The Rivalry between Madison and Jerfferson.

The first time we marched, we just barley finished our drill. The staff had little confidence that we would get a good placement, and thought it would be just a good experience for next year. We had home advantage and ended up doing great. Jefferson was mad when they found out we had a higher score then them. They have had a program for thirty years and we just started. Yet, our show scored more points. Now, I have seen only parts of their show, and they do have moments. But I honestly think our show gets the audience involved more. That is the point of marching band, to get the audience to be able to connect to the music. They practice as hard as we did for the next competition. But we also focused and we were excited to be able to have a bigger goal, which was to get through the next competition. Slowly, we were climbing the ranks. I bet it was frustrating to them to have always been at the top and this marching band comes out of no where and beats them every time, and with only tenths of a point. It was more frustrating to me when they were able to go to ACCs. But it didn't matter anyway since we came into second and they came a little below us. But I think it is kinda cool to have a rivalry. It make us just worker that much harder to reach our goal.

MY LITTLE BAND THAT COULD, DID At ACCS!

     Marching Band was the most irritating thing on the planet. The cold late practices, the annoying people the would not stop talking. People not showing up to practice and delaying our progress... Those frustrations are 10x as much because every depends on each other. But it also the most rewarding and was well worth it when we went to ACCS. We played our show at a homecoming game and stopped all people in the stands and they watched in awe. Then he hopped on a bus and cruised to Hersey Park. I quickly got into the bed, and was nervous the whole time. Waking up, I wasn't quite sure if this was really happening. When I was at the parking lot, I wasn't sure if this was real. When I was on the football field.... I knew this real, but also knew the feeling wasn't going to go away. But it was amazing how loud everyone cheered for us at the end.

The nerves were gone and I was just happy. When awards we being given out... I was nervous as hell. I wanted to cling to the closest person next to me and hold on tight. There were 13 bands, and they were being announced off. I prayed each time "not us, not us." As the announcer said "and 10th place goes to.." "and 8th goes to..." Then what scary is that our band is Madison. I heard at one point "and ___ place goes to... Mmmm" "oh no!" and then it was some other school and everyone was relieved. We beat Jefferson again, and that was cool. I know they worked hard, but so did we. In the end, ours paid off. We got 2nd place.

 I was happy with that. Brick something got 1st. They beat us by a couple of points so I was okay with that. But I was even amaze by our performance. I am very critical with my work, so when others my seem its great, I would see it as okay. But I thought it was good, and worthy of 2nd place. Next year though, they better watch out. We will put them in their place, because we are no longer a little band that could. No, we have made a name for ourselves. We went to ACCS 1st in Madison history, and I am proud to be apart of it, and our unsupported administration should realize that and give us the same status that sports team gets.

Whether to go to EUSMC or Music Abroad in Europe.

I love Eastern U.S Music Camp. (EUSMC) It was the best thing that ever happen to me. It wasn't just the people, it was the music. Music brought us together. I went from fourth chair to second because of that experience. It was just like living in a movie. The reason why I say this, because on the last day, I was talking to this guy and it was like the last epic scene of a great movie. As the day went on, it felt like last few minutes of the movie was about to end. I was sad. I promised I would come back next year. I really did.

But..... this year.... I was invited to go to Europe. All of my friends from high school are going too. EUROPE. My  most fav. place on the freakin planet. Not only that, but colleges will love it. But I like the laid back of EUSMC, where I just get to hang out and play. That's all I want to do, hang out and play. And learn music theory when I try. But yeah, what I probably do is see who is going again for the summer then I will decide to put the deposit for Europe, or EUSMC.

The thing about marching band....

Marching band is one of the most difficult activities. It is also one of the more team related then any sport. In my experience, a sport has its star players and the rest support them. Not marching band. Yes, there are soloist, and they do get their spotlight. But they can't play by themselves. If I mess up, then everyone can notice. So I try not to mess up. It can go two ways, you either love it or you hate it. You have a blast or you are miserable. You are putting all your time and energy for a 7-10minute show. It is physically demanding too. Oh my God, is it demanding. You are using your mind, and your muscles you didn't even know you had. And those muscles ache. Twisting my body to face one direction is God awful, but I am getting use to it. I use to not be able to play through one show, now I get get through a run-through like a breeze. I like marching band cause it gets me out of the house, it improves me as a musician, I get to hang with friends, and it is the perfect kind for athletic musicians.  Which I am not athletic, but if I can play music, I'll do it.

