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Monday, October 6, 2008
Making the Band
Collin County, TX
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By: Rebecca Merkel, VYPE Reader
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An Insider's view of a freshman trying out for the Rockwall High band
Entering high school as a freshman can be a scary experience. Entering a strange building full of new faces can make a freshman very nervous. The same can be said for trying out for the high school band. Freshman musicians whose previous musical footwork was limited to finding their chairs at their middle school concert band performance, suddenly find themselves having to play AND march at the same time.
Rockwall High School freshman Rebecca Merkel gives VYPE readers a sense of what it took for a 14-year-old student to make the Yellowjackets band. Merkel, who has been playing the clarinet for four years, kept a journal of her experiences through Rockwall’s band camp and beyond.
Aug. 4 First Morning of Summer Band Camp
One of the things I’m really looking forward to is seeing friends who I haven’t seen all summer and catching up with them. I’m going to have so much fun hanging out with them.
I’m not too excited about how hot it’s going to be though – 106 degrees. I hope we’re not outside the whole 8 ½ hours.
My other concern is not being able to play and march at the same time. But my mom’s saying everything is going to be fine. We’ll see.
Aug. 4 After Returning from Summer Band Camp
It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. We only spent two hours outside in the morning and there was a nice a breeze. Plus, they gave us frequent water breaks.
We learned our main positions: Attention and Resting. I got picked on a few time for slouching my shoulders and my name soon became “Girl in the orange-striped shirt!”
We played through some of our marching music in the afternoon and I really liked one called, “Holiday.”
I’m not really concerned about anything now that I know I’ll be marching to the beat like tapping my foot in a concert band. Now I’m worried about memorizing my routine.
Aug. 5
We started learning a block formation today. We marched forward and backwards. We also performed turns called drags and slides. I had trouble keeping up at first, but I caught on towards the end. I’m still a little concerned about how I’m going to remember my routine and play at the same time. But, marching is a lot easier than I thought it would be. I still have to keep practicing, though.
Aug. 6
This morning was breezy and cloudy. It felt great! We practiced a block formation again, but added holding our instruments and turning to the left and right. I had to slightly turn my feet to either direction, which was tricky. We added the turns to the other moves we’ve learned and had a “march off.” I think I did okay.
I’m determined to practice really hard and to get a spot in the performance. Tomorrow we try out to see if we get a spot. I am SO nervous! We have to memorize our music so we can remember our routine. My music has to become second nature, so I can concentrate on my movements. M goal is to practice really hard tonight on my marching and memorize my opening music.
Aug. 8
I got a spot! We started practicing our routine today. We worked from packets called drill charts. There are 19 pages and each one shows the different shapes we will make in a performance.
We are assigned a spot and we follow that spot on each page. I’m nervous all over again because I’m worried about forgetting my routine!
We did try to play and march at the same time. I think it’s really hard to think of how many steps I’m supposed to take and remember my music. I think with a little more practice, I’ll get through it.
Aug. 11
We got halfway through our performance today. We are now playing and marching. I find it hard to play and count my steps at the same time. But, I know my music parts, so when we finish a part, I know to stop marching.
Aug. 12
We learned new steps today and I marched backwards for the first time in the performance. It took me a while to figure out how big my steps must be because I can’t see where I’m going. But, I’m pretty surprised at myself because I have learned – and remembered – my 12 spots. Eventually learning 20 spots is sort of scaring me – and there’s even more to come.
Aug. 13
We finished the whole opening performance and we perform it tomorrow night at the covered dish dinner. I think I’m remembering my positions and spots really well. Being in one spot reminds me of where my next spot will be.
I’m a little nervous about my first performance, though. I hope my nerves don’t get the best of me. I thought playing my music while marching was going to be hard, but it’s really not. The music helps me know where to go and when to stop.
Aug. 14
We put together all of the opener! I’m so happy I remembered everything! Now I’m worried about learning two more songs. It’s probably nothing to worry about, though. It’s just like all the other times!
After weeks of practicing two-and-half hours each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Rebecca and her band mates were ready for their 2008 halftime debut.
Sept. 4
I was nervous during the bus ride to the stadium but started to relax when we played our fight song and school song from the stands.
But I got nervous again when we walked down to the field during the second quarter. We marched into position and everything looks so different from the field. Everything looks a lot BIGGER! There are people in the stands, but you have to try and forget they are there.
I felt relieved as soon as I started playing our first song and it felt great. Everything went fine. I remembered all my steps and spots, and I remembered my music. I also realized that I was out of breath. You don’t realize how far you march on the field, especially when you’re nervous.
But my first game wasn’t over until I suffered my first freshman prank. We had been warned before the game that we would be tested on a song and that we had to have a luck penny in our pocket. They called me over during the game to play my test. I knew they were joking, so I just played random notes. I told them I didn’t have my lucky penny, so I had to eat a pickle. I DON’T like pickles.
Later, we watched the performance video and made notes of the mistakes we have to improve on.
We’ve watched the video and we have a lot of mistakes to improve on. But one thing is for sure: I will be relaxed next time.
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