TUCBIDG
As a Freshman in college, I decided to join the UC Bearcat Marching Band because I was a marching band NERD in high school. I marched six years from seventh through twelfth grade and had some of the best experiences and made some of my best friends. What I didn't know was that marching band got even better in college.
As a Music Education student in CCM, it is not encouraged to join the marching band because of the time commitment of both entities. However, I chose to be stubborn and decided not to follow the advice of other music majors and I chose to participate in marching band. Three weeks before the beginning of my fall quarter (yes, we were on quarters back in those days) I loaded up my belongings to move into my dorm and begin band camp. From the first day, I knew I had made the right decision. My section leaders were fantastic, the trombones welcomed me with open arms, and the rest of the band soon became my 250 closest friends.
Since that first year, I have had the opportunity to be trombone section leader for two years, music librarian, drum major-in-training, and a uniform manager. I must say, working with 16-22 trombone players on a weekly basis has helped me a great deal in my leadership and musical abilities. As a music librarian, I learned the important skills of time management and efficiency in order to complete flip folders full of music for each member of the marching band BEFORE the first day of band camp.
Though many classical musicians believe marching band is the ugly duckling of the musical world, I find it to be a place with passionate people who join together to share music with a completely different crowd. Yes, there are many fun traditions, some tough practices, and long game days, but there is something about the aura of a marching band that keeps me coming back year after year. Though marching band is not my life, it is a key experience that has made me who I am today.
TUCBIDG!
As a Music Education student in CCM, it is not encouraged to join the marching band because of the time commitment of both entities. However, I chose to be stubborn and decided not to follow the advice of other music majors and I chose to participate in marching band. Three weeks before the beginning of my fall quarter (yes, we were on quarters back in those days) I loaded up my belongings to move into my dorm and begin band camp. From the first day, I knew I had made the right decision. My section leaders were fantastic, the trombones welcomed me with open arms, and the rest of the band soon became my 250 closest friends.
Since that first year, I have had the opportunity to be trombone section leader for two years, music librarian, drum major-in-training, and a uniform manager. I must say, working with 16-22 trombone players on a weekly basis has helped me a great deal in my leadership and musical abilities. As a music librarian, I learned the important skills of time management and efficiency in order to complete flip folders full of music for each member of the marching band BEFORE the first day of band camp.
Though many classical musicians believe marching band is the ugly duckling of the musical world, I find it to be a place with passionate people who join together to share music with a completely different crowd. Yes, there are many fun traditions, some tough practices, and long game days, but there is something about the aura of a marching band that keeps me coming back year after year. Though marching band is not my life, it is a key experience that has made me who I am today.
TUCBIDG!