the ultimate instrument.. is.. *drumroll intensifies* *still getting louder bc this crescendo is 700 measures long what the fuck is happening oh my god please save me from this hell*
I don’t understand how people quit or don’t like band. It’s literally one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, and it hurts that my friends are leaving.
It may seem stupid that I’m getting so emotional about something that I still have so many years, and so many opportunities still, as freshman year is ending.
I’m going to be a section leader next year and it scares me that I might forget how to have fun and let loose in band, especially when so many of my friends are leaving it next year.
I just want to make the most of it while I’m here, and it’s hard to think a whole year went by like that.
There’s two things that my band director says before every game, when we’re lining up in parade block and it’s something that I think everyone should hear.
What makes a band successful? Every single person does their absolute best, all the time.
Remember who you are, remember who you represent, remember who you want to be.
And some of you may take it as just some stupid band thing, but you have to look past your section, past the band, past the people around you in order to really believe it. You have to look at yourself and tell yourself who you are and who you want to be to make it come true, to do your absolute best all the time.
And this may be why band is so important to me but it really is a family, as stupid as that may sound.
Ever wonder if your teachers/instructors happily tell all their friends about you when you finally get that one thing right, even if it was a tiny thing?? We do!! We love you! We are so proud!
As a marching band tech, I’ve gotten a lot of excuses for why someone isn’t wearing sunscreen during rehearsal. Under the cut, I address some of them! Please, please wear your sunscreen! Since our bodies are strong and young, it’s easy to forget that they need to be taken care of. If you’re perfecting your roll step to avoid rolling an ankle, you should also be applying sunscreen to avoid skin cancer!
Plus, sunburns hurt, and that pain can make people more irritable even if they don’t notice it. This won’t help when you’re hungry, tired, hot, and trying to learn dots! Contribute to your band’s success by taking care of yourself so you can be 100% there during rehearsal! (Plus, PLUS, you’re all really talented and ilu so be safe!!)
“Don’t worry, I just tan over my burns!” - One burn every two years triples your chance of skin cancer–it’s not worth the risk! You’re still burning! [source]
“I have dark skin! I won’t burn.” - Even lovely, melanin-rich skin can burn! It may take longer, but the consequences are the same. [source]
“I don’t like how sunscreen feels–it’s gross!” - I know! I am sorry, I hate it too. To get around this, try putting on a little less OR using a sunscreen designed not to feel greasy. [Here is a bunch!] Just because we think it’s gross doesn’t mean the sun will be kind to us. ): A little discomfort now is worth protecting your future!
“I like the tan!” - You can tan without burning! Here’s a [cosmopolitan article] that explains how.
So I was watching “Drumline” which stars Nick Cannon during the lockdown a few weeks back which led me to looking up lots of marching bands on YouTube as well as rap songs that had those kinds of beats influenced by the sounds of College marching bands and since I loved Beyoncé’s coachella performance that had a whole HBCU theme and marching band sound, I knew I had to try and make a beat which sounded like all of what I was hearing. This became “Get The W”
No matter what is going on in this world, keep pressing on and celebrate even the small wins you get!
so apparently Stranger Things is casting for a marching band and the only requirement is that the people are under 30. what I would like to know is if they’re casting a color guard???? because I would TOTALLY go for that!!! I really want them to cast for a color guard but even if they do I’m not sure I would be able to do it or whatever, but it’s the thought that counts!
UPDATE!!!!: they’re only casting people that play instruments (I hope a bunch of high school band nerds have an amazing time auditioning!) I’m super bummed out that they don’t have a color guard, buuuutttt at least some people will live out their dreams!
