...Just one more time! The words repeated in my head every day during high school. I was a band nerd and powerlifter, but I was totally known as the crazy band nerd, who stayed in the band hall during her free times. I played the clarinet, I was not the best player, but I never gave up. Band consists of marching season and concert season. Personal, I loved marching season because of each routine Mr. Steele would come up with, but the most hated season was concert. Concert season consists of sightreading, and those were the time I saw the crazy side of the band directors. Plus, the band was split into two bands: Symphony and wind ensemble. Marching season is where all the competitive, fun and honorable memories began my high school and life....
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...When I was an 8th grader, I was blessed to be apart of the high school marching band. I remember back then, band camp used to be all day and we’d stay and eat lunch at the school instead of leaving and coming back. After lunch, Mr. Fisher would play videos of these professional marching bands. They were part of an organization called Drum Corps International. It’s like the NFL for marching band kids. The first show we watched was “Spartacus,” performed by Phantom Regiment. At the end of the show, the drum major is slayed and the rest of the show continues without the drum major. This was a big deal within the marching community. I didn't know it at the time, but by watching that one show, my life would forever be changed. Fast forward to Sophomore year and I made the decision I was going to march the following summer. Granted, my parents hadn’t necessarily said yes to me leaving for 3 months and living on a bus for the entire summer, but they did say I could leave for a weekend and see what it was all about. The first corps I auditioned for was Legends. They’re an open class corps based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Auditions went well; I made friends, got a callback, was able to keep up with all the audition pieces, but something just didn’t feel right. They didn’t feel like home....
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...that you have had on my life. Even since Kindergarten, when we would travel to the fourth grade hallway to sing with your acoustic guitar, you have been one of the greatest role models I could ever possibly ask for. I remember singing that grey squirrel song, or the one where you scared everyone at the end, and countless other silly songs. No matter how crazy they seemed at the time, that was just the beginning of the role that you played in my love of music. When I entered middle school, I chose to play the saxophone. This meant that I wouldn’t get to spend as much time with you as the brass did, yet you were still there every single step of the way. High school, however, was a huge turning point in my life. From the day I stepped into the band room you have been an unconditional, constant supporter of everything I do. Whether it is band related, or even just extracurriculars, you...
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...Sound of Music It was the beginning of fourth grade and my chance to choose an instrument had finally come. I opened the door and patiently waited in lines to discover all the instruments that I could potentially choose. When I came to the clarinet line, I knew it was the one. The clarinet was sleek and sophisticated, just like me. That’s how I chose my first instrument leading me to the life-long commitment to music. School was never a place I could be myself. On the first day of school, I walked in with a hunched back, making sure to look only at the floor, in order to avoid talking to anyone. When I began band, my demeanor changed almost instantaneously. The atmosphere of the band room was welcoming and everyone...
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...began high school band in 8th grade. I had played flute for about four years, but it was quite a change for a musician who could barely read rhythms at a 6th grade level. While at first I had thought they would put me with the other flute players because that is what I had known for the last three years, but they did the complete opposite! For the 2014-2015 marching season, I was in Ledford Marching band’s front ensemble. The front ensemble was filled with the most ridiculously talented people. There were people who had played percussion for over eight years, there were people would later go to audition for all-state, and people who marched for national drum corps! I learned many rules my 8th grade year being in the front ensemble. The first thing that I learned was: you’re never alone. Dalton Craven taught me this rule when I was supposed to bring in seven percussion items outside by myself. While you’re...
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...cornerstones of who I am as a person. This change can be largely credited to a big hero of mine: my sister, Anniestacia. Her active involvement in band blazed the trail for what would become one of the biggest parts of my life. As a multitude of students do, Stacia joined the sixth grade band at Bay Minette Intermediate School. When I heard about her joining, not much went through my head except the thought that there would not be much quiet around the house anymore. As I went to her concerts that year, I went through the motions of being an audience member, clapping after every song, and even standing up...
