Marching Band

[The Phantom]

Any marching band geeks out there? I’m currently going into my Senior year in marching band, and I play the clarinet in there. I’m also trying out for Drum Major, though I have no clue if I will be good enough to make it!

[Cécile Annelure]

I was in Marching band this past year. I admit, I got a little geeky over it.. (as in me and my friends making up dances to the drumline's cadences)

Hope you make it as Drum Major! If I had the guts to conduct in front of crowds I'd audition, but I'm basically a chicken :duck:

[The Phantom]

I'm not as much as a band geek as I was my tenth grade year. I always conducted every piece of music that I listened to, and I was always volunteering for stuff. Talking about band constantly, the whole nine yards. Luckily I've calmed down some in terms of being the band geek I am. ;)

[Forgotten Angel]

Did someone say "marching band"? :D

I wasn't technically in the marching band this year; seeing as I'm only a Freshman, I wanted to adjust to high school before joining the marching band. However, I hung out in the band room so much and knew the band so well that I was one of only three people who were given the title of "Official Band Groupie." The other two had siblings in the band, whereas I did not.

I am in Parade Band, though, which is getting me used to marching and staying in step and everything, and I've been signed up for marching band next year since November. ^_^ I already have a digital recording of the music for our show next year, "Snowcaps." Yay for band geekiness!

I've been playing the clarinet since 4th grade, tried to learn flute in 6th and failed miserably, and would love to learn drums, but I don't have the skills to move my wrists that fast just yet. I'm working on it though!

Good luck on trying for Drum Major! Hope you make it. :)

Wow, okay, enough rambling for now... *shuts up and wanders off*

[IamErik771]

I am most definitely a band geek, and proud of it! I'm currently a junior in high school, and have been playing the clarinet since seventh grade. Until now, marching band has been a requirement for all band members, but next year, that will change so we can attract more new members. Parades are still mandatory, but the field shows will be optional. I'll still do the field shows, though. I have no idea what our show will be next year, but so far, we've done The Mask of Zorro and Mangione Magic. In our symphonic band, we played POTO selections last year, shortly after most of the band got to see the show. This year, I'm hoping we will get to play Les Misérables.

Steve, I wish you the best of luck in becoming a drum major. :)

[Forgotten Angel]

Look at all us clarinetists. Don't you all just feel oh-so-very special? :D I love the "Snowcaps" recording - I'm one of a few select non-juniors and seniors who has a copy of it. I'm gonna bug the person who gaveit to me to try to get me a copy of the clarinet sheet music for next year's show. ;) That would be awesome, especially because I'm going to be missing the first couple of sitting practices due to the fact that I'll be in Europe for three weeks. Which is also when we'll be getting the sheet music. Hmmm... maybe I should just bug MS instead fo Matt... *ponders*

[The Phantom]

Maybe there is a connection with Phantom of the Opera fans and playing the clarinet? *winks* The shows that my band have done since my freshmen year were Jesus Christ Superstar (I melt every time I hear the ballad, or the rock intro), New York (I liked that show too. We had pieces from Forty Second Street and Sinatra in it), and my junior year was "Las Vegas, The Rat Pack." As you can see our band loves to do jazz pieces and I'm tired of it. I want to do Phantom of the Opera so bad... you're so lucky James.

We're performing Cole Porter's music this year. Its really... yeah.

[IamErik771]

In fact, my band teacher is the one who introduced me to POTO. Last year, the band took a trip to NYC over spring break to see the show on Broadway. (I didn't get to go. :() A week before, we listened to the OLC cast recordings in class while reading copies of the libretto, and we all fell absolutely in love with it. Afterward, all of us were begging Mr. A. to let us play some POTO songs at the end-of-year concert. The best part is that I have the performance on CD. :D

[The Phantom]

If you would have gone we would have almost crossed paths, lol. I went with my marching band last year to New York as well during Spring break, or beginning of April to be more exact. We went as a group to Phantom of the Opera and that's where I first fell in love with the opera. (I had been a phan for a while, but I officially became one then).

