“If you’re walking, you’re wrong!”

The first time I heard band director Daniel Upton yell that phrase from the top of the hill in front the tennis courts was at band camp this past August. Little did I know, that would be a recurring catchphrase throughout the band season and I would get so tired of hearing it I would just start walking even if I was “wrong”, and supposed to be running.

Other than the fact that walking is a sin, I learned many life skills from being in marching band. Initially, I was hesitant to join but my parents convinced me to at least try it for a year to see if I enjoyed it. In fact, the only other person I knew that was joining marching band this year was Irene Liu. Not going to lie, the part that had me sold was the Disney trip the band is taking this April. But as the season progressed, I learned there was a lot more to marching band than just persevering through sweaty band camp and practices until 5:30 every day.

Not to sound extremely cheesy, but marching band has provided me with experiences that will last a lifetime.

Now I won’t deny there are still some parts of marching band I don’t wholeheartedly enjoy. I did start to get tired of pizzas every week at the Friday night football games, folding my uniform on the seam and untying my shoelaces after every wear, and learning sets in hundred degree weather during band camp. Not to mention Saturdays are nonexistent through the month of October, but then again, what else would I be doing?

Being in band has provided me with skills I will use the rest of my life. For example, I’ve learned the value of community. Our closeness and sense of community is a powerful feeling that sets band kids up for being a part of other communities throughout the rest of our lives. I’ve also learned how to be a part of something bigger than myself. Basically, there’s no “I” in “band”. Being a member of the band taught me how to work within a group to achieve a higher goal. I learned the value of teamwork and how my contribution matters as much as everyone else’s, like how not practicing just might let my section down. Band taught me to be familiar with sacrifice. I gave up basically every Friday night to play at sporting events, sacrificed after school shenanigans to go practice, and weekends to attend competitions on the road.

Marching band gave me practice and experience in skills that reach far beyond musical notes and instruments. I didn’t realize I would get so much experience in so many non-musical life-skills that have such positive impacts. If you can blow into a horn and concoct some sort of noise, spin a flag, or hit a stick to a drum to any degree, you should definitely consider joining band. By the way, marching band is a sport.