Roni G. posted on October 28, 2009
I remember freshman year. I was full of ideals and hope. At my middle school, I had been ostracized for being so different. My thoughts had been, “Hey! I’m in high school! I’ll find friends!” And so I joined the band. What I didn’t realize was that it was MARCHING band.
But I was okay with it. I figured it was going to be filled with people who were sort of like me: freaks of the world. Man, was I wrong. Marching band was probably one of the worst places I went in freshman year, for multiple reasons, such as no friends, no fun, and no empathy. I had high hopes for the next year, but sophomore year was almost worse, because now I had lower classmen treating me like dirt. It seemed that even amongst the band geeks, I was a freak.
I learned my lesson, though. I quit the band and joined the family at La Casa’s Pizzeria. But I have to say, the things I’ve learned in band are hard to let go.
Marching Band has taught me ENDURANCE: Only in marching band will you find a large group of students in the tail end of summer outside marching at two in the afternoon. For hours on end, we would march, with only our water bottle for comfort. Sure, we’d get a few minute’s break here and there, and there was snack time and lunch time, but 95% of the time in band was spent on our feet.
In my work place, I spend the entire four or five hours on my feet, running around getting people food or water. I have discovered, much to my delight, that marching like I did in band relieved pain on my feet. And I was marveled at how long I could be on my feet before I started to complain.
Marching Band has taught me FLEXIBILITY: Only in marching band will you find a large group of students marching forward but facing sideways. This was a move we’d work forever to perfect: to be able to march one way and face perpendicular and play. It was incredibly hard for some, but it was a core move, for much of the show would have students moving in such a way.
La Casa’s is a small restaurant. And when I say small, I mean SMALL small. It’s hard to move when it’s empty, let alone when it’s full. But due to the training I have received in band, I can move comfortably amongst the people. It’s a wonder to the people how I can move in such ways.
Marching Band has taught me TO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES: In marching band, nothing ever seemed to go as planned. As the actual marchers, we had to learn to roll with the punches. Those who didn’t became those really grouchy band people you meet in the hallway.
In La Casa’s, those who don’t roll with the punches are also those people who just really aren’t that pleasant. Those who go with the flow are the people to have on your side, THAT’S for sure.
And finally . . . Marching Band has taught me TO APPRECIATE MUSIC BETTER: When I was younger, I listened to music without really LISTENING. I didn’t appreciate how much hard work it took to make the music I found so entertaining. That all changed once I got to band. Only when you work hard enough to play just ONE of the instruments do you really listen to music. That and playing the bass line over and over makes you pay attention to what others are doing. It’s key to listen to what the others are playing so you play the right tempo, or the right notes, or to get quiet.
Even now, I found myself listening to the little parts of the music, picking out the different instruments and how they all work together to make one wonderful piece of music. True, this doesn’t affect my working career, but as a music lover, I marvel at the different sounds one can find in a band.
Life is almost nothing without music. It teaches, it soothes, it mentors, it agitates, it frightens . . it’s a living thing. We of the marching band understand this, and throughout my life, I will never forget the lessons it has taught me.
~Story by Roni Gosch