Many band students tend to leave the band in high school, many going into middle school wonder what instrument to play. According to former band director Don Gamble, the simplest instrument to play is simply the cowbell, to be able to play this you simply have to choose percussion.
“All bands want more cowbell,”Gamble said. With that being said, what would be the hardest instrument? Again asking Don he simply said that double reeded instruments are the hardest to play. Some double reeded instruments like bassoon, oboe and the English horn. Bassoon is the hardest to size, and kids under the age of 10 tend to have trouble learning the instrument due to its size.
When students in middle school were in band in 6th grade, they spent time all year learning an instrument. However, this changed in 7th and 8th grade with UIL contests and Solo & Ensemble. These contests rank from 5 divisions, 1st being the best and 5th being the worst .Marching in the Christmas parade was also one of the events for the middle school band, as well as their own middle school football games.
High school adds the football games, as well as summer band camp for marching and to prepare for football season. During concert season, just like in middle school, they also have contests. Jazz band, Solo & Ensemble, and many more things you can do; like trying out for All Region to shoot your shot at State.
The main reason students are leaving the band is really because of marching. But why?
When I asked freshman tuba player Ivy Dowell “I think for scholarships,” Dowell said.
Makes sense, but scholarships can’t be the only thing that motivates people to stay in band. Junior trumpet player Nathan Dubberly was asked the same question.
“My friends and my (letterman) jacket,” Dubberly said. “I’ve been wanting to quit band since middle school.”
To add to his experience in band, many students have said that friends and the experience of playing an instrument is what motivates them to stay. Freshman trombone player Elijah