:)

[andydrumm05]

I am a band geek!! I was in MB for 4 years and I plan on going into Music Education in college, and plan on getting into a marching band...Could be fun!!! Oh, I play da tuba!! I love her so much, and she loves me (she being my tuba, Roxy) I know...I'm pathetic...naming my instrument...I'll shut up now

[Forgotten Angel]

Oui, naming your instrument is not at all pathetic. Even our 6thgrade/8th grade/marching band director named his conductor's baton from concert band. Anne, do you remember how Kurt would always refer to it as "The Power"? :D It was fun when it would flying out of his hand during concert band and whoever it was that picked it up would always shout "I've got The Power!" and then start humming that really annoying song. :tongue:

In any case, we got the date for our first practice, so I'm really excited! I can't wait for the season to start up again. :)

[The Phantom]

In 8th grade some of the girls in my section (I was the one guy out of 20 lol) named my clarinet T-Snake, or something like that because I squeaked so much. I haven't named my clarinet for marching band any names strangely... lol. ;)

[IamErik771]

The people in our band also like naming their instruments. I named my own personal clarinet Emmy, after the lovely Ms. Rossum. The school instrument I practice on (I only use Emmy for performances) was named "Dave" by the previous owner. Also, one of the oboists named her instrument "Erik!" I found that extremely cool. :D

[Wishing]

Sad to say, but I'm not in Marching band, just regular band. It wouldn't have worked in my schedule, and I was too late in signing up anyway. :rolleyes: I play the flute though, and his name is Fredrick. :cool:

[Luciana]

I played in my school band last year, but I'm switching into a school without a band, because it's an arts school, and in order to play an instrument, I would have to have joined for that, but I joined for writing. I played the flute, and I loved it, even though I wasn't very good. Her name was Suzy. (My flute)

I've played since third grade, so ya.

Haha, Phantom, the girls in your class sound like the ones in my class in 8th grade because they picked on one of the boys in my class. He was this shy boy who got mad when people talked to him, so they would tell him how cute he was.

I didn't join in, because I liked him. That just doesn't quite work.

[The Phantom]

Awww. :nod:

I've had my Clarinet for a while, heh, but I've got to go get it repaired. Marching band can wreak havoc on a horn sometimes. It's quite distressing sometimes lol.

[Luciana]

I had to switch flutes like six times, but that was the LEAST count in my class. We had only like six flutes (it was a class, not a marching band) and we had a contest going on. It was amazing the things some of us did to our flutes. The worst (On purpose) was when my friend made me wear bright red lipstick to class (dare) and play. It got everywhere and my teacher was so pissed, but we all loved seeing him mad.

[IamErik771]

Whoa. That's one thing I don't think anyone in our band would even think about doing, even on a dare. Our teacher's extremely hard on us. He's also a really fun guy, though (when he's not mad at us about something.) :D

[The Phantom]

Got that right, our band director will get mad at us at the drop of a pin lol. I'm going to a camp that's going to cut into Band Camp two days, and he said that I was excused only if I knew my music. Much does he know that I haven't touched my horn in ages due to theater. >.>

[IamErik771]

Ouch. Our band director is usually pretty good about letting us go if we have a very good reason. As in, you or someone in your family is sick or dying, or you have a job that interferes with practice, or you're falling behind in schoolwork. As long as we make up the time we missed before the end of the quarter, it's fine. Last year, one student was excused from marching practice entirely because of his job. Those of us who did have to go to practice quickly grew to hate him. :D

A few days ago, I found out what our next field show would be: Moulin Rouge! I guess I'll have to see the movie, ASAP! :D

What are some of the coolest songs/shows/etc. you have performed in band? So far, my faves are probably POTO (symphonic), Pirates of the Caribbean (symphonic), and Mask of Zorro (marching/field show). :)

[The Phantom]

You're lucky to be doing such a great show. We're doing Cole Porter and I'm not too thrilled about it. We've got four clarinets and the music is hard as crap, since I don't play clarinet year round. Some of my favorite field shows were Phantom of the Opera (done by another band), Jesus Christ Superstar (my band), and a water works show done by a really good band near us.

