Author: haleyroark

I have talked about a lot of things in my past blogs, but I never got the chance to talk about my freshman year. Freshman year was so eventful and exciting, I really wish I could have a year like that again. Right now I am a junior in high school which means I have one more year left, but I’m going to make this the best year yet despite the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The beginning Of Freshman me

My first time joining the marching band was technically my eighth grade year but it was at the end of the year. At this time I was classified as a Freshman. The one person I knew, had to push me through the band room doors because I was absolutely terrified. It was the first year I’ve been at that school, and being the shy introvert I was, I didn’t talk to people. But once I went through those doors, I felt right at home. 

The Tree of Life

That year’s show was based on someone very special to the band that died in a car wreck. Our show was based on life and death; they are beautiful in their own ways. The 2018-2019 show was called ‘The Tree of Life’. Our show was absolutely beautiful with the baritone solo, songs, and the guard flags made specifically for the show. The music brought everything in perspective with the drill. 

In almost all the competitions we went to, we won first place. In the Finals, we won third place. But all together that was my very first experience with marching band and it turned out the be the best year of my life. The excitement that came from hearing our name over the speaker for the very first competition, honestly it made me cry. I was so happy. I would love to have that year again. Feeling everything like that, for the first time again. I would do anything. 

What am I going to do now?

My senior year is about to start for the band and I’m going to make that year happen again. If I get drum major, I will do anything in my power to make it the best “one last time”, no matter what it takes. If I don’t get drum major I will still make it the best year. There is nothing that can stop me now.

I know in my other blogs I’ve said this many times, but it’s still unbelievable. I am going to be a senior next year. It’s insane. I feel like I should still be in 10th grade. My high school years are flying by so fast. I’m excited to graduate and go to college, but I’m also sad that this is the last year I have with my band family.

Something that has always been on my mind since freshman year, is being a drum major. My senior year I have decided to audition for it. Now I still wanted to experience the marching and playing as part of the band, and I think that being a drum major my senior year would just be the cherry on top. I want my senior year to be the best year yet and I think I would be a great leader. A leader for everyone, not just my section. 

Here’s the Tea

Now the reason I want to be a Drum major rather than a section leader is that I wasn’t really a part of the saxophone group. They always seemed to forget me. I think that if I was a section leader it would only be for myself. Someone else in the saxophone section would ‘become’ section leader and push me out of it.

To be honest, in the three years I have been in the band I was my own section leader. They never seemed to notice or care. If there was a sectional, I never knew about it until the next day. Or anything to do with them. I was the odd one out. So I decided to join the low brass section because one, I played the same part they did, two, they treated me like I belonged. Low brass would help me with my music, they would slow down if I couldn’t keep up. They didn’t treat me like a burden.

Now I was happy being in the low brass section, but the saxophones didn’t. They were like “you’re a saxophone you should be over here with us.” I didn’t care anymore. My band director put me with the low brass anyways. 

emotional roller coaster

This roller coaster of emotions is kinda over now. If you need more understanding of what I just said I gotchu fam. I have been constantly ignored, and unwanted by my section. So I figured that if I had a higher position I would be a part of the band.

If there is something you want me to cover specifically in another blog just comment down below and I will happily help! Also, tell me what was the hardest decision you made in the band?

Think about a superhero. Who did you think of? Wonder Women? Superman? Or did you think about your favorite teacher? There are so MANY heroes out there; some of them you don’t really see. Now my favorite fictional superhero is Spiderman, but my favorite nonfictional superhero is my band director. But why is he my hero?

Mr. Fry is my hero

My band director does so much for everyone in the band. He gets up extra early for competitions even if the competition is at like 5 am. He pushes us to do our best and work together when something doesn’t work right.  He encourages us to be the person we truly are and not hide our weirdness. Mr. Fry is truly a great person. He cares for everyone no matter who you are. He is a great father to a wonderful family. Mrs.Fry is “mom” to the band family.

Band directors are everything. They help create our family, they become a part of our family. I’m going to be a senior next school year and I will see Mr.Fry one last time. He’s moving from our school to a different school to become a principal. I’m very excited and very proud of Mr. Fry, but I am going to miss him a lot.

Mr.Fry isn’t the only one who helps. The band moms and dads do so much for us too. They make us lunch which usually consists of desserts, LOTS of fruit and a sandwich or something they prepared at home. They feed us, clean our dirty uniforms, and fix anything that needs to be fixed. If you need something the band moms have it.

These people are my heroes because they do absolutely everything for us. They make our lives easier. Marching band is already stressful for everyone especially right before a competition or a football game. The band moms care for everyone. No matter what mood you’re in Mr.Fry or a band parent will make you feel so much better. 

Band room Rant

Welcome to the band room kids! Where the other kids are never allowed and where the true emotions of the band come out. The band room is our sacred place. A getaway from the real world basically.

