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Post by brassgirl1023 on Jul 15, 2007 1:37:12 GMT -5
Meh. I'm scared of marching band. What if the upperclassmen hate freshman guts? What if I die in marching band?! What if my section is full of arrogant egotists! What if band camp will be like hell? [lol, it probably will] What if someone steals my plume or mouthpiece or music [ok, I think I'm going too far...] But anyway, I haven't marched yet or played while marching, so I'm a scared little freshman at the moment.
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Post by NinjaBaker on Jul 15, 2007 9:18:01 GMT -5
Meh. I'm scared of marching band. What if the upperclassmen hate freshman guts? What if I die in marching band?! What if my section is full of arrogant egotists! What if band camp will be like hell? [lol, it probably will] What if someone steals my plume or mouthpiece or music [ok, I think I'm going too far...] But anyway, I haven't marched yet or played while marching, so I'm a scared little freshman at the moment. Upperclassmen will not hate your guts. They are there to HELP. and help they shall. and in my experience, band camp starts out hard, but then you finally click in and it's the most amazing thing ever. Be strong.
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Post by moe on Jul 15, 2007 10:28:42 GMT -5
ok so some upperclassmen are arrogant jerks...but the good ones come through for the younger kids. =D at least thats the way it is in my school. i really wish i had been more friendly (or at least tried to be) towards the leadership my freshman year. I didn't know pretty much any of them ('cept the guard ones and dm of course). so maybe getting to know the upperclassman will help. of course, don't be the annoying freshman that gets in everyones business (not that you do lol).
Good luck!! =D
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Post by SaxGirl on Jul 15, 2007 17:16:50 GMT -5
brassgirl1023, don't be worried. If upperclassmen torture you simply because you are a freshman, and for no other reason, then try your best to ignore them. I know that can be hard when you must listen to authorities in your section in order to get things done. In my experience, most upperclassmen are not monsters. We have to get tough to finish tasks, but no upperclassmen should be able to lay their head on their pillow at night without having regrets if they do mean things to freshmen simply because they are freshmen. Freshmen aren't incompetent; they just need to learn how to do things right because they've never done it before! Band camp may be like hell, but like Ninja Baker mentioned, once you get past the weather and repetition and pain and what you might view as torture, you will be rewarded with an unparalleled feeling of pride and accomplishment. If you do it right, band camp isn't even too bad. If upperclassmen bug you, try to associate yourself with upperclassmen who will guide and assist you, not tease you and hinder your abilities. Being a freshman is a wonderful thing... that sounds silly, but it's a new beginning. I'm sure it will go well for you.
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Post by NinjaBaker on Jul 15, 2007 18:50:17 GMT -5
I skinned my knee today. I was skateboarding over to a friends house, swerved to avoid getting hit by a car and *whabam!* hit the concrete. It hurts really bad...
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Post by stickshifty on Jul 15, 2007 21:01:36 GMT -5
I'm still not sure if the acid's working in my knees. I'm just so pissed off at my knees (named Mo and Flo). Why can't I have normal knees like most highschoolers? Why did I get stuck with the squinting patellas [twisted femurs]/maltracking/malalignment? ? On a happier note, I am finally home from gov's school so now I can have a shower that's taller than me .
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Post by Lprdgecko on Jul 15, 2007 22:13:54 GMT -5
Meh. I'm scared of marching band. What if the upperclassmen hate freshman guts? What if I die in marching band?! What if my section is full of arrogant egotists! What if band camp will be like hell? [lol, it probably will] What if someone steals my plume or mouthpiece or music [ok, I think I'm going too far...] But anyway, I haven't marched yet or played while marching, so I'm a scared little freshman at the moment. Don't be scared. Upper classmen are there to help you and give you examples. They aren't going to kill you because you did something wrong. They know you've never done it before. If you have an older sibling that is/was in marching band, maybe you could get them to help you. Or maybe a friend who is an upper-classmen or has marched before. It takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it's one of the best experiences ever. Have fun! You'll do great.
