Before I begin, allow me to summarize marching band. Two weeks before school even starts you begin to work at band camp. By a few weeks into the semester, you have had countless hours of practicing in and out of school as you develop a performance that’s less than ten minutes. As the semester continues, you continuously work on the same music and drill, perfecting them to the point of exhaustion. You then get a limited number of times to perform it at football games (often not the whole show) and, this year, in three competitions. By the time you finish your last competition, you are both physically fit and mentally resilient. You feel like you can conquer anything with the team you have come so far with.
When City Championships arrived, it was a crisp clear day with a chilly breeze. Anticipation was high; it was our last competition of the year, and, for the seniors, the last of our Royal Regiment career.
It was just past 1:00 pm when Loading Committee (Loading Com) started loading the small U-Haul with all our equipment: keyboard instruments, dance equipment, props, PA, and the podium. While students trickled in, Dance Team did their makeup and Uniform Committee (Unicom) pinned, sprayed, and braided hair until everyone was in uniform. Anxious excitement loomed as we proceeded to locker rooms to change into uniforms and board the three buses by 4:15 pm. I led bus three and caught up with band alumni.
The buses dropped us off around 5:00 pm and we headed to check-in. As I led two lines through the East LA College campus, chords and melodies floated past us as other bands warmed up for their chance to wow the judges. My heart raced with excitement that my last performance was just above the horizon. After Unicom polished shoes and Loading Com unloaded the truck, it was time to warm up. Drumline, Front Ensemble, Woodwinds, Brass, and Dance Team split off to various areas of the East LA Quad. I headed over to the brass players, who were circled around my fellow Brass Captain Macrae Eckelberry. By the time it was my turn to run the last few exercises the brass section was sounding clean. We topped off the warm-up with the Four Chords— I IV V I [space chord] I. The exercise doesn't sound so complicated, but when played correctly it sends shivers down your spine. It was time for our full stand-still run of the show before actually taking the field.
We headed over to front ensemble and we formed our band arcs. I took my place at the front, facing the group, and donned my white gloves. I counted off and we began our second-to-last run of the show. With alumni behind me and the band blasting my ears off, I almost leaped with excitement. As the final note faded into the air around us, I came back to my senses. Mr. Sharp took a moment to thank everyone for their hard work throughout the semester and afterward told us to get into our competition lines. I led the band down the iconic tunnel lit by artificial LED lights, which cast giant shadows of everyone on the opposite wall. When you walk through you feel like giants, ready to give the best performance of your life. We emerged and took our place at the northwest corner of the field.
The three band lines and one dance line stood behind me as we waited for the band before us to finish performing their show. As they cleared the field, I centered myself and, with whistle in hand, waited. “North Hollywood, you may now take the field in competition.” I called the band to attention, gave the whistle cue and we were off. We marched onto the field for our ‘on field’ warm-up. As we scattered to our starting dots, I made a beeline to the sidelines, centered myself again, and mounted the podium.
With all our backs to the audience, we listened to the rain and thunder effects, as we prepared mentally to run our show for the last time. I spun around to face the audience as they announced our school. I saluted alongside a thunderclap, broke the salute, and took my hat off with a big smile. I carefully placed it on the front edge of the podium, adjusted my gloves, and prepared to start. At approximately 8:00 pm, I counted off our last performance. It was after the climactic moment in part three of the show where I realized that after four years, it was my final marching band performance. After the final note, I “died” for the last time as I was pulled off the podium and “crushed” by dance team members. We were done. I gave the whistle cue while crouched before jumping up and rushing to meet the band lines as we cleared the field for the last time. We retreated through the tunnel.
Immediately after our performance, I and the other leaders headed back to the field for the Leader Retreat and Awards. We marched onto the field with leaders from the other bands that performed and proudly went up when called to receive our band’s hard-earned award. It was as if we had sealed a chapter of our lives. Back in the music room later that night, the leaders gave sentimental speeches about what band meant to us and how it had changed our time in high school. Every speech depicted band as an inspiring experience and was a testament to the rewarding nature, especially socially, of band. We shed tears together as our last tournament concluded.
Marching band has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my four years in high school. People are often scared away by the time commitment and the work required to be in such a group, but these are the two key components that create one of the most rewarding experiences ever. When all the time and effort boils down to ten minutes, you really come to appreciate the journey and not the destination. Words fall short of capturing how this program has impacted me. It is only after looking back from the end of the road (or rather the beginning of another) that I can truly appreciate how much this experience has changed me.