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...The Life of a Rat I ratted myself out and it changed my life. I was on the AB honor roll in the ninth grade. This was true until I met a girl, who I thought was my friend, named Megan. By the end of the first semester, I had dropped out of volleyball, glee club and had started ditching classes and smoking in the restroom. One day we heard the band was out on a field trip so we went to their personal bathroom to smoke and hang out, just the two of us. Turns out, she wanted to be nosy. She started going through the teacher’s desk and papers. I admit I took a cool looking pen from his desk. We were laughing and playing around. Megan opened a file cabinet drawer and pulled out an envelope, full of money. The band had been having car washes and other fundraisers to raise money. I felt a lump in my throat. I knew what was happening, and I couldn’t stop it. She put the envelope in her shirt and ran back to the bathroom. I had no idea how much was in it, and a part of me did not want to know. Locking the door behind us, Megan reached in the envelope and pulled a small amount out and shoved it in my hand and said, “Here, now, do not say a word and no one will ever know it was us.” I had such an uneasy feeling, about all of it. The bell rang and we went to our lockers and then to lunch. With the money (which was only $120, but back then was like having $1,000 when you’re that young) in my sock the intercom came on and was telling us to all head to the gym. The whole school was...
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...My First Concert Crazy, violent, confusion, these are only a few words that can describe my first real concert. I guess that makes it sound like something bad could have happened…In reality, this was one of the most fun nights of my life. The night was filled with a bunch of new experiences and memorable ones as well. I was 16 years old, was always into punk rock and the related genres, slowly transitioning into hardcore rock and metal. At the time I was not aware of the huge differences of the variety of music scenes, I was used to going to a very small local punk rock show; an environment where I knew almost everyone at the show, and more than likely the band playing as well. Well, local shows are only fun for so long. It was nearly my birthday I wanted to nothing more than to go to a real concert with names that were known by more than just the kids at my school. Sure enough I was going to get my chance! A couple of my friends were planning on going to a show, but one of their friends dropped out on them so they had an extra ticket. They offered me the ticket and I accepted in an instant! This show was consisted of 4 bands, 3 of which were on my top 10 favorite bands list. Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada and Saosin, I couldn’t believe that I was going to go see these bands live! The day of the show finally arrived, I could barely contain my excitement throughout the day, hours seemed like days while I basically watched the clock. Finally I was picked up and off to...
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...Out of all of the goals that I have accomplished has happened in my. when I became a section leader in the marching band my life has changed a lot. From the day I applied for leadership last year in June of 2014 has had a great impact on my personality and better things I learned from being a section leader of the Mayfair High School Monsoon Marching Corps. I have learned many skills that has helped me accomplish this besides being in the marching band that it is useful to do other skills that I have learned that can help me in my future as an adult. From being a section leader of the marching band, certain skills have helped me not only from teaching music, marching, or anything related with instrumental and music skills. Being a section leader has helped me motivate myself and others to learn from the...
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...with people. The butterflies in my stomach awoke and began fluttering about, and I felt the urge to turn and run off. In a dreamlike trance, I picked up my bass guitar and strapped it around my neck. A spotlight cut through the darkness and focused upon the stage, blinding me momentarily. I heard the drummer begin a four count. Suddenly the club came alive, and resounding music filled the Whisky-A-Go-Go, where twenty-five years earlier, The Doors had begun their musical career. An exhilarating sense of humility and wonder came over me as I thought, "How did I get here?" My career as a bass guitarist in a rock and roll band has had the greatest impact on my life. Playing in a band was important to me because it represented a challenge: transcending the familiar confines of my life and entering completely unknown territory. I wanted to meet people from different backgrounds and go to places that I might never have gone otherwise. The dark, mysterious atmosphere of a Hollywood night club was a far cry from the neat and tidy math and engineering classrooms I had been accustomed to. A year and a half before our appearance at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, bass guitar was about as familiar to me as Swahili. When I started playing, it was hard for me to believe that I would ever play for anyone outside of a garage, much less at a world-famous Hollywood club. I began playing bass at the age of twenty, with only a rudimentary knowledge of music theory. My only experience playing any kind...
