Music expresses the emotions the soul cannot convey with words. Music is a refuge, an escape, a place of sweet rest. Music connects the most divided souls. Music builds relationships and friendships. Music changes lives. This is a short story on how band brought such sweet music to me and forever altered my life.
As I started middle school band, I had no idea how to play the clarinet or even how to correctly assemble it. Luckily for me, it seemed I was not alone as many students had never played their instruments before. That's the beauty of band, we all come in as newbies. We don't yet know what good technique is, we know very little if anything about reading music, and we have never performed with a full instrumental ensemble before. With hours of practice in class and at home, each of us started to improve little by little. With each concert we performed, the music became more difficult and the performance more expressive and polished. We became a band. We became a force to be reckoned with.
Middle school laid the foundation for my love of being a band member. Not only had I developed a love for playing the clarinet, but I formed friendships that would last for years to come. Soon we would move up into high school band. We would take our places in a band program with national accolades. A new frontier was quickly approaching, but we would face it together, forming a new harmonious sound.
The high school band I was a part of for four years was spectacular. The students were incredibly gifted academically and musically. The music was challenging, thought-provoking and sometimes left audiences speechless. Our teacher and conductor was a mentor, encourager and friend to us all. He never let us down and constantly inspired us with his words of wisdom and support. Our band was the pride and joy of our school, and we were honored to become students that were his pride and joy. The amount of love and energy he pours into the program year after year is truly inspiring, and he will always be a role-model to me. The tantalizing music changed my life. The incredible students changed my life. My astonishing director changed my life. Most of all, however, the friendships I formed forever altered my life.
I entered high school band with my clarinet-buddy and true friend, Ashley. We had been friends for years through dance and middle school band, and she will always hold a piece of my heart. In my first year of high school band, I met my bestie and soul sister who, ironically, is also named Ashley. We quickly became best friends with a shared love of ballet, music and faith. Ashley has been there for me through all the transitions I went through in the last six years. She encouraged and supported me through every crush, disappointment and stress I faced. She was my bestie, the one girl I could rely on for anything and everything. Her place is forever saved in my heart, and no one could ever occupy the space she encompasses there. One day I hope she will be my maid of honor. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without her.
Writing about how my experience in band changed my life has brought tears to my eyes. I will forever be thankful for the people who have supported me on my life journey, and many of them I came to know through band. There is one band member left to thank: The young man who stole my heart in my senior year. Andrew, when I met you I would never have guessed we would be where we are today. It seems that one day you were just another student who played the French horn and the next you were my best friend. I would never have predicted that you would be my first love and the one I hope to spend forever with. The way you walked into my life can be likened to a sweet song that finds its home in your heart and mind and stays there forever. My love for you cannot merely be expressed in one paragraph, and one day I will write an article just for you.
For everyone out there whose life has been made better, healthier or sweeter by band, a band member or teacher, I hope this article has resonated with you. I hope in this season you will thank those who've changed your life. I will forever be grateful for the music, friends and role-models band allowed to me. In a time of thankfulness, to you all I give thanks. Thank you for helping make me who I am today, and thank you for sharing your love with me.