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Post by Lprdgecko on Jul 19, 2007 20:53:00 GMT -5
^*Hug* How old is your sister? If she's just started the sax, all new people need lots of encouragement. But I see why you're angry about how your dad seems to always ask about your sister's sport more than your parades.
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Post by moe on Jul 24, 2007 0:20:55 GMT -5
i know what you mean bariclaribob. my dad is kinda the same way with my brother and sister. i played soccer for 9 whole effin years (only to quit for guard...D=) He realized only a few months ago that I had wanted to try out for either Classic or Travel teams (next level higher than Rec...) I played Classic the last season only because my sister wanted to as well. Now she is on a travel team, and sees fit to rub it in my face (whether intentionally or not...) I know shes only 10 and is excited, but still....And then with my brother, he plays lacrosse. My dad is 100% behind him, takes him to all practices, assistant coaches when he can... but Heaven forbid he has to do something for me with band. Heaven forbid I hang out with band kids. (he actually confessed the band guys scare him... o.O) Around the time I was 15 1/2 (december i'm thinking...) we started arguing A LOT over EVERYTHING...it kinda scared me too, i've always gotten along with my parents.
We get along better now, but I think its due to the fact that: a. we haven't spent much time around each other, not enough to argue... b. band isn't in session yet. c. when we do start getting on each others nerves, it seems to be right in time for one of his trips to another job site. (things cool off when we're away from each other.) d. I think something must've clicked in his head recently, hes like another man, kinda weird. He's dieting all the sudden, and is a lot nice and understanding. kinda...idk. day and night difference I would say.
(sorry how long this was, btw.)
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Post by carlysnareperson on Jul 24, 2007 17:17:29 GMT -5
Bariclaribob- I have said it countless times, and I believe it whole-heartedly: There is a special bond that comes from marching band, one that if you're not involved in it, you just can't understand. I've only ever applied it to my peers, but I suppose it works the same with parents as well. I find it hard to put my feelings about band into words, so my parents have only a limited understanding. But they do their very best to support me in whatever I do, and I suppose I take it for granted. Good luck with your situation, and I hope things get better for you.
And now for my vent:: There is a girl in my class, who's on Drumline with me. We'll call her Lola. You'd think she's the nicest person. She's been nothing but an angel to me, yet I hate her freaking guts. She is the fakest, most two-faced person I know. She's talked about me behind my back TO MY BEST FRIEND, which is actually quite stupid. I've heard Lola say mean things about another Drumliner who she is pretty much bffs with. She ragged on the "popular" girls/shluts of our grade, yet those are her closest friends. I'm never ever one to cause or fuel drama though, so I do nothing but pretend with her. I smile and laugh and hold polite conversations with her. Lola tells me she loves me and that I'm good at everything and I play along, even though I truly know that she hates the fact that I'm so perfect (which, you know, I'm actually not..) and does not actually love me. Thankfully we're in different sit-down bands now so I won't have to deal with her once marching season is over, but here's the real problem. She is now playing snare (like me) and stands right next to me. She's unfortunately not even good. My BD had said that Lola was definitley going to be in the pit because she also plays soccer and will be missing all of band camp (hooray!!!! only not because then she'll be horribly behind.) But no, there she stands, stumbling along on snare, doing mostly nothing but being her fake self and flirting with my SL. I've always had a problem with their relationship, maybe because I'm a tad bit jealous, but mostly because I wish my SL could see what a twisted person she is and not pay so much attention to her. My best friend and I just look at each other all during practice with knowing looks and resolve to never be that two-faced. Sorry it's so long. But this is the venting room.
