Band Students
February 06, 2005 16:54
Well, today I was thinking about how little focus we had on disciplined marching this last year. I just hope that next year's drum major will be more strict. I also hope that my teachers shoves a stick up his ass and gets a little meaner. This is what I think it should be like.
Many people tend to look at band students as just a bunch of geeks, that is not true. Band students not only play an instrument, but they also do many other things, one of the most difficult is marching. Marching band is the most mentally and physically strenuous things a band student deals with. “Marching band is very difficult for a number of reasons. You have to play the correct songs, (which are memorized), you must stay at the right speed, and play the exact rhythms. You must also remember to keep your toes up, marching from heel to toe, rolling to the next step on the outside edge of your foot (this is called roll stepping.) On top of all that you must stay in a perfect line with the people on both sides of you and in front of you.” This is what Jill Montgomery, this years Band President, had to say on the matter. Some of the things that she did not mention are some of the most difficult. One thing that comes to mind is the discipline we must show when we adorn our uniforms. When we are called to attention we must, as we often say at the end of a grueling practice, is to keep our “Feet, together! Stomach, in! Chest, out! Shoulders, back! Head, up! Eyes, front!” When, and only when, we are called to either “at ease,” or “dismiss,” are we allowed to show anything less then complete devotion and discipline. In conclusion, I must say that band students are not just “band geeks” or “band nerds,” but disciplined, dedicated, and devoted athletes. Yes athletes, because a sport by definition is “Any activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.” And an athlete is anyone who participates in a sport. So the next time you see a band student, remember that they don't just play an instrument, but they are athletes.
Well, today I was thinking about how little focus we had on disciplined marching this last year. I just hope that next year's drum major will be more strict. I also hope that my teachers shoves a stick up his ass and gets a little meaner. This is what I think it should be like.
Many people tend to look at band students as just a bunch of geeks, that is not true. Band students not only play an instrument, but they also do many other things, one of the most difficult is marching. Marching band is the most mentally and physically strenuous things a band student deals with. “Marching band is very difficult for a number of reasons. You have to play the correct songs, (which are memorized), you must stay at the right speed, and play the exact rhythms. You must also remember to keep your toes up, marching from heel to toe, rolling to the next step on the outside edge of your foot (this is called roll stepping.) On top of all that you must stay in a perfect line with the people on both sides of you and in front of you.” This is what Jill Montgomery, this years Band President, had to say on the matter. Some of the things that she did not mention are some of the most difficult. One thing that comes to mind is the discipline we must show when we adorn our uniforms. When we are called to attention we must, as we often say at the end of a grueling practice, is to keep our “Feet, together! Stomach, in! Chest, out! Shoulders, back! Head, up! Eyes, front!” When, and only when, we are called to either “at ease,” or “dismiss,” are we allowed to show anything less then complete devotion and discipline. In conclusion, I must say that band students are not just “band geeks” or “band nerds,” but disciplined, dedicated, and devoted athletes. Yes athletes, because a sport by definition is “Any activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.” And an athlete is anyone who participates in a sport. So the next time you see a band student, remember that they don't just play an instrument, but they are athletes.
posted by Monty at 16:54
2 Comments:
woot and such forth. and our director needs to take a leaf out of coach wiats book.
Too True man
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