My Marching Band made it to ACCS!

It made it barely. Just barely. If it not for our color guard, we might have lost. I was so nervous. I was never shaking in my life. I was so happy, it was like we had just won the playoffs and we are going to the super bowl!
This is the happiest day of my life.

The Little Marching Band That Could.

If you didn't already know, I love music. I love jazz band, concert band, and recently, marching band. Marching Band is new at our school. We stumble around the field last year and this is our first year of competing. We actually have a full show, and its a Spanish show. The school (students/administration) doesn't support us in the way I would like, and our funding is basically from the parents. We didn't think we would win anything. After all it is our first year.

We host our first competition, and it was a big public event. A bunch of bands in New Jersey came and it turned out great. Now, we didn't win a trophy because we were only hosting. But we all thought our show is a mess, the judges thought different. Me and my friend sat in the stands, the bands next to us were doing cheers, but not us. Our director hates that stuff, and thank goodness because I don't really like acting stupid or silly for serious events like that. We beat a band who has had a program for 30 years. It was by a small fraction, but it made that school mad.

For the next few weeks, we worked hard. We really learned our music and drill. My section (alto sax) knew the music, drill was so annoying though. But our work was paying off, because we won our class each time. Last week, we won best visual and music. It was AMAZING. We are the little band that could, he had nothing, and this weekend, if we win this, we could go to Atlantic Coast Companionship. Now, how we are going to get there is unknown to me. We have no money at all. But right now, we need to focus on our competition, because I want to go to ACC, and the band is buckling down to be the best we can be. 

My Sister with Mary Kay

I thought this would be funny to share. My sister said she hated Mary Kay. Which is absurd, because she never bought anything let alone use it. She tried the make-up remover, and now its never around, because she loves it so much she steals it from me! She also stole my lip mask, and wants to buy her own. Basically, she is being a Mary Kay addict just like me.

My goal

My dream is to go to camp this summer. Two in fact. This is my last summer, as I will graduate soon, and this is a once in lifetime experience. One of the camps is held at Colgate University. I have been to it before out of sheer luck and would love to go again. It changed me as a musician and a person. I met so many great people. I saw many events that expanded my knowledge as a musician, and I learn music theory! I learned how to play alto sax there, and played in the jazz band there in the sax ensemble.We played thriller (what!? that's a jazz piece? (yup.) I cried when I had to leave, something I never do.

I also want to go to a program called Music Abroad. Which takes students across Europe, like France and Belgium, Switzerland, and many more countries. I love Europe. I lived in Belgium for a month, and I am learning to speak French. Something like this is amazing.. Plus, all my best musician friends are going. So for three weeks, I get to tour Europe, play amazing music, and all around have fun and share my love of music.

Now, I am making it my goal to raise money for myself. These trips are expensive, and my parents can't help me this year, nor do I want to put that burden on them. I hope after I go to these, I can apply my experiences later in life. Whether that is college, as a teacher, musician, or maybe even as musician in the marines. (if I can survive boot camp). To be honest, everything I did from the last camp, I brought back with me. Everything. The friends, the connections, the practice. I was last chair freshmen year. Sophomore I was fifth. This year, my jr.year, I am second. I am creeping up the ranks of my fellow classmates, and I surprise myself sometimes. These camps open so many opportunities for me it is not even funny.

 I making it a priority to keep relations with my clients, because they mean everything to me. Mary Kay is also helping me become more experience in speaking, and customer service. It is the best job for me, because even after these camps I can save up for a music college. But for now, I am learning the business, and I am not going to lie. Its difficult. I am not as shy as I use to be, but I do like make-up, and I love parties so this works for me. Mary Kay is giving me the opportunity to make something of myself, and I am going to make something of myself. You just watch.