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Post by SaxGirl on Jul 24, 2007 18:05:56 GMT -5
bariclaribob, moe, and carlysnareperson, I would like to give you the biggest hugs in the world. I sort of know how you feel; I am blessed because my mom and dad both support my musical activities so much. My mom just tends to be very gung ho about it, whereas my dad doesn't really mention it. I am here to vent, though, just because I am completely fed up with my section. Today alone I had to: 1) Nearly confiscate an iPod during sectionals - twice 2) Hand out six extra copies of music because people lost it 3) Notify the BD of some section members evading basics to go "look at the demolition of the band room" 4) Swear or insult people to get my point across/get their attention 5) Tell people to stand up because they sit as soon as the last note of a piece escapes from their horn 6) Reset my watch four (yes, four) times because another trombone player thought it would be funny to change the clock (our break was way too long and we were all late to basics) 7) Watch a trumpet staff instructor come babysit some trombones because they hid behind their stands instead of standing at attention I've had it up to here, and band camp doesn't even start until August. I hope that come August, people will start to literally feel the heat. My throat is going to be raw from screaming. I just have no hope of helping my own section if I keep up my natural "doormat" personality. My section walks all over me - it's not that they don't like me (which I could care less about - I know who my real friends are), it's just that they don't apparently give a rat's butt in the first place. I really should ask my section one of these days what exactly their motivation is for doing marching band because almost all of them don't follow any rules unless someone puts a gun to their head. They don't seem to want to listen... so why in God's name are they there? I'm agitated, if you can tell. And I don't know how to fix it.
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Post by brassdancer on Jul 24, 2007 20:26:56 GMT -5
What on EARTH is up with your section, SaxGirl? I mean ... wow. I've never seen that kind of behavior. Is it because you're just having summer rehearsals, and no one really cares? I would be chocking some people if I were you. Or is it that syndrome of "We are having sectionals with no guidance and we think we can get away with it?" Augh. Sorry, but wow .. hugs to you. I got really angry just READING that!
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Post by NinjaBaker on Jul 24, 2007 20:32:14 GMT -5
*hugs for SaxGirl*
My mum and I got in a fight today. I'm not going to go into what it was over though, because it's kinda personal. But it's a really stupid thing to get in a figt over.
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Post by SaxGirl on Jul 24, 2007 21:22:26 GMT -5
Even though I don't know the circumstances, here's a hug for you, Ninja Baker. brassdancer, I'm glad there's still someone on this planet like you who gets peeved by that kind of stuff. Though I'll admit I'm looking at this season very pessimistically, and I'm probably overexaggerating some of it (you can't be serious 100% of the time, though I like to be serious about 98% of the time ), all the goofing around prevents work from being done. It's getting out of hand. And I think because my BD is always around visiting and doing band directorly things, he's not seeing it first hand. I suppose I should be talking to him about this instead of venting my frustration on an Internet message board, but it's good to know that people feel the way I do. Quite frankly, I'm surprised I haven't choked anyone yet either. I'm not a weak or tolerant person when I'm angry... It's definitely the "I can get away with it because she's not the boss of me" factor. Our normal instructor travels a long way to get to practice, so he won't make his trip seem like it wasn't worth it. Even though he's in his 60s, he really gets the job done. But people can mold me like putty simply because I'm just another student, and he's miles away. Hell, my fellow seniors have even been bothering me. They keep threatening to put one of the freshmen, who is very eager and willing to get a grasp on marching band and just trombone, since he was just taught it, in a garbage can, or lock him in a locker. I can't stand that sort of stuff. I'm sure the season will shape up. Luckily, our BD called a meeting for next week between all the section leaders. Hopefully he's going to let us get down to business with everyone. I'm a sensible person, but when you're selfish enough to not work at all, put the success of 160 other people at stake, and expect to get just as much credit as the people out there on the field or in the practice room working their butts off every day, it makes my blood boil. Thanks, brassdancer. Knowing that it got you angry too makes me feel a little bit better.
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Post by brassdancer on Jul 24, 2007 21:57:23 GMT -5
That kinda crap bothers me because my section was like that my senior year. They though just cause it was "me" that we could fool around. I'm a pretty fun person, and my junior and sophomore years I was a goof off in band, so I guess they saw this as an opportunity to become like that. I didnt have much authority to begin with because I missed band camp and the next oldest was made captain, so they were not sure who to answer to. I had to get our band director to come into the sectionals and tell everyone I was in charge, and to listen to me, and to get stuff done.
Since it was parade tunes, no one cared. I'll be honest, I didnt either cause we were horrible and small and nothing would change that. But MAN. Sometimes I Just want to kill people who think they can goof off in band just "because".
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