I stood seven steps from the start line, hands sweaty and lips trembling. It seemed as if at any moment I would break the position of attention: feet at a forty-five degree angle, knees slightly bent, chin just above the horizon, and shoulders up, back, and down. Though I always dreamed of representing the Benicia High School Panther Band as their drum major, the lone figure in front of the block of blue and gold wearing a white British uniform and a brown bearskin hat, it never occurred to me that I was finally there. There was no way I could not be nervous; it was the last marching practice before my first competition in my career. Nevertheless, there was no escape.
For many years I have been known for being a very talented athlete. But what many people do not know is that I was once in the Elba Marching band. Being in the band has taught me a lot of things, like reading music, discipline and organization. The most interesting thing about the band was that we had to learn how to read music. At first this was a challenge for me, but I soon got the hang of it.
When I ended my sophomore year, I felt as if I was on top of the world. My grades were top tier, I had a successful soccer season, and I had just been assigned the drum major position in my school’s marching band. However about halfway through the following summer, I was diagnosed with depression. Instead of trying to fight through my condition, I allowed myself to slink deeper and deeper into an abyss. I knew that in my tenure as drum major, I would need to have a stable mind in order to be effective and have a possible impact on the band
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.
So much has happened to me in my 14 years of living! I’ve changed schools twice, made the Rocky Mountain Ballroom team, and met my best friends ever in the 2nd grade. So much more has happened in my life but these are some of the best things! All of these have helped me get through thick and thin. Changing schools the first time was pretty rough.
Elbert Hubbard once said that “A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn into glorious success.” In ninth grade, I played trumpet in Concert Band, the slower-paced band class for lower-level musicians, but I made it a goal of mine to make it into Honors Wind Ensemble, an audition-only concert band. I auditioned for Wind Ensemble at the end of ninth grade, but sadly didn’t get in because I was nervous about playing in front of someone. At the end of tenth grade, I thought would be guaranteed a spot for eleventh grade, but my nerves got the best of me again, and I was put in Concert Band for another year. Determined to make it into Wind Ensemble my senior year, I decided that something needed
Hello. So this is gonna be a really honest talk. This year 's been miserable for us for this entire year. We 've done our best to hold this group back, we 've had crappy attitudes, we 've done everyrthing incorrectly. And I 'm generalising, it 's not everyone.
Music is a very recent thing that has changed my life. I have always had an interest for music, since I was young I would dream of playing the Alto Saxophone. My dream became a reality in Sixth Grade when I was able to pick up and learn an instrument. I ended up choosing the Tenor Saxophone because of its dark full sound. I progressed very quickly taking lessons from Jill Marasa, band director at Costa Catholic Academy, later that year I bought a Flute, and Clarinet.
My first Carnegie Hall experience wasn’t what I expected it to be. As I entered the balcony of the Stern auditorium, I was amazed by the beautiful design of the white and gold walls and the beautiful red seats. Upon looking at my Concert Quick Guide I noticed the first symphony Leon Botstein was conducting was Arnold Schoenberg! When I flipped the guide to observe what else was in store for me, my eyes opened wide as I saw Mozart! I felt as if I wasn’t completely ignorant towards the classical music world, here I am in Carnegie Hall for the first time and I have a general background of the two original composers of Chamber Symphony No. 2 and Great Mass in C Minor.
Mid-December on a Friday morning the most unexpected situation brought harsh feelings towards me. I found out I did not make the District 's All-City Honor Band. Every year before that day, I have always achieve a chair in the honor band since I have been playing the clarinet. That disappointment hit my heart the deepest and hardest way possible because that morning I woke up certain I made the band. I took the failure hard with all kinds shenanigans with negative thoughts and feelings.
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.
I was born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, an area immersed in a relaxed coastal culture and a vibrant jazz and blues heritage. Gulfport is located right off the Gulf of Mexico and less than an hour from New Orleans, Louisiana. Living near the Gulf, heavily influenced my childhood, I would spend weekends at the beach, and long hours traveling to distant islands far from the coast I called home. The music you would hear at the beach were always from timeless Americana artist; such as, Bob Dylan and Jonny Cash. My parents, not musicians themselves, were infatuated with the music of the late 1980’s from artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Journey.
Interning at the Green Room Community Theatre didn’t feel like work, it was an amazingly fun experience with great instructors and interns. My expectations going in on the first day were more than exceeded especially after I met David Townsend which is an incredible role model. He is so passionate about what he does and I hope one day I will feel the same way about my career choice. I couldn’t have been happier with where I chose to intern. I met so many amazing interns that I hope come back and intern at the Green Room again just as I hope to next summer, we all got along so well and there was never a dull moment between us.
I attended the Stadium Party during the week of AGOGE for freshmen. Everyone was given a "Stadium Party" shirt as souvenir. It was held in the URC Greatroom. It was supposed to be a required event but I don 't think everyone went. We were served dinner, which consisted of cheeseburgers and hotdogs.
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.
