first introduced to marching band competitions through my high school band director Mr. Bowen. I always wondered how he prepared the band competitions and how he picked the ones we traveled to. So I decided to interview him to find out. My main topic was to find out how he went upon finding them and inviting other bands to our competitions. I managed to sit down with him and ask a few thing to clarify how the process goes. It all starts with learning the purpose of marching competitions. I asked…
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instruments. It was the day when the school decided to introduce us to and recruit us for band. There were two teachers who played well-known pieces of music for us that suited the instruments they were showing, such as Pirates of the Caribbean for the baritone. The whole demonstration piqued my interest, but I wasn’t completely sold on joining band. Afterwards, I was handed a form on which I could either complete a join band with the instrument of my choice or opt to continue with choir. That night I spent…
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concert and marching band from sixth grade until I was a junior in high school. I know I was a band geek, but there is a reason I am saying this so stick with me. I marched at multiple different performances, from Torch Light in La Crosse WI to Red Rock Amphitheater in Colorado. I’ve had my fair share of experience with all types of different people, from drunks to people basically kissing the ground we walked on and through it all I had a blast. We were one of the best marching bands around the…
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we counted off with it. “5…6…5, 6, 7, 8” and we stepped off, left foot first onto the grassy field. We slowly passed the white painted lines, hitting each line in 8 step intervals until we reached the 30 yard line. The color guard separated from the band then, and we quickly set all of our flags, sabres, and rifles on specific yard lines. It was dead silent now, and I was standing where we would start the show. I tried to remember to breathe as the two drum majors dressed in bright white jogged to…
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Freshman year can be overwhelming. We’re fourteen year olds being launched into a completely new world. If it was not for marching band, I would still be lost. Joining the Eaton High School Marching band gave my spot in this school. Everyone finds their little niche in high school, and mine is band. I entered high school already knowing about fifty people because of summer band camps, and I never went through the awkward, “Where am I going to sit?” question. I had upperclassmen friends whom I still…
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watching the sea of uniformed band members march down the field. My parents pointed out a specific member who was not marching with everybody else. Instead she was standing in front of everyone, conducting, she was the drum major. This person was a family friend of ours and at the time, I greatly admired her, and wanted to be just like her. Ever since that game, i knew i wanted to be a drum major, just like her. In eighth grade, towards the end of the year, the high school band director would come visit…
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The experiences I have had during my time in marching band makes me the person I am today. I can’t remember a time when my life didn’t revolve around being in band. But the most impactful event was when the band lost our band director and had to support ourselves. Being in the student leadership, I was one of several who had to learn how to lead our program. This taught me specific qualities such as leadership, responsibility, and how to deal with immense pressure. I’ve learned life lessons that…
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I'm part of my high school marching band. I'm also part of the band leadership team. This upcoming season I will be the flute section leader. Therefore, I will need to communicate with my section for anything that might come up or rehearsal schedule changes. As well with my other peers, communication is very important for the season to run smoothly. In my past experience as the section leader assistant, I was often put down when I tried to correct someone who was obviously making some sort of mistake…
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I was sitting in the stadium of my local high school, something that would make any other timid 13 year old uncomfortable, yet I was ecstatic. I was about to see a marching band live for the first time and I felt as excited as any 13 year old band kid could. In the stands, I watched on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to begin, not wanting to miss a single second. From the first step off I was amazed, but it wasn't until they all pointed their horns up at once and played the first hit of the…
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Though my interests are many, one of my greatest passions and accomplishments was when I made the fateful decision to join my high school marching band. Initially just a ruse/excuse to get closer to the girls I had crushes on, I rapidly found out that it was so much more than that - it was a place I could go to escape from all else that ailed me. I had always loved making music, but now I could do it in an atmosphere more encouraging and supportive than I had ever thought possible. I was known as…
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