Now I know some of you try to sneak into the band room to see your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever. But I know band kids were trying to get you out by making weird noises or just like T-posing and screeching EEEEEEE before you finally left. Now that’s the only side you have seen from the band kids and band director. It kinda seems like we hide our true identity when we aren’t in the band room.

Now you probably hear all these great things about the band, and how cool we sound and look when we are on the field. But behind those closed band doors you don’t know what’s actually happening. It could be after a football game, a practice of the show, or after pep band. Kids are on the verge of tears, laughter, anger, just any emotion you can think of, happens right there in the band room.

Off to Band

Ok so, the first thing we would do right as the bell rang for the seventh period to start was just decking it to the band room. We had about 7 maybe 8 minutes to change, grab our instruments and walk to the field that was about a 4-5 minute walk, and put our instruments together and be on the field in time to stretch. This was a CHORE. I wouldn’t dare to be late either.

What happens when someone shows up late to practice the WHOLE band has to run a lap around the softball field or on the track. (depends if we are practicing on the football field.) Now I REALLY hate this because the people who were on time don’t deserve to be punished. It’s not our fault the person that was late has the time management skills of a potato. Make the person who was late run. Not the rest of us. I signed up for band not track, first of all, secondly, all that energy that I was saving for the band was just gone. I had no energy after running.

Running a lap isn’t the worst thing I’ve been through. I’ve been to football games and competitions that would literally freeze me. Long story short, I had to change the pads on my saxophone. Why? Because my band director thought it would be ok to make everyone practice thirty minutes after the time we were supposed to practice. This made me very angry because we had a competition the next day and I couldn’t play one note without squeaking. I hope that doesn’t happen again or I will probably lose it again.

Mahoneys debut is the song where my instrument wouldn’t play.

If you want to join the band and you’re not sure where to start, start here. Now if you want to wait for your instructor to teach you this go ahead. But if you don’t want to look like a dummy on the first day like I did, here’s what you need to know. These are the basics of Roll-stepping.

The first thing that anyone learned before stepping on the field was how to march. There are three different kinds of marching and it really depends on your school or program. There is military, corps, and show style. Military and corps are basically the same things except that the military usually only consists of straight lines. Corps bands do more curving and shapes. While they are both different, they have some similarities. Both military and corps use roll stepping. Now show-style bands use 90-degree marching, where your knees form a 90-degree angle. That sounds painful, continuously marching like that.

What is Roll Stepping?

My band specifically uses roll step marching. This is the one I will be mostly talking about. Now roll stepping seems a lot harder than it actually is. Roll stepping is rolling your foot. That’s all it is. You start at your heel and roll your foot down to the platform of your foot. 

The hard part about roll stepping isn’t the roll stepping itself, it’s trying to roll step at 180 bpm while playing an instrument, and marching 2 to 5. Roll stepping itself is very easy but 180 bpm is kinda fast and 2 to 5 is two steps every 5 yards., so you have to reach the 5th yard in 2 steps.

How to Roll-step

1. The first thing you want to do is separate your blocks
2. You want to lift your upper body to make yourself seem taller
3. To begin marching you want to start with your left foot
4. You don’t want to pick up your feet, you want to swing them.
5. To actually march you roll your foot from your heel to your toes

Tips

1. Separating your blocks mean lifting your upper body from your lower body
2. You want to keep your blocks separated for easier movement of your lower body
3. Depending on your band you could start with either foot but my band starts with the left foot
4. When your marching you don’t want to drag your feet as much, occasionally you will but it’s ok
5. You want to start at the very back of your heel and then roll your foot smoothly down to your toes
6. If you are practicing in the grass you want your foot to swing through the grass, not above it

Band camp usually consists of marching, playing, and drill. If you don’t know what these words mean yet, better buckle down you’re in for a ride. Don’t get overwhelmed and have FUN!

Just One More Time

I have been in the band for three years with one more to go. There are so many things I have learned and things I still have left to learn. Marching band isn’t just about playing an instrument and winning competitions, it’s about the people you’re with and the places you go. The moms, the dads, the director, drum major, everyone becomes part of your family, you make so many amazing memories that you will never forget and you will always talk about. 

Band Together

Have you ever played an instrument or saw someone playing an instrument  and thought “wow this is pretty neat”? well don’t I got a sport for you (yes it is a sport.) Marching band is a combination of walking, playing, sprinting, counting, spinning. It’s a lot of things. It seems pretty hard at first but if you can sit down and play an instrument while counting you’re already halfway there WAY TO GO! Now I can tell you why you should join or I can just say join band, it’s cool. It’s a family away from your actual family. Which is pretty neat. 

The most fun comes from the experiences you get with these people. You guys basically suffer together, what more do you want? Yea it’s rough at times but it’s such an amazing experience. The places you go, the people you meet. There is honestly nothing better than hearing your band’s name being called on the loudspeaker when you win first place. I can’t really describe this feeling, but if you have ever experienced this, you know what I’m talking about. There is so much to experience from the band besides sunburn and body pain. Sometimes you can’t even feel your toes!