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 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:12 pm
The title basicly says it all. I'll be a freshman in the upcoming school year and I was hoping for some general advice for concert band, marching band, band camp, anything!!!
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:47 pm
-Don't be a know-it-all. Nobody likes it when freshman try to tell the they are wrong, and it will cause you problems. If an upperclassmen says somethign you know for a fact is wrong, don't argue. Just nod your head and act like you think they are right. If they are wrong, just do it for the time being and bring it up later, alone, not in front of a group.
-Don't argue. Enough saaid
-Do your best. Even if your best is the worst in the section, they will respect you enough not to tell it to your face and help you get better(trust me, I was one of those people my freshman year)
-If an upperclassmen says something band-related about you behind your back, don't bring it up, or take it to heart, but try to fix it. In public, it doesn't exist, but in your practice sessions, it is all that matters kind of thing. A drill instructor once told someone, freshman year, not to watch my feet because I couldn't stay in step and it was messing both of them up, since she was behind the person and could only see his feet(parade). I wasn't supposed to know, but i overheard. It kind of hurt to know that these people I looked up to were saying these things behind my back, but I pushed it to the back of my mind and instead focused on that at home, walking home from school each day with a metronome and headphones, walking in step with the metronome. Last year, I was clarinet section leader, meaning I was superior in marching and playing to the rest of my section. All because I took that time to work on something I knew I needed work on.
-If you don't get along with someone, try to keep it to private discussion, not make it a group problem.
-Stay strong. Everyoen likes the freshman who stays at attention even though they have tears running down their cheeks from the physical pain.
-Don't worry if you don't get somethign right away. You are a freshman, and people only expect that you will need extra help.
-Don't be ashamed of asking for help. Once again, they want to help. Its their job as upperclassmen.
-Dont be afraid to ask questions.
-Don't ask too many stupid questions. Questions are important and helpful to those teaching you how to be a part of your band, but use your common sense.
-Which brings me to: Common sense is your best friend. It keeps you alive.
I hope this helped a bit!
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:01 pm
-Have fun and make friends with upperclassmen it will help you once you starts school
-like said before don't talk back
-If you are better than an upperclassmen don't be surprised if they get the higher chair and don't get angry just remind yourself that it doesn't matter you will get your time
-Listen to your BD, SL, and DM it makes them happy
-Don't follow the lead of roudy upperclassmen they are just mainly showing off
-don't gloat if your awesome quicker than everyone else and graciously except compliments, but not to graciously or you'll seam like your letting it get to your head... I just contradicted myself...
- most of all have fun!!! I certainly did!
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:06 pm
Clarinet goddess summed up a lot but, heres a few things too....
Don't complain- If your complaining about anything that goes on in marching band. You can get kicked out. PERIOD. In band, if you are complaining, people will just tell you to zip it. Instead, use your energy more on fixing the problem instead of whining about it.
Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!!!!!
In Marching band, you're going to be practicing a lot during band camp. But, if your still stuck on a few parts, work it out at home, with one of your bandies in your section, or a rank leader.
Make Upperclassmen friends- How I survived high school was making a lot of upperclassmen friends. Seriously, if they're your friend, they'll stick with you no matter what. Also if some one is picking on you, tell your upperclassmen friends. They'll stand up for you and get their friends to take care of it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:10 pm
Espescially in marching band: Be prepared for crazy traditions.
They're all in good fun, really. It may seem like they're doing it to pick on you, but everyone had to go through it at one time or another.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:43 pm
Here are a few things I learned my freshie year for marching band ;;
[x] The first and probably the most important thing. Practice, practice, practice! Then, after you're tired, practice some more! You can never get enough. It helps a bunch if you're prepared. [< -- That includes all of your music, drill charts, etc. ]You don't want to be the one freshie that gets called on to play a certain part in your music alone, and then you totally suck at it. It's humiliating. [Thankfully, that didn't happen to me... most of the time.] And, you'll probably be more popular with the upperclassmen in your section, at least more than others who don't know their music. That way, upperclassmen[& your band director] feel like they can count on you to hold your own out on the field.
[x] Second, you should probably know that upperclassmen are in total control most of the time. Just take advice and instruction from them and don't give back talk. And don't tell others what to do. Like if some person is out of step, don't tell them to fix it out loud. Tell your squad leader about it, and they'll deal with it. And that goes for any other situation. If something has happened tell your squad leader about it first before doing anything else. [It helps if you become friends with your squad leader before the season starts. I did, and we had the best time in our squad last year. I'm gonna miss her when she graduates this year. ; ( ]
[x] Third, you're gonna go through some tough situations in marching band. Physically and mentally. There are gonna be times in band camp where you're gonna want to just sit and breath. But you won't be able to. You might be standing at attention, and you might have the most annoying itch on your nose, but you won't be able to scratch it. Marching band takes self-discipline. And you're gonna have to tough some things out. The marching shoes are gonna hurt, you're gonna get hot every football game in your uniform, but all of it is gonna be worth it. Trust me.