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...be the charismatic and fun loving person he is today. Dave Grohl is an inspiration all over the world, sharing his passion for music and his outlook on life with those who appreciate and admire him. His success has shaped the character of the man he is today. At the age of 15, Grohl dropped out of high school to play drums in his adolescent band “Scream.” In 1990, after the band split, Grohl traveled to Seattle in hopes of becoming Nirvana’s new drummer, joining the band members Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. “All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work,” Dave said describing his leap of faith into the music industry. Later that year, Grohl was accepted into the band and moved in with Cobain—he stayed there years after the band’s success. In 1994, Cobain, victim of fame and drugs, committed suicide. With the loss of a best friend and band member, Grohl was left confused and lonely with such a sudden pull from the world of music. Following Cobain’s death, Grohl appeared lost for words. He wrote: "My soul went dead to music. It's like a defense mechanism. When music touches a place in you that's so deep that it can cause pain, you build walls around it and shut yourself off. In 1994 music represented everything to me. My relationships with people. My state of mind. My well-being. So when something like Kurt dying happens, the music reminds you of everything, and you've just gotta turn it off. It was just too... overwhelming...
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...of color guard include throwing and tossing flags, prop rifles, and sabres. I learned how to use these items to visually enhance a marching band show at sectional meet-ups and practices. Overall, Color Guard has made a positive impact on my life by creating opportunities to socialize, improving my physical health, and strengthening my emotional wellness. When starting, numerous occasions allowed me to encounter other students. During the summer, sectional meet-ups provide the chance to learn about and talk to other color guard members. In early autumn, band practices gave me the chance to interact with the entire marching band...
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...Bobbing my head to what I used to have thought was good and intriguing music, I looked outside the clear bus window. My red brick 1980s house loomed into view. The bus stopped, and I stood up, walking through the crowded isle filled with bodies just like mine. I nearly fell down the black steps, and almost landed in the dirt with my face. Brushing myself off from the two-second rush of adrenaline, I turned left and crossed in front of the canary-yellow colored school bus. I crossed the murky-green grass of my front yard. I took a deep breath of air, and instantly, my lungs were filled with a very pungent fungus smell- from the fertilizer, I had assumed. I padded up the four red brick stairs, leading up to my front door. I flung my newly 13-year-old body into the doorway inside. “Sofia! Mom said to go clean your room!” my little sister called. I sighed, and trudged into the stairway, leading to my bedroom. I reached the top of the stairs, and opened my door. God, I hate that pale blue color on my walls. It looks TERRIBLE! I thought, and turned to the drawer that was attached to my bleach-colored wooden bed frame. About time I clean out this drawer! I thought to myself. Opening up the forbidden drawer locked inside the prison of my room, I peered into the crowded shelf that held my old and forgotten materials. Sifting through the junk, something shiny caught my eye. I reached for it and pulled it out, examining it’s glimmering circular shape. I flipped over, and saw 3...
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...Music, know one really knows how it affects us in life. It affected me since the first time I ever touched a key on a piano, moved a slide on a trombone, strummed a string on a guitar and heard the sound of a drum after a quick hit. Last year in October The University of Memphis held a march with the mighty sound of the south and invited high schoolers to go play and march with them on the field. The morning I had to wake up super early which was kinda different from my normal Saturdays of sleeping in till around noon unless it’s competition season which ended early last year. As we arrived people were already there and getting set up and talking. Then the band director came out and greeted everyone as we stood in a weird circle around him....
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...Stand Up And Scream Asking Alexandria, a band that started in Dubai actually by lead guitarist Ben Bruce and his friends. They weren’t called Asking Alexandria at first, but they later changed their name to AA and then disbanded. Ben moved back to the U.K and was looking for bandmates where he saw Danny Worsnop’s cover of a song from the band Alesana. Ben contacted Danny and they started the band Asking Alexandria. They recruited other members such as Cameron Liddell (guitarist) and James Cassells (drummer) and finally Sam Bettley (bassist). The gang flew out to the U.S and started looking for a studio and record label – which they found shortly after their arrival. They recorded their first album Stand Up And Scream with producer Joey Sturgis and under the record label Sumerian Records. (Grand record label if I might add) Their debut album was released Sep. 15th 2009. They started touring and endured in countless interviews. *Interview time children* Interviewer: So guys, can I have you personally introduce yourself and your role in the band? Danny: Hi I’m Danny and I play the voice thing. Ben: I’m Ben and I play guitar and sometimes backing vocals. James: Hi I’m James and I play the drooms. (Drums) Cam: I’m Cam and uh I play rhythm guitar and yeah. Sam: Hi, sup, I’m Sam and I am the bassist. Interviewer: Alright, so what is touring like? Danny: It sucks man, but at the same time I love it. It’s a very dirty, smelly way of life. *laughs* Ben: Remember to always bring...
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