As you all should know, I was the Drum Major for the RCS Marching Band last year and I honestly LOVED it. Sure we never won anything other than 1st place percussion and color guard and I came in 3rd as DM EVERY single competition, which I shed many a tear about, but I just loved my band. They made me really happy because the majority of them were super cool kids who just liked to play music. There were the couple who didn't want to be there and their attitude showed that, but that was ok... Not really but it is whatever. Our show last year didn't make much sense, but I really liked the music and the fact that we all Bernied... It was really great actually. The thing that I really regret now is not taking full advantage of the time I had with that group of people and how serious I was about being Drum Major. I really wish I would have been as serious at the beginning of the season as I was at the end. I remembered when my band director asked me about being the drum major when I ha only been in the band for less than 6 months. I was like whaaaaa, but at the same time I was like "I can do this!" I knew from that time that I had to make sure my band members liked me enough to actually listen to me. I learned a valuable lesson being DM, which is "in order to be respected, you must first respect." I think I did that pretty well. I tried to be the nice one while my band director was the mean one, which I think created a good balance. The thing that made being the DM a little easier was that the band trusted, respected, and liked me, a least they acted like they did and I really loved them! I still do!
This year they are SOOO good! They won 1st in their first competition this season and I was so blessed to share that day witht them. It was a truly a bittersweet moment for me, seeing them all gather round Mr.Swanson when they had found out they won 1st and for me just to stand back and watch their joy filled faces smile! I was beyond happy for them, still am and I am so proud that they did it! No matter what, in my heart, they will always be my band. Words can't express how wonderful they made my senior year. My favorite and most memorable moments came from band, whether in marching or in concert concert. Many of those people became my best friends. From teaching someone how to play mallets and then being taught by her, to getting "inappropriatly harassed,", to getting sent out of the classroom for laughing across the room, to people slyly messing up the marimba, or simply having my own paparazzi... I love every memory I made on the field, in the classroom, or on the stage with those people. So for all you bandies reading this, thanks... For being the best band this town has ever seen (in my opinion)! Thanks for being my band and still letting me be a small part of it now! Thanks to my band director for putting up with me 3 periods of the day. Thanks for the endless laughs, tears, and crazy songs we would randomly make up and sing to the 6th graders. I was so blessed to have a teacher that was not only able to handle my crazy self, but was able to let loose and be crazy with me... And let me send pictures of puppies to, just so I could watch him freak out at how cute they wore. I really loved spending half my school day with you... Most of the time.
That band has caused my heart to skip a beat many times because they are just so amazingly great, so stay that way! I love you guys and I miss telling you to shut it and put your horns up... And bernieing with you. Stay classy.
- M.Philly
Ps... Here is the link to the beginning of the sic how I talked about. Maybe it will make your heart skip a beat. It's truly amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJHxKRXPowg&sns=em
