People say that marching band is for nerds, but there are only a few times in my life that I’ve been as proud of myself as I have been after a marching band show. It can be hard, but what I’ve learned from band will stay with me for the rest of my life.
1. Responsibility
Memorizing music, drill and routines can seem daunting, but the people around you are depending on you to know what you’re doing. If you don’t, it can throw off the whole show. You’re responsible for having your instrument/flag/batons and for being on time, and this lesson of responsibility never really leaves you.
2. Time management
Marching band can take up a lot of time, and while it’s completely worth it, everything else needs to be scheduled around band. If you procrastinate too long, you’ll be stuck writing that essay on the band bus, and no one can write an essay on the band bus.
3. Coordination
It’s not easy to play an instrument and walk backwards or to twirl a six-foot flag through a line of percussion, but we manage. Coordination isn’t just physical--marching band turns dozens of individuals into a single group that works in perfect harmony. You learn to work well with others.
4. Dedication
Whether rain or shine, the show must go on. Even if it’s freezing outside and you’re wondering why you do this to yourself, you’ll stand on the field and not move a muscle (aside from the occasional shiver) while you wait for the show to start because you know it’ll pay off in the end.
5. Losing gracefully
My high school band marched competitively, and we came in last or almost last at every competition for years. We didn’t win until I was a junior. This was awful, but it taught us that winning isn’t everything. We may have lost, but we could still be proud of all the hard work we put into our show.
6. Discipline
The rehearsals are long, there’s lots to memorize and you don’t move until you’re told. It can almost be militaristic at times, but you learn to discipline yourself. Many of the most successful people became successful in the first place with the help of self-discipline.
7. Leadership
Most marching bands have leadership positions. I was the captain of my high school’s color guard my senior year. Both colleges and employers like to see applicants who are willing to step up and take charge, and band provides a safe place to show everyone that you’re up to the task.
8. Confidence
Nothing feels quite like finishing a show and watching the audience cheer for the band, or catching a toss when the wind is whipping the flag away from you. Once you’ve played a perfect show against all odds (usually the weather), you feel like you can do anything.
9. Do what you love
I can almost guarantee that your band director isn’t doing this for the money. It’s rare to come across people who really, honestly love what they do, but almost every band director I’ve met loved their job. These people teach us that we can do what we love and get paid for it.
10. Camaraderie
You spend so much time with the people in band that they become your second family. You practically live with them during band camp, and spend the rest of the season becoming so close that you can’t imagine life without them.
11. Sacrifice
Everyone in band has said it at least a thousand times, “Sorry, I can’t go--I have band.” Your friends are planning to get together, but there’s a competition you have to go to. You want to go to a concert, but you’ll be playing at halftime instead. You’ll always have the chance to go see that artist in concert later; right now, you’re doing something you love.
Lots of people don’t join marching band, and I think they’re missing out. It’s a lot of hard practices, long days and awful weather--but some of my best memories were made with the people I met in band and I’ve learned so much from both them and the program. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without everything marching band taught me.
