beautiful part of marching band: compassion, friendship, competitiveness, courage, and the strength to continue. This is why marching band is a sport.

It all came down to this. All of the long hours of hard work, all leading up to this one final practice. Next Saturday the Liberty High School Marching Band would be competing at the FootHill Band Review and every member had to give it their all if we wanted to have a successful practice. It was a brisk October night, the leaves on the trees were turning a beautiful auburn, and the sun disappearing into a golden sea behind Mount Diablo. As we got into our formation in the parking, I felt the brass slowly turning my hands numb as I held my trumpet.