The art of Marching (from the eyes of a newbie).
OK, so today, we started marching. I'm pretty good at it and, with minor adjustments I think I can definitely make it into Comp. band next year. But that is besides the point. The point is, the picture you visualize when thinking of me and my friends marching. Here it is, in full detail:
We get off one of the bright smack-in-the-face yellow school buses by the Band Room, but instead go out to the Football Stadium. It is a dull gray outside and is freezing cold! Dillon and Cooper are in shorts (the idiots had zipper pants on but exchanged them for shorts...smart, huh?) and I'm in short sleeves. Though being the smart ones we are, we all want to feel the sting of the cold. So brave, are we not? : ) We get out on the field to the sound of the directors shouting directions over the stadium loudspeakers. They line us up on the lines, tell us to stand up straight, don't move, and wait for Mr. Taylor to instruct you. We first learn relaxed, which is what we were standing at, believe it or not. Then, we learn the main marching position, Set. Set is simple enough to do. You take your fingers, push your hipbones back under your ribcage, allowing breathing space, put your instrument up high, weight must be shifted to the balls of your feet, chin lifted high, and that's it! Then, instead of the normal group of starters, we took EIGHT STEPS! Amazing! The most, I think, anyone has gone, is four. Aren't we special. Yeah, so we are all in formation, taking two steps, stopping, Resetting. And freezing. Finally, we are Reset-ed for one finally time. Mr. Harris congratulates on become members of the marching band. He dismiss us with "Fall out." And, we look at him, afraid to move. He tells us to cheer, we're done! We cheer and run to the buses, half in disbelief that we can still run and delusional from what feels like frostbite.
But it's something else, what you feel from marching, I mean. It's terrifying and cool. Refined and comfortable. Horrible yet, amazing. From the stands it looks so neat, and you can feel the unity between my friends and I strengthen with each session. More inside jokes, a better understanding of each other, and a feeling of belonging. It wasn't there yesterday and now all of a sudden, we are all part of...like..well, a family. (Scary as the thought of being related to Dillon is...) It's a good feeling though, and I look forward to feeling it again.
I have to admit, right after dismissal, I was distraught. I had to be adjusted three times! Twice by Mr. Taylor himself. I felt like I was just no good. But, when I got to the table, (which is now Prep free, thanks to our V.P.) and everyone wanted to know what was wrong, I realized I couldn't be hard on myself about this. Thinking about your mistakes too far is something that is reserved for concert band and auditions, not marching. Not yet. I let my feeling of self-hatred give way to the enjoyment I get from hanging out with my friends. So I have reached an internal agreement, haven't I? I think, it's not to let my scary over judging self ruin this for my friends. It was our first practice! I need, for once to use this excuse. I need to do this for them. Is this a good thing? I don't know...let's get off o this. I'll worry about this later.
Back to marching, I know it's a good thing, because ever since I left the field, I want to go back! I want to fix my mistakes (that's definitely an annoying trait of mine.) and be the best. I love the competition! It's going to be so great...I can't wait to march in the trail day's parade. My BFF, Kristi, (I swear, this is the last BFF, really) who is a year ahead of me, can help me too. She's an amazing flute player! But for now, I should probably get ready to eat, because after that, It's Grey's Anatomy time! Happy Grey Day guys! Later.
Lots o' hugs from, Amanda
We get off one of the bright smack-in-the-face yellow school buses by the Band Room, but instead go out to the Football Stadium. It is a dull gray outside and is freezing cold! Dillon and Cooper are in shorts (the idiots had zipper pants on but exchanged them for shorts...smart, huh?) and I'm in short sleeves. Though being the smart ones we are, we all want to feel the sting of the cold. So brave, are we not? : ) We get out on the field to the sound of the directors shouting directions over the stadium loudspeakers. They line us up on the lines, tell us to stand up straight, don't move, and wait for Mr. Taylor to instruct you. We first learn relaxed, which is what we were standing at, believe it or not. Then, we learn the main marching position, Set. Set is simple enough to do. You take your fingers, push your hipbones back under your ribcage, allowing breathing space, put your instrument up high, weight must be shifted to the balls of your feet, chin lifted high, and that's it! Then, instead of the normal group of starters, we took EIGHT STEPS! Amazing! The most, I think, anyone has gone, is four. Aren't we special. Yeah, so we are all in formation, taking two steps, stopping, Resetting. And freezing. Finally, we are Reset-ed for one finally time. Mr. Harris congratulates on become members of the marching band. He dismiss us with "Fall out." And, we look at him, afraid to move. He tells us to cheer, we're done! We cheer and run to the buses, half in disbelief that we can still run and delusional from what feels like frostbite.
But it's something else, what you feel from marching, I mean. It's terrifying and cool. Refined and comfortable. Horrible yet, amazing. From the stands it looks so neat, and you can feel the unity between my friends and I strengthen with each session. More inside jokes, a better understanding of each other, and a feeling of belonging. It wasn't there yesterday and now all of a sudden, we are all part of...like..well, a family. (Scary as the thought of being related to Dillon is...) It's a good feeling though, and I look forward to feeling it again.
I have to admit, right after dismissal, I was distraught. I had to be adjusted three times! Twice by Mr. Taylor himself. I felt like I was just no good. But, when I got to the table, (which is now Prep free, thanks to our V.P.) and everyone wanted to know what was wrong, I realized I couldn't be hard on myself about this. Thinking about your mistakes too far is something that is reserved for concert band and auditions, not marching. Not yet. I let my feeling of self-hatred give way to the enjoyment I get from hanging out with my friends. So I have reached an internal agreement, haven't I? I think, it's not to let my scary over judging self ruin this for my friends. It was our first practice! I need, for once to use this excuse. I need to do this for them. Is this a good thing? I don't know...let's get off o this. I'll worry about this later.
Back to marching, I know it's a good thing, because ever since I left the field, I want to go back! I want to fix my mistakes (that's definitely an annoying trait of mine.) and be the best. I love the competition! It's going to be so great...I can't wait to march in the trail day's parade. My BFF, Kristi, (I swear, this is the last BFF, really) who is a year ahead of me, can help me too. She's an amazing flute player! But for now, I should probably get ready to eat, because after that, It's Grey's Anatomy time! Happy Grey Day guys! Later.
Lots o' hugs from, Amanda
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