Junior High and High School Band class was supposed to be either for the musically inclined people OR people who wanted to get out of PE class. It was usually populated by the non-jocks. It is interesting to note that even in band class, which was a haven for more or less non-popular people, there was a pecking order.
Some examples. During away football games and marching contests in high school, bus sign up sheets were posted for us to choose our bus. It was vital for me and my friends to get on bus #3 for some odd reason. That supposedly was the cool bus, at least in our minds. Buses 2 and 1 were filled with undesirables. Yet once during a trip to Johnson City, TN, we were forced to ride #1 when the bus lists were put out earlier than usual. At the time it might as well been the end of the world. Now I look back at it and think it must have been pretty fickle to worry about. So what if you’re not on the bus you want to be on?
Sure, there were cool kids in band, when to the rest of the school, they weren’t necessarily so cool…or perhaps the better term is…”Not so well known.” Again the phenomenon of the microcosm of band. We were in our own little worlds. Where band took to much time and effort out of you, we rarely thought about any other activities, or non-band personalities. Plus in a 1200 student school, it was difficult to be everything to everyone.
Some of them were liked for their musical ability. Others were liked for their personality. Band directors like me because my parents were hard workers, even though I wasn’t necessarily the best musician in the world. I’ll admit it now. I was in band because I wanted to be around my friends. Not because we necessarily enjoyed performing halftime shows. Maybe that was the case for many of us. Therefore it wasn’t too surprising when my friends and I mutually decided not to take band our senior year.
My sister had musical talent. That was seen in her piano playing in elementary school and then later on in band in junior high and high school. She excelled, getting awards and invitations to MidState and All State band competitions. She paved the way for me. I probably had some talent. I took piano lessons in 3rd – 5th grade, but I never really practiced. Same way with band. Never practiced.
I think I have some sort of musical ear for things. I enjoy certain types of music and can distinguish between good music vs. bad music. But as far as band went, I probably should have sat out.