[Forgotten Angel]

Yeah, so randomness: our band apparently has a shortage of pit musicians, so I volunteered. If MS can teach me, that is. I'm probably gonna end up on timpani or bells, 'cause I know I'm not cooridinated enough for mallets. Cymbols won't be too bad, I suppose. I'd just prefer the other two I mentioned, and we're in need of all three.

[The Phantom]

Our front ensemble percussion is short handed this year as well. We usually had like 6 to 8 people covering the timpani, bells, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, etc. but this year we've only got 3 I think. And we've only got 4 clarinets and that's depressing in its own ways. I remember my Freshmen year we had like 15 clarinets. It seems like our band keeps getting smaller every year, and the colorguard bigger. I think theres like 18 girls this year in Guard. :(

[IamErik771]

That's really sad. Our band isn't exactly short-handed in terms of players, but most of our truly awesome percussionists have recently graduated. I hope they've been training apprentices... :D I'm wondering what our clarinet section will be like this year. We still haven't found out exactly how many new members we're getting, and how many will stay in.

I also found out that the incoming freshmen had been learning POTO songs for their 8th grade end-of-year concert. According to the program, they played POTO, All I Ask, and Music of the Night. I wish I could have been there to see it. We just may have some Phreshman Phans!!! ;)

We just had our first marching band practice today! It went quite well, and I got to know some of the new freshmen. They seem like pretty good kids, for the most part. We just have to train them up a little. ;)

BTW, we got our sheet music and a recording of the Moulin Rouge show we'll be doing this season. I love it! :D

[Forgotten Angel]

Well, including me, there are now a total of three people in our pit. This will prove to be a very interesting year, to say the least. I got so many hugs when people found out I was switching into the pit! o.0

[phantoms_nemo]

well im not in highschool til this september but i go to cadets and im in my squadrons pipes and drums band

[The Phantom]

I love marching band, but the things I hate about it are the band practices and the learning the drill. I know my drill but I have to go back and fill in my dot book so I can have my spots with me at all times, in a little notebook around my neck. I've got about 6 sets done... and I need to have 24 by Thursday in my book. Ugh!

[IamErik771]

We just had our first parade on Saturday, for the Aloha Festivals. We played The Horse by Jesse James, and marched about three miles. The night before that, we had what was arguably our greatest football victory ever. We beat Kahuku High School, the top-ranked team in the state, and they were completely undefeated since 2002! The final score was 23-6. I think our band had a lot to do with the outcome; Kahuku's head coach kept trying to get the referees to shut us up. :D

[Luciana]

I went to a football game with the school I would be going to if I didn't go to the performing art's school. We lost 56-0 but whatever, that's not what this thread was about.

The marching band was pretty good (Color guard wasn't, but okay) except there were only five people. The other team had like this mass of people and we had five. It was really sad. If I went to that school, I'd probably actually join again even though I'm no good.

[Oiseau de Chanson]

Originally posted by Unlimited
You're not pathetic. Naming of instruments is actually pretty common place in our band: we have a clarinet named Claire, a drum named Moses, and a concert tuba we call the Battleship.

I am a band geek! YAY! Speaking of names, the school sousaphone is named Susie, and the biggest bass drum is named Big Bertha. The others have names, too but I can't remember them.

[Forgotten Angel]

Our pics from State Championships are up! :D I spent a while captioning some of them last night, so if anyone is interested, here they are:

Bria: There is no mallet... (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18507791&FROM=browser&START=1&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=23292)

Julieanne: I didn't need to see that... (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18507790&FROM=browser&START=1&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=23292)

Michele: WTF?!?!?! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18507789&FROM=browser&START=1&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=23292)

Steve: Oh, WHAT NOW, biotches?! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18507793&FROM=browser&START=1&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=23292)

