For me, high school in the long run wasn't as bad as I thought. I have band and choir to thank for that. Looking back on my four years, coming into high school, I knew that playing in the high school band was going to be a challenge, and it was. Like all things in high school such as sports and elective classes you are forced to work with upperclassmen with a ton more experience with everything, while as a freshmen you know basically nothing. The first day I came into band and choir, I was surrounded by older students, once we started playing I had this anxiety, "Damn these kids are so good. Can I sound like this?"

"Three times you get it, If you mess up start over"

One of the phrases my band teacher used a lot in his methods to get us to play better was replaying a line of music, or even a couple of notes three times perfectly. This meant that we had it down no problem, however even if you had it down once or twice, you mess up you have to start over. It was quite tedious I must admit, however as the years went on, I applied this technique to many other things I did in live. And it still sits with me today.

I remember doing this over and over again, I would either not get it down at all, then mess up the first time, then the second or third try, finally after getting it down perfectly, the sense of accomplishment kicked in, I finally had it. And you know what, after all the bitching and moaning about it, it was well worth the three times.

*Everyone needs everyone, so you better get your part down*

Band, Choir, it's not a one man thing. Nor is anything in life, everyone needs everyone in order for things to come together. Even if you have the best of the best in your group, that person needs other people to aid into making the song/piece work right? Which comes down to the big part, know it.

But even if this applied a lot for others situations in life in and outside of high school. Especially during my first year in college when I realized that it's a group effort ot accomplish one goal. Even not in the educational world, but just life in general, group work is the best work, but you have to get your part down or you let others down as well.

*Either you love it or you don't, but don't waste my time*

This correlates to the element above. One of the reasons I felt many people participated in band/choir was because of friends joining as well. Once high school came around that wasn't the case at all. Many friends I've known have a desire passion for music, even wanting to make a career out of it, and for them it was pretty insulting to see people who didn't give a shit about it and screwed around.

This is the next step, either you work hard because you love it and want too, or the best advice is to leave. No one will get offended, you won't loose friends, like anything in life we'd rather you be happy than miserable. This applied a lot to things I had discovered especially in college, "Not a fan, Gonna leave"

*That Sounded AMAZING*

So after the many weeks of slaying over music for about 45 minutes, with the constant pauses and re singing and replaying, there are times during rehearsal where you leave feeling that "We just killed it" feeling. Feels awesome right? Hard work pays off right?

I remember when my family went to my first high school Christmas concert, afterwards they were blown away with how amazing we sounded, how professional we sounded, and how they couldn't wait for the next performance.

To me, that was an accomplishment, because hard work does pay off and it should.

*Different people can make a great team. Or not we try at least*

Throughout my high school musical career, I've worked with some clashing personalities, some of which were the polar opposite of how I wanted to do things, or some we basically couldn't stand each other.

However, in some cases, two different personalities can collide and create something amazing, almost too amazing that no one watching us perform would suspect the clashing and arguing that had taken place before hand.

I use my trebs group as an example of CLASH.

Putting together a group of about 15 teenage girls ages 15-18, not a good idea ... not a peaceful environment ... just no. Not to go into detail ... but we sounded amazing. Beautiful voices and pitches you would've never suspected we wanted to commit murder on the reg!

My point:

You work with many different personalities in the real world, in college, work, on a sports team, even with other family members in general that you have to tolerate in order to allow something to go on, just do the best you can even if you have to fake a little bit. Work with them, you might surprise yourself on what you can tolerate and you might make a friend or two.

*You can do things you didn't think you could do*

Looking at some of the musical lines and notes, for example "Mozart Marriage of Figaro," or "Indiana Jones," or my personal (sarcastic tone) favorite freshmen year "Irish Washerwoman," (yikes) I look back and ask myself, "How the hell did I play that so well?"

With these pieces at first glance, just like any obstacle in life, you think you can't do something but with practice and hard work, anything is possible. You may have to do something in life you think is impossible, for me I think of "Irish Washerwoman" as a symbol of something that seemed so complex, but when you work at it, even if it takes you literally three hours to get a small bit of it done, it will come together. And you will feel good.

To Conclude ...

After four years, thank you Band/Choir. You not only helped me develop as a person, but it was so much fun! Thank you for the memories, the friendships, the struggles, the laughs, the sounds, the notes, the beauty.

Although I want to be a history teacher, Music will always have a special place in my heart and soul.