I've spent more than half of my life in some form of a wind band. My precios formative years were spent playing my clarinet amongst the other incredibly talented musicians in my school. It taught me more than music. It taught me about a whole new lifestyle. One I wasn't ready for. Here I am today, however, a jaded, snarky girl, here to leave her sarcasm to you all and impart with you what band taught me.
1. Trust No One
Seriously though, that kid you think has the part you can't get and you're covered, they'll forsake you when it matters. Or the conductor will miss your cue, or the worst is when that one kid misses a sharp and makes you all look bad. Yes, this is real life. It's every man for himself.
2. Self Deprecation is a Way of Life
No matter how well you play, it always sucked. You missed that section you actually had down or you were out of tune or you missed your entrance. Really your life is a series of compliments you politely shoot down seeming humble to those around you when really your life is devoid of confidence.
3. No Matter How Bad I'm Doing, That Other Guy is Definitely Worse
You have zero self confidence left due to lack of sleep and consistent personal failures, but you still have an ego when it comes to that scapegoat you chose when things go wrong. Blame shifting is a terrible habit but it's one you mentally take on when you hear a wrong note or someone in the section just isn't playing all that well.
4. Being Passive Aggressive Doesn't Get You Anywhere
It's cathartic though. Do it. Everyone does it.
5. How to Bond as a Team
You've never known bonding until you and the guy next to you mutually hate a piece. You look into the eyes of those around you and you see solidarity like it's never been found before. You rejoice through tear filled, self loathing laughter as you suffer atonal together. You see each other reach the deepest depths of humanity and then rise up to play a decent concert. Every band is basically a Disney movie.
6. Whatever We Do, We Are Still Better Than Choir
Choir is filled with drama and Broadway addicts and band is filled with cynics and gamers. Beyond that, there is a chip on every instrumentalist's shoulder that we are the cool kids and choir is the weird scary land we respect but stay away from. I mean even if we play something wrong, most people are asleep by the point it all falls apart anyways, so I mean, we are better by default.
7. No One Actually Knows What They're Doing
Many act like they do, but let's be real, most people are faking it. It's one of the biggest lessons you learn in band (and in life), everyone is basically just as confused as you, some are just better at looking like they have it together.
8. At the End of the Day, #BandGeeks4Lyfe
No matter when your band career starts or ends, no matter where life takes you, you are forever a band geek.