Me: Die, Saibo! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520926&FROM=browser&START=109&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Andrew: I'm too young to die! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18507839&FROM=browser&START=37&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Andrew: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey... (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520855&FROM=browser&START=37&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Steve: Oh, that is SO wrong... (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520863&FROM=browser&START=73&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Alexis: NO! Stupid Guard got in my photo!!! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520880&FROM=browser&START=73&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Eric: YO! Look at me! I can march and play at the same time! YEAH!!!! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520902&FROM=browser&START=109&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Kelly: Blinded by the light! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520943&FROM=browser&START=145&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Francesca: Can't touch this... (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520978&FROM=browser&START=181&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=0)

Shawn: See, THIS is how you hold the goddamn drum mallet! (http://www.joleschorders.com/view_user_photo.asp?PID=&EVENTID=9269&PWD=&ID=18520928&FROM=browser&START=1&SHOW=36&CAT=77742&SUB=23292)

Hopefully these will make someone else laugh. :tongue:

[IamErik771]

We just had our first marching band show last night. Our band did Moulin Rouge, and we had a blast! I especially enjoyed the dance steps and hat-twirling that we had worked into the show. :D But the coolest part was that one of the other schools did a Phantom show!!! They played MOTN, POTO, Masquerade, WYWSHA, and the finale, and they even had two students playing the Phantom and Christine! At the end, they replicated Erik's disappearing trick from the stage show. I'm so glad my dad got it on tape! :D

[Forgotten Angel]

Hey, Steve, congrats! You beat us! By less than 3/10 of a point, though. But I'm not upset. In fact, you made my night when you came over to say hello. :D Extend my congratulations to the rest of your band, will you? And special congrats to your percussion section. *nod*

I seriously thought you guys had left, because your pit truck was gone. Otherwise I would've gone looking for you too. But then we probably would have missed each other. :tongue: And sorry if my answers to what you were saying seemed a bit vague; I wasn't entirely sure what you were saying half the time because everyone around me was talking. >.< I have a talkative band... But yeah, it was kinda weird talking face to face and not on/about TPO. But totally awesome at the same time. :D:D:D

Okay, I'll shut up now and try to get some rest... I don't know if you guys are staying in the area for the weekend or not, but either way, I hope you get some well-deserved sleep tonight!

[Oiseau de Chanson]

We're about to start the marching season up again. Our show is Cluichi Leathcheannai (not sure if I spelled it right, it's Irish Gaelic). We're playing Galway Piper, Danny Boy, and An Irish Party in Third Class. I'm auditioning for Field Commander (same thing as Drum Major). I'm excited about next year. I haven't seen anyone do a POTO show, but that would be super awesome!! And-----I just got a new clarinet. Named Percy. :D

[AAW0487]

I was in marching band as well, but I do not play an instument, though I wish I could have learned! I was in color guard for 4 years in high school. I just graduated last year. I must say the best times I ever had was on band trips. People just let loose and have fun! Congrats on some of your all's competitions! I don't know if any of you have attended KMEA, but we were there last year and came in 2nd runner up in class 3A. It was the first time for us to make it into finals there, in many years. I miss it so much! I wish we could have done a show realted to POTO, but we were never lucky enough. I wish you all the best of luck in marching band season, or in band in general!

[Oiseau de Chanson]

Do you mean KMEA as in Kentucky Music Educator's Association??

[AAW0487]

Yes! We've been to that every single year. Though a few times just sitting in the stands, but 2004 we were able to perform. Have you ever been to KMEA?

[Oiseau de Chanson]

AAAAAAH!!! ::glomps:: I've never been, but I'm in a KY marching band!! That's so funny! Where in KY were you from?

[AAW0487]

Well even though I'm not in marching band anymore, because now im in college. But I was from Lexington, KY. My high school was Henry Clay. I'm sure you all will get to go. KMEA isn't all that great anyway. At least our band didn't think so.:D Good luck on your upcoming season too!

