Marching Band: Glad you did it/Waste of your time?

@udayhase (173)
United States
November 29, 2006 4:41pm CST
I did marching band for four years, and I liked it, but on the other hand, I know I had some friends who would've killed themselves rather than become a "bandie." What're your thoughts?
2 people like this
7 responses
@smf210 (102)
• United States
2 Dec 06
Being a bader was the best time of my life! I am so glad I did it. I would not trade the memories I made there for anything in the world. Late night practices, football games, state championships! The friends I made there have stayed close to me and become the best friends I could ever have asked for. Not to mention that it kept me in shape ;)
@udayhase (173)
• United States
4 Dec 06
At last! someone from the band! I agree with everything you've said, right up to the keeping me in shape. So true. All the friends i've made could not have been possible if I was not in band.
@smf210 (102)
• United States
5 Dec 06
It is so true and it is hard to find people who really appreciate it! I am still a band geek and I hope I always am!!! What state was your band in? Mine was in Indiana but I know Ohio and Texas bands and a lot of other states have some amazing marching programs. Have you ever heard of Winter Drumline, WGI? We were involved with that also. Oh no I miss marching!
@udayhase (173)
• United States
6 Dec 06
I'll probably be a band geek for my life as well. I go to school in Dublin, Ohio, right near OSU, and our graduates make up a fair number of that band.
@kyle930 (763)
• United States
6 Dec 06
I was in band for two years and the only part i liked was once a year we got to march in a parade. I quit band in sixth grade because that way i could have more study hall and i got all of my homework done in school.
@udayhase (173)
• United States
6 Dec 06
Marching band is really the best part of being in a band.... It sounds as if you never did high school band, unless you somehow marched in sixth grade. On the other hand, I'm sure everyone has their likes and dislikes. Lastly, parades are fun indeed.
@zuri25 (2125)
• United States
5 Dec 06
straight lines are hard to pull off  - marching band
I wouldn't change my experience as a bonafide band geek for anything. I wasn't the best musician in the world and I never made it to Districts, but the friends I had and the memories I made will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Marching band and Concert Band were really fun and rewarding for me and I am, as I always have been, proud to have been a band member. Band geeks unite!!! LOL
@udayhase (173)
• United States
6 Dec 06
Yeah, Band Geeks Unite! That's also the best part, that you don't have to be particularly amazing playing-wise or marching-wise, you can still say that you were part of the band, and you still get the full experience and come out with stories to tell and friends to laugh about it with.
@zeeterman (1066)
• United States
5 Dec 06
band - band
Marching Band was a blast! Sure it can be alot of hard work. Especially being a drummer. And we certainly didn't get any respect (or funding). It's all about sports in ours and alot of schools. I'm sorry, but how is sports related to learning? Oh, teamwork you say? I'd like to see some of those jocks learn to march to a routine and play an instrument at the same time! You learn how to read and perform music, which is friggin LEARNING! Sports is definately extracurricular(sp?) and I think it should be funded by the parents of jocks. We busted our butts on fundraising activities just to buy uniforms. But I enjoyed most of it. Made lifelong friends. And those band camp memories! Ooooh!
@udayhase (173)
• United States
6 Dec 06
So true. Again, the band camp memories, and the lifelong friends! I also agree with the amount of respect the band gets compared to mainstream sports. I always like to think that band is a sport. After all, it's pretty strenuous physical activity.
1 person likes this
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
5 Dec 06
Before I did drum corps I was in marching band. I have spent a long time playing with and working with different bands and drum corps. Some of the experiences that you can have with both groups are really rewarding. People that know me outside of music have an absolute blast with me and when I tell them all of these stories they make fun of me with the "one time at band camp" line. Then I ask them to tell me stories. Theirs aren't nearly as good and after a while they realize that I have got some great stories.
@udayhase (173)
• United States
6 Dec 06
Ah. "One time at band camp." Yet, I often find myself reciting that same exact line, for lack of a better opening to a story at band camp. I agree that the stories you can tell afterwards are one of the best things about having been part of a band.
@rachelcaron (1679)
• United States
8 Dec 06
I played clarinet. I'm glad I did it. By the end (after 6+ years) I was ready for the end. It's sad, but I haven't really played the clarinet since 1996. I used to be pretty good. I wonder how I would sound now?
@katprice (805)
• United States
8 Dec 06
Powhatan HS Band 1998 - This is a picture of the Powhatan High School band in Virginia on the field at their school.
I was in marching band all four years of high school and I would not trade it for anything. We were the mighty Poway High School Emerald Brigade and under the Direction of Marc M. Davis we won every award under the sun and got to do a lot of fun things, like being extras in a movie, Disneyland parades, halftime show for Rams/Dolphins NFL game, etc. It was a blast!