Personal Narrative: Lessons Learned In The Marching Field

The long 172 days had finally passed, and the day I had been waiting for, for months, had finally come. We were in Chicago for my One Direction concert, the day couldn’t have come faster. The agonizingly slow hours that passed that day was too much to bear. Before arriving at Soldier Field, I was highly anticipating meeting one of my closest friends, Jessica, for the first time. It’s actually rather incredible to me, we first were introduced on social media, we didn’t know each other at all, all we knew was that we both loved the same band, and we were both going to the same concert. Prior to meeting for the first time, we were restricted to Skyping each other almost every other day and texting every day.

My junior year of high school I auditioned and became a drum major. This means that I am one of the leaders of the band, and my voice is one of the ones that needs to be heard. My voice, however, cannot overpower the others involved in the band. Marching band has taught me leadership skills in which that I can now have

This is Faith Cox and welcome to my section leader essay. As you may know, I am now a junior in the Lewisburg band program and maintain the position of second chair in the French horn section. Last year I applied as a sophomore, and I can confidently say I have not only gathered more experience over the past year, but I have also become even more passionate about band. That passion has led me to once again apply for section leader. However, this time I am much more matured as a musician, and I am eager to see my section succeed as they have in the past and help them in any way they may need.

When I joined marching band in my freshman year of high school, I felt nervous and reluctant about joining because I questioned my abilities. However, I decided to commit myself to it so that I would know if it was something meant for me to pursue in the future. On the first day, I was overwhelmed with the many people who I did not recognize, and I started to feel as if I should never have come. Things began to change for me when I met an upperclassman named Sophie, who was my flute section leader. She was kind to everyone and did not get upset if anyone made a mistake in the music or marching technique, but rather, she gave constructive criticism. Sophie was an amazing leader and musician, and she was, and still is, a role model to me. Without

When I first joined marching band after seventh grade, I missed the first summer practice to see a concert. At that time, I had no idea how much band would come to mean to me nor the unexpected amount of dedication needed. Before marching band, music was merely a casual thing, but it has transformed this old hobby into a greater priority. After just one season, this shift was noticeable. I certainly did not consider missing two days of a Disney World vacation to march at nationals when first reading the schedule. But this beloved sport worked its ways in a few short months. Through two marching seasons and a winter concert, band became one of the most prominent activities in my life.

The Honor Guard tryouts, they were a great deal to those wanting to be the best of the best. You had to train and endure everything that was thrown at you, prepared or not. Everyone that makes it goes it by showing off every movement and command they have learned. Even still you can’t prepare for everything. Laubach had always said throughout the process for training and performing the event. That was to work hard and have the endurance to continue on, even when you do not want to. I tell that to people today when they feel like they can’t continue on.

Memories began to race through my mind as I started to look back at the time when I first joined the marching band. Coming into high school, I was not reluctant to try out new things, and marching band was an activity that would allow me to open myself up to others and develop a strong sense

During my time as senior section leader, I oversaw ten students who each had a uniqueness on the field. As a section, however, we differed greatly in experience which consequently slowed our process in learning the field show. I did not want any member to feel discouraged about their struggles, so I was honest with them. I revealed to them that although I was titled “section leader”, I was not superior to them because I too, was there to grow as an individual and musician. I established a respectful relationship with the group and this led to a family atmosphere.

When I was in marching band finding my identity was one of the hardest things that I had to do. It took me to my senior year to fully understand what it meant to fully identify myself as a member of the Titan Regiment. What made me understand that I was a member because of recognition that I received in my last two years? Having the honor to lead my saxophone section in marching band and to be an inspirational figure to them recognized me. When this happened, it confirmed to me that I was really a member of the Titan regiment. This community defined me because it's built on top of my leadership skills that I currently had and it also help me to make more mature decisions as I got older. This experience did that by challenging me

My senior year of high school, my high brass director left on an extremely short notice, leaving our band one director short for the whole marching season. I cannot begin to describe the trials that we encountered as a band, specifically the high brass family. Not having our “band dad” with us took an excruciating toll that set the high brass back and ultimately the whole band. As a senior, it was my job to step up and facilitate my section since we did not have anyone else to guide us. I did my absolute best to accommodate the younger members with ideal practices to improve their marching skills and playing techniques. During this challenging time, I attempted to take on the persona of a band director to motivate my section to work hard every

The summer of 2013 was both a time of celebration, as I had just graduated middle school, and a time of insecurities, as I started my journey as a member of my high school’s marching band. In middle school, I was normally a shy, quiet person, so it comes as no surprise that I felt uncomfortable at my first marching band practice. In addition, very few of my band friends in middle school had continued into high school marching band, creating a feeling of isolation over me.

1. Thirty pounds of metal resting on my left shoulder, I marched for hours in the blistering hot sun. The sousaphone was my greatest enemy. In 6th grade I was chosen to play tuba for our middle school band, I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me. Two years later, I had gotten pretty good. I made all state band, won some awards, and was 1st chair. I had no intention in joining the marching band my freshman year.

Summer before junior year of high school, I was looking at a lot of standardized tests, essays, a heavier school workload, college applications, and getting a driver's license; my most immediate concern, however, was the soon to begin marching band season. Spring semester of sophomore year I had decided to audition for a leadership position in the band, and I suppose I was the best candidate because I managed to snag Section Leader for my instrument, clarinet. As the final days of July passed by, I anticipated the start of a season where I would be mentoring and teaching my fellow clarinet players the complex art of marching band. A few days before leadership camp I received a letter in the mail from the Head Band Director, Mr. Larry Brown, and immediately I knew things were not going to be what I expected.

Finally it came to this year, my third year in band. Most of the people I had looked up to were gone and had graduated school. It was different not seeing those people, the people that I had spent two years with, it made me feel upset sometimes. We had two new people who took their roles as leaders in our section. There was our center marimba and our section leader, who played the Synth. Our center marimba was very quiet, but sometimes he had the ability to speak up; and our section leader, the synth, seemed like a section leader at times, so that was a nice breath of fresh