[Oiseau de Chanson]

Thanks! I'm excited about this season. We're doing a Celtic show, with Galway Piper, Danny Boy, and An Irish Party in Third Class, which is from the movie Titanic. I'm field commander. :) I'm excited. Henry Clay is pretty good. :D That's so neat to have someone on the board who I've probably seen perform! Good luck to your alma mater as well!

[AAW0487]

Wow! You all are doing some great pieces, epecially the Titanic one! Congrats on being field commander!!! I totally forgot to ask what part of KY your from? Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad that there is someone here that's probably been at the same competition or at least close by!:)

[Melody0798]

I'm in colorguard, does that count? This is my first year in it and I absolutely love it!

[Chance_or_Destiny]

I was a huge band geek - rockin the Alto Saxphone - however i had to quite do to credits, talk about being unhappy. However i spent 5 years playing my heart out and loving every minute of it. Espically when we played Phantom for our summer concert one year and the next Pirates of the Caribbean. As for marching band - it was interesting, one year it was Ray Charles and another it was The Mask of Zorro (Which was very complicated) The thing that agravated me the most however was the fact that this fall for marching band their playing Phantom(and i dont get to). Oh Well i guess that i'd rather graduate but i'm really gonna miss this.

[angelofthenight]

I'm a huge band geek :D I swear I spend more time with the band during marching band season then I do with my own family. Anyway this last year we did Phantom of the Opera, which was awesome because one of my drum majors dressed up as the phantom and looked amazing. We played Masquerade, Music of the Night, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, and The Phantom of the Opera (which was the best song in the world to march to) anyway we took first and second place at all our competitions which is saying something seeing as we're the smallest band at the competition.

Anyway this next year there's talk about either performing Nightmare Before Christmas or Wicked which both will be totally awesome :)

[phantom's_rose]

:) I am a band geek too. But, if we decide to take that offensivly, we could just say, "We are not band geeks! We are just the people who are actually talented enought to play instruments!" Yay for that quote!

I have played a few things...I tried flute, but I wasn't the best at it. I played saxaphone and clarinet and oboe. Uh...I am now in percussion...as in snare, bass, toys, gong (I love that thing), granite blocks, and my specialtly, XLOPHONE!!! /bells. Yay!

My favorite thing to be in is pep band. I love being at the basketball games playing! FUN-NESS! Football games aren't as fun...but still, PEP BAND ROCKS!

[masquerading rose]

We have what you would call a wannabe marching band. We don;t have a place to march since out football feild is under construction and no one in band is really coordinated enough to march and play at teh same time (apart from me and a few others) so we stand up in the band room and march in place. Gah. I can't wait until that football field is finished at last!

[PhAnToMeSs07]

Well, of course when I was in high school, I was like the biggest marching band nut at Midway High School. I mean, me being the only one that was going to pursue music as a career when I left, it basically ran my life. During marching band season, you can bet that I spent more time in that band room than I did at home for all four years that I was in high school. The only actual reason I went to the college I am going to now was because they were supposed to be getting a marching band this fall and they ended up cutting the marching band.

I am really upset and disappointed about it because as I said, the fact that they were getting a marching band is what truly made my decision. If I'd have known they were going to do this, I'd have went somewhere else in a heartbeat. I am not ready to be done with it forever. I want to continue marching. I love the whole process of it, the feeling of oneness that comes when the entire band works together to produce something visibly and musically beautiful that actually entertains people. Plus, I really enjoy wearing the uniforms and the idea of wearing brand new ones just lit my day up. Yeah yeah, you know you are a band geek when you feel like the sexiest person alive when wearing it. And I did when I put it on. :D

Still, I will say, they didn't cut the program completely. Its called "football band" and basically, we do exactly what we do in pep band except we are playing in the football stadium. In Pep band, we played at the basketball games. Our pep band is now second in the state and I am starting 1st chair trumpet this upcoming semester, something I am very proud of considering I am only a rising sophomore. Oh, and I think we get wind suits for the football band so we will all be matching, but no show on the field. :( Oh well, maybe one day I'll go join DCI or something.

