Marching the Music

As a percussionist (I think that link is a very good explanation of what a Percussionist is.)I get to participate in Marching and Pep band! For those of you who don't know, marching band is when a group of musicians march together in straight lines and play music at the same time while trying to keep the correct tempo. (So anyone who is in a Marching Band is truly a master at multitasking.) Pep band is a time when the band gets to play a bunch of songs all through out school games! We pretty much play at Football games and we sometimes will do a few other performances at other games. (Tonight I got to play at a basketball game at half time) 

Both of these are super fun but the one that takes the most work (but is still lot's of fun) is marching band. Marching season(or for me, drum line season) starts at the end of the school year an goes through the first part of the summer. So we get to get up early to go and practice inside a little and outside before it gets to hot, which is so nice because it would be way to hot to practice in the afternoon. We work on how to march in unison, how we stand, where we look, how many steps we need to be behind someone else, how to walk in a straight line, how to stand at attention, and a few other stuff. This all may seem like too much work but really, it is a great experience and you feel very accomplished after you preform!(Sure you feel tired too but after you preform you get to relax.) This year was the first year I got to march and I had a great time! It was really fun to work at memorizing music and listening how we all fit together. 

This is a picture of our marching band at the fourth of July parade! Photo Credit: My Mom

On top of all of the marching stuff, we get to wear sweet uniforms. Sure they are not the things that you want to wear in public but when you have a bunch of band students wearing them; they all look like  toy soldiers, they are all marching in step, and playing, it is pretty impressive! The hats I think were my favorite part because we got to wear plumes. (The feather on marching hats) I am an easily entertained person and plumes just make me smile! There is a down side to the uniforms. Because there are shoulder pads and girls have to put their hair up in their hats, the uniforms make every one look like guys. It's kinda weird...Oh well!

This is a picture of me playing cymbals.
My pants are too big but we noticed too late. Oh well! =)
Photo Credit: My Mom

Music is a great addition to anyones life. Wether you are playing the music, singing to your fish, playing the piano for a grandparent, or you are listening to a marching band as they march in a parade! Always listen to the good kind of music that uplifts you because your life will be MUCH better! I would like to share two quotes that I found from Quote Garden that I really like about music:

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without. ~ Confucius

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan

See ya!