OK i'm giving this one it's own thread

I used to be a Band Geek. I'm not ashamed to admit it...In fact I'm proud. It was a hard row to hoe, that I will admit.

I remember in our freshmen year we sucked big time! The band went to a parade and scored like in the 60's...the judges told us to please not come back until we learned to play our instruments! Talk about humiliation!

Later that year during concert season we were practicing and we just couldn't get this one passage right...though we tried and tried. Finally Ms. Briant, our fearless band director, broke down and started crying. She didn't leave the conductors stand, she just sat there tears rolling down her pale cheeks, finally she said softly, "I have given up everything to be here...". She paused and began to regain her composure...she looked up her eyes red, mascara beginning to run...she spoke louder this time, "every day I give you guys everything I have...everything!....and all I ask is that you try your best too...I don't have any life but this band...I don't even have a family anymore...just you...just you!" She then left the podium and walked to her office.

Her outburst was so unexpected and so powerful. Personally I was moved beyond words. I glanced around the room and looked into the eyes of my fellow band mates and realized that the majority of us would probably have marched over the edge off a cliff for her. Maybe a core group of us understood that she wasn't there just to pick up a paycheck....she cared, and not just a little, she cared with all her heart.

That was 1972, by 1976 (our senior year) we were competing and winning..scoring consistently in the 90's and being praised by judges for our musicianship...And every step of the way, every evolution of our craft, every epiphany of musical life was guided by this wonderful lady. Every now and then I still break out the old b flat clarinet and toot out a few tunes. When I play I imagine myself once again, wearing white shoes and a big furry hat. I daydream about whistles piping out in the cold misty morning signaling me. I begin marching...and as the drums beat in syncopated rhythm I bring my clarinet to my mouth in a stylized ceremony and I begin to play.

I wish more kids are proud to accomplish something like that in school these days.

When we marched, I twirled (even with fire!). The rest of the year I played the alto saxophone (second chair). I unabashedly loved every second of it. We played in a lot of competitions - we never won, but we tried so hard. I had a dedicated band director like you did, and our entire band wanted to please her.

I wish I'd stuck with it - continuing to play the sax, that is, not twirling a baton (although I can still do that too). I wasn't good enough to be a professional musician, but I regret not playing saxophone recreationally as an adult.

Fortunately my son is picking up where I left off. He plays guitar, bass, piano, keyboards and is starting with the trumpet. I love living in a musical household.

Edited for spelling.

Goes to show what happens were people work together as a TEAM.

I was a band geek as well. Played b flat clarinet , bass clarinet and Alto Sax.

I would say that Liberals are worldly enough to take on learning new things such as playing an instrument while repugs.. all they do is blow their own horn.