[angelofthenight]

So I tried out for drum major this year and didn't make it but... my band director was kind enough to tell me that if I go to Cavelcase ( a five day band camp specifically for drum majors, directors, colorguard, and percussionists) He'll consider me for the following year. I'm going to be a sophmore so I guess I'm kind of young and he said I need more experience so hopefully I'll get it next year.

[masquerading rose]

RAN!

First chair? IMPRESSIVE!!!! Congrats, m'dear, congrats! So happy for you.

So there was a marching band camp this summer. If we wnated to be in marching band, it was madertory. But sadly, it presented a conflicted schedule seeing as I had play rehearsals all of the days the camp ran, along with doctor appointments two times a week and still trying to enjoy my summer. So I said no to marching band camp and it was one of the hardest choices I've had to make....

[Hidden Away]

When I was a child I would love to watch the parades and the marching bands at school and other events. So when I eventually got to Middle School I signed up, Turns out that I was more cut out for choirs. My band teacher isn't....not exactly the worst te but demi-worst...She's just not a question-liking person ;)

[angelofthenight]

You are looking at next years field conductor for my marching band. How exciting!!! Anyway our show this year is probably going to include Michael Jackson songs as a tribute to him. At least that was what my band director said but Zeus can be a bit wishy washy (long story behind the name Zeus if you want to hear it PM me) anyway I'll keep you guys posted on what happens with our show and stuff... the major budget cuts are going to keep us from doing a lot but it will still be fun.

[Hidden Away]

Yea, Budget cuts are killing us all! :( Congrats!!!!! I wish that our High School would be more open about a student conductor!! But then again our school was NOT at all commited to orchestra more or less marching band :(

[Kojinka]

Back in Middle School and High School, anyone in band was in the marching band. It was fun, but I hated the uniforms. The collar was annoying for anyone with a neck strap! We played some really fun music, like "How the West was Won" and various classic rock tunes. In High School, the school fight song was practically burned into our minds. I graduated two years ago, and I still know the Bari sax part!

[angelofthenight]

haha I play bari sax :) It's like as tall as me so I wear a harness instead of a neck strap and I march it. Our show was POTO one year an at the end of music of the night we all got down on one knee and were supposed to put our horns to the box while playing this incredibly long note but I couldn't do it and my drum majors laughed at me. Then it went right into the overture and I had to get up and practically run backwards while weaving between two base drums.. it was intense.. but amazing.

[Kojinka]

I still play Bari, but I don't do marching in college. It's not required for my major, and it would only get in the way of my studies, I'm afraid. I miss high school a little, but I have to move on.

[Fragrance Of A Rose]

I play Clarinet in band. I was in marching band for the first time last year. I loved it. I volunteered to be in the marching band last year, but this year I am actually required to be in it because I am in our school's highest band. I would have volunteered anyway, though. One thing I loathe about marching band are the fundamental blocks. I hate them so much.

Anyways, our theme last year was "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy". Our songs were called "Go Daddy-O", "I Wanna Be Like You" (From "The Jungle Book"), "Jumpin' Jack", and "Big Time Operator"

This coming up year, our theme is "Big Band Swing" and the songs are "Big Band Opener", "In The Mood", "Harlem Nocturne", and "Salute To The Duke"

[The Countess]

I've never been in any kind of marching band but my friends wanted me to play pit. Only problem is I don't play any sort of instument. So I guess band won't be in my future.

I used to play a flute, quite badly may I add, in elementary school, but I never practiced and didn't really enjoy it too much. Of course my teacher was just absolutly wretched so I won't blame the instrument.

So unless our marching band wants me to play an empty root beer bottle or the triangle, I think I'll stick to drama for now.

[angelgirl]

I used to be in band, way back in 5th and 6th grade. I played Clarinet. I'd wanted to play the flute, but my dad either couldn't or wouldn't shell out the money for a new flute, so I got this old clarinet instead.
I never practiced except in class and was always last or next-to-last chair. In 7th
grade, when the opportunity to be in choir came around, I took it and never looked back!
Needless to say, I haven't been in band since.
A.G.