Run, Katie, Run!

My thoughts as of 8:30 this morning:

I never saw this coming. Not in a million years. It's what all band geeks secretly hope for. Some not so secretly. But at any rate, several people are pleased that Hoover will no longer be doing marching band.

Or course, a few are upset. Many have looked forward to being in the band since they were younger. A marching band is the epitome of power, discipline, and majesty in the musical world. those who feel this way are now severely disappointed.

Marching band wasn't fun for most people, but as the first thing that happens in the school year, it brings us together and forces us to learn to work together. If it wasn't for marching band, I wouldn't know any of my classmates except for the two that sit right next to me. Marching band encourages student leadership, responsibility, and discipline, setting the tone for the whole school year.

Even the negative aspects of marching band bring us together. Marching band is the price of admission for the Hoover Band program. It serves as initiation. Everyone who is in band has had to sacrifice the August evenings to learning how to march. Everyone has had to wake up TOO early to make it on time to a 7:00 am rehearsal. Everyone has had to freeze their fingers off in October. Everyone has had to spend extra time standing at attention because Oswald and Bickle like to fidget. Everyone has been yelled at by Miss Young. Everyone has to wear the uniform, whether it be a symbol of pride or the stamp of dorkiness. These are all things that we suffered through together to form a common bond and a spirit of togetherness. People who suffer together can also celebrate together, which we did when we put on a great show.

What about the tradition? When are we going to do Maple Syrup? Will we still all go to Famous Dave's together?

Despite the great loss that this is to our band program, I can't ignore the positive opportunities. We finally get to start jazzband at the beginning of the year. EXCESSIVE JOY. The lack of marching band will save a ton of money for more worthwhile things. We don't have to deal with a marching band tone and mentality whilst we prepare for our all-state audition, which is really the most important thing anyway, isn't it? *has a violent coughing fit*

So this could prove to be very good for our band program. There are so many positive aspects of this decision that it is impossible to stop it.

There are so many changes in the band program lately that it's hard to focus on anything. It'll be strange to come back in a few years and talk to underclassmen who don't even understand what marching band is.

I kind of hated marching band, and I'm not going to pretend now that I always loved it and I want to keep it. But I did take a lot of pride in it. I'll never forget the day I marched on a sprained ankle because I didn't want to miss our last performance of the season. I was so looking forward to senior year. It's the year that we finally get some respect and recognition as reward for our three years of hard work in marching band. I guess mine will be the first senior class to not have a wearer of the golden dinkle, and I know that I always did really want to be drum major, but there are about a million other things to be excited about in the high school band world.

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