This covers a lot of stuff, but there's still something that I probably forgot. Oh well. Make sure to just have fun. Because time is gonna fly, and by the end of your senior year, your gonna ask yourself, "Wasn't I just a freshman a second ago?" Good luck, and stay with marching band. It'll turn into a family you didn't think you had.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:32 pm
The best advice I can give to a freshman is: be good. Practice hard and learn your stuff, then don't be afraid to play out and show it (if you're supposed to, I mean don't go forte on a mezzo piano part haha). If you perform well, both in concert and marching band, people will forget you're a freshman. That's what I did; at the beginning of my freshman year (last year), I shot straight to first chair of our middle band on my first audition, and our section coach at band camp gave me first part when she was only giving that to juniors and seniors. If you're good at your instrument, it will really help you to overcome the freshman-phobia upperclassmen sometimes have.
Now, if you aren't really good yet (no offense intended if you are!), then just practice. Practice and practice and practice some more until you are, and then don't stop! Your dedication will show your peers and the upperclassmen that you are someone they can respect. You'll go far that way in anything you do.
Many people here have said that freshmen should never talk back. I don't know if our upperclassmen are just super-nice, or if our band family is just that close, but we really don't have a problem with people becoming angry at freshman for asking something or making a comment on something. Then again, we don't compete, either; perhaps that's different. Maybe hardcore marching band turns people evil and mean; I really don't know. But if anything, I could only think it would bring people closer, since they've worked together more. But, I suppose you have to judge what your upperclassmen are like for yourself, and act accordingly.
Finally, I believe that simply being yourself is very important to band. You'll be spending the next several years with these people, and it's a lot easier and more fun if you get along. Don't be a jerk, even if it's 100 degrees and 90% humidity; everyone's suffering just the same. If you make a mistake or forget something, be able to laugh it off, but don't forget it; work on it later, and you'll get better. Don't change yourself so you can get along with your bandmates, but accept them for who they are. In time, or maybe even right away, they will accept you, as well.
Oh, sorry, one more point: enjoy band! Never let yourself lose your passion for music. It will be a ray of light on many a dark day, so don't let anyone or anything that might happen your freshman year or any other year spoil it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:38 pm
Learn your music. Don't lose it, love it hug kiss give it it's own bed because it is your ticket. Memorize you music the best you can as soon as you can.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:35 pm
This is only my second year of marching so I can reate easily to freshmen.
Firstly Make friends with your section, try to become friends wth them and the band, so you dont sit alone at games and competitions.
Memorize your music ASAP. the thing that will make you hated the most is not knowing your stuff. Practice everything even if you hate it.
Stay on step. It stinks and is hard, but if your'e off step yo'll get fussed at.
Dont let people put you down. Upperclassmen can be really harsh. If you dont like what they say or you think that they shouldn't be telling you what to do (aka they aren't leadership) tell your section lader. It makes life easier.
Dotn forget to have fun. You're going to dread havingto spend all marching season summer with rarely any free time. you're going to hate spendig school time before and after to practice. you're going to hate waking up early to go to competitions and staying up late for foot ball games. But once te season is over, you're going to miss it and want to do it all over again.
COncert season? Thats the fun time. Not much help to give there, just dont let the same upper classmen boss you around.
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:24 am
don't be shy. come out of your "shell". we have some really weird traditions, especially at band camp. we get put on colored teams with one part of an overall theme (like a music genre, type of group of animals, pixar movie, movie genre, etc) and after the first day (when everyone finds out their team) everyone expects you to dress up with your team color (2nd day), your theme (somehow, 3rd day), all crazy, or hawaiian, or shipwrecked, or whatever other theme they can come up with...anyways everyone kinda gets pissed at the freshman who think theyre too "cool" to dress up. i mean really? even all the seniors do it. so thats another thing. don't think youre too cool to be crazy like the rest of everyone. everyone around you that you're going to see the rest of the day/week is doing the same thing
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 3:20 pm
Thanks everyone! Believe it or not I am actually reading all you're posts and I think they'll be really helpful ^^
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:32 pm
The best advice I can give is to not be afraid to take risks. Yes you're a freshman but that doesn't necessarily mean you suck. If youre a good player, play out. Many of our freshmen get so intmidated and don't even try to play out. Thats lame. But also don't act like you're a know-it-all. Nobody likes those nomatter what grade you are. If someone tells you to do something they're only telling you to make you better so listen to them.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:56 pm
THANKS AGAIN! Today was my first day of Rookie Band Camp (two days, no intrsuments, just learning the basics of marching). Next week we have Pre-band camp (I do not yet actually know the purpose of it . . .) and then the week after we have band camp. (Think we'll have enough practice xD)
BY THE WAY! I'm marching bass clarinet this year and I got put into the Clarinet and Flute section . . . I'm kind of nervous since we won't play the same music and I'll be the odd one out (there's no other bass clarinets marching). Any advice, ideas, ect.?
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:40 pm
Before I answer your question, one more piece of advice: Don't have an attitude and don't complain. We have a complaining, attitude pain in the rear girl in oru clarinet (my) section this year. Shes a nice girl, but she complains a lot, and cocks an attitude over everything.
s for your question, play out and be confident. Its okay if you play it wrong; it is only expected you don't get it right away,a nd if they cant hear your mistakes, they cant help you with them. Thats a major problem with our second parts in my section. We have 3 on first, 5 on second, and us firsts overpower them even when only one of us is playing.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:55 am
Don't be a Dot Whore. Dress the form, because if everybody is dressed to a curve and your ten steps away on your dot, YOU ARE WRONG!
Also, keep your head up. Large fields like carrier dome have insanely high boxes, and you got to get your horn up there.
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