Marching band is unlike any other high school organization for many reasons. It requires skill and talent, dedication, and effort beyond belief. The friends you make in band are the friends you keep for life. So, in order to shed some light on what it's like to be in marching band, I decided to share my story in a series of articles, starting from the beginning and going through my entire high school career.

It's always best to start a story at the beginning, and this story begins with the first time I set foot in the band room. It was the summer before the beginning of eighth grade. August, the heart of the summer where the heat beats you down and makes you beg for winter. My parents encouraged me to join band, but I didn't have a strong desire to join. I could only play piano, which meant that I would have to learn a new instrument. I'd say it was a hard choice, but that would be a lie. My heart told me to go with the saxophone. Maybe it was just because it was what Lisa Simpson played. I had wanted to play tenor like her, but when my dad went to buy a used saxophone at the local music store, he bought an alto (hind sight being 20/20, I thank God for this mistake). The only thing left to do was to learn to play it, and Blacksburg High School offered a beginner band camp for kids entering the sixth grade. My parents talked to the band director, Mr. Dixon, and he agreed to let me come to learn saxophone.

I was pretty nervous on that first day. The band room seemed so big. It was full of instruments I had never even seen before. Me and the other saxophone players were led to a room in the depths of the high school where we were taught by much older marching band members. It was hard, but fun. I was showing a lot of promise thanks to my background in piano and my eagerness to learn.

In the middle of the week, Mr. Dixon approached my mother and I as we were entering the band room. He informed us that a saxophone player had dropped out of marching band, and he wanted me to take his place. I was flattered, but my first reaction was no. I had no intention of ever being in marching band, and nothing anyone said was going to change my mind. Then again, the band director himself had asked me to join...my mother and I discussed it that evening, and we finally decided that I should dive in. Mr. Dixon informed me that I had to start coming to the marching band camps held in the afternoon after the beginner band camp.

I had never been more nervous in my life than I was when I walked into the band room that afternoon. It was full of much older kids all talking and playing around on their instruments. Not only did I have no idea how to play my instrument, but I knew no one there. Luckily, my fears were put to rest when a girl came up to me and introduced herself as Taylor Kale. She told me she played tuba, and was also in eighth grade. She was so friendly, and I was so excited to finally be talking to someone my own age. Finally, the time came to start rehearsal.

The first time I ever heard the band play, I was shocked. Our show was "Praise", and the sound was so full and beautiful; it was unlike anything I had ever heard. It was amazing to be immersed in the sound. Of course, I couldn't play one lick of the music, but no one really expected me to. That's when I decided to defy everyone's expectations.

I would practice every night in my garage until my lips were blood red. I drove myself crazy. I practiced until I could play nearly everything. But of course, playing the music was only half the battle. The next week of band camp was the week started to set drill. That second week of band camp was when I made my next two friends- Abby Sanlin and Maria Prizzi. Abby played clarinet and Maria played piccolo, and they were both in my grade. They were just as crazy and funny as me; I had never expected to click with anyone like I did with them.

Abby and Maria made standing out in the sun for hours a little more bearable. Learning to march was just as hard as learning to play. There were so many rules to remember- step with your left foot first, roll your feet, keep your shoulders square and facing the sideline, keep your elbow out, stay in line, guide to your left, the list seemed to never end. Nevertheless, I was still determined to prove myself to everyone. I stood out to everyone because of it. I almost always remembered my spots, and when I didn't, I wasn't afraid to say I was wrong or take criticism.

I survived band camp, but of course practice continued even after school started. I was beyond grateful to have friends like Abby, Maria and Taylor on the first day of school. I couldn't have done it without them. In case I haven't thanked them enough- thank you Abby, Maria, and Taylor. I love you all.

Those first couple of weeks when I started were a blur, but I had no idea what I was getting into or what the future would hold. I could tell you, but that would ruin the story.

Until next time- Raleigh Kennedy