Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Chill in the Air
The weather is finally nice (knock on wood). Mid 60s, LOVE IT! I love the cold weather, I love being able to go to all of my classes in a hoodie, I love going to marching band and not feeling gross afterwards, I just love so much about cold weather!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Constants
My life is unpredictable. I have always learned to be flexible because you never know what can come up. I have one constant that I can depend on week after week. My Sundays!
I can always count on great Sundays. Grant picks me up every Sunday so we can go to church together. Ironically before I ever came to college that was one of my biggest worries about coming to college was if I was going to go to church every Sunday. I am so thankful for this constant in my life because I rely on it and need it every week.
I can always count on great Sundays. Grant picks me up every Sunday so we can go to church together. Ironically before I ever came to college that was one of my biggest worries about coming to college was if I was going to go to church every Sunday. I am so thankful for this constant in my life because I rely on it and need it every week.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Participation
Tonight is my high school band's UIL marching band night. So this post is for my high school band.
I was a member of the greatest high school band in the world. No band can ever compare! Best high school band anyone could ever see. What is so unique is when I say best, I do not mean it as we were the best marchers, musicians, or got the top scores at contests. No no no no. I was in a band the was in it for the students, the kids that needed the band. Even if the kids weren't that good musically they got the opportunity to put on a uniform and represent the school. Don't get the impression that we preformed bad, normally we got top scores at contests but the band director made a distinct point that the scores are not what we are after.
The band director there is incredible. To be in an area where so many directors all the care about is UIL, going to state, 1st place at a contest, etc. he is one of the few that wants band to teach kids something in life. It cared about the individual kids, if there was a problem he wanted to hear about it and he would help that student. The more I type the harder I realize it is to describe this so I will put it in a few stories.
My junior year I was section leader, and at the very beginning of the marching season a hurricane hit in East Texas. So because of that hurricane a girl who should have been drum major and band president at her high school got was moved to my band. My band director made it a point that she got a spot to march (we already had all the spots assigned) since he knew it was possible she wasn't going to march with her band and when he found out that she was moving back to her high school to help build the band he offered to sponsor her band and gave her the opportunity to march in our UIL show at a contest so she could do one last contest. Very few band directors would ever do that, they would never let someone march who would not be there to perform at UIL because they wanted someone else to learn it, someone that would be there. But he knew that this last opportunity to compete means a lot to her and that meant more to him then a ranking.
My senior year we had a student in a wheelchair come into the band (also in my section). During section leader training week the band director told us this kid was coming and was going to be march. What he said next will forever stick with me "I know there is a possibility that this could lower ours scores, but this kid has a better attitude and personality then everyone of you in here and he is GOING to march. If someone has a problem with it talk to me but I will not change my mind on this." That kid marched, well more of moved his wheelchair from spot to spot but he was the best freshman we got that year.
This band includes everyone, it is a home for hundreds of high school kids and has changed so many lives. Not only does it include people like that, but they are really good! I have not seen another band that can have both participation from everyone and be a UIL 1 level band. No matter what kind of kid they are- sporty, nerdy, shy, outgoing, trouble makers, literally anyone can say that they were a member of one of the best marching bands.
It changed my life in so many ways. I could write forever on what that band has done for me but I met Grant there. Without the band I don't know how I would have ever met my best friend and I really need Grant's support. It also encouraged my decision to be a music major because I saw in that band hundreds of kids who once high school was over were never going to touch there instruments again but they learned a lot being a part of something so great.
I was a member of the greatest high school band in the world. No band can ever compare! Best high school band anyone could ever see. What is so unique is when I say best, I do not mean it as we were the best marchers, musicians, or got the top scores at contests. No no no no. I was in a band the was in it for the students, the kids that needed the band. Even if the kids weren't that good musically they got the opportunity to put on a uniform and represent the school. Don't get the impression that we preformed bad, normally we got top scores at contests but the band director made a distinct point that the scores are not what we are after.
The band director there is incredible. To be in an area where so many directors all the care about is UIL, going to state, 1st place at a contest, etc. he is one of the few that wants band to teach kids something in life. It cared about the individual kids, if there was a problem he wanted to hear about it and he would help that student. The more I type the harder I realize it is to describe this so I will put it in a few stories.
My junior year I was section leader, and at the very beginning of the marching season a hurricane hit in East Texas. So because of that hurricane a girl who should have been drum major and band president at her high school got was moved to my band. My band director made it a point that she got a spot to march (we already had all the spots assigned) since he knew it was possible she wasn't going to march with her band and when he found out that she was moving back to her high school to help build the band he offered to sponsor her band and gave her the opportunity to march in our UIL show at a contest so she could do one last contest. Very few band directors would ever do that, they would never let someone march who would not be there to perform at UIL because they wanted someone else to learn it, someone that would be there. But he knew that this last opportunity to compete means a lot to her and that meant more to him then a ranking.
My senior year we had a student in a wheelchair come into the band (also in my section). During section leader training week the band director told us this kid was coming and was going to be march. What he said next will forever stick with me "I know there is a possibility that this could lower ours scores, but this kid has a better attitude and personality then everyone of you in here and he is GOING to march. If someone has a problem with it talk to me but I will not change my mind on this." That kid marched, well more of moved his wheelchair from spot to spot but he was the best freshman we got that year.
This band includes everyone, it is a home for hundreds of high school kids and has changed so many lives. Not only does it include people like that, but they are really good! I have not seen another band that can have both participation from everyone and be a UIL 1 level band. No matter what kind of kid they are- sporty, nerdy, shy, outgoing, trouble makers, literally anyone can say that they were a member of one of the best marching bands.
It changed my life in so many ways. I could write forever on what that band has done for me but I met Grant there. Without the band I don't know how I would have ever met my best friend and I really need Grant's support. It also encouraged my decision to be a music major because I saw in that band hundreds of kids who once high school was over were never going to touch there instruments again but they learned a lot being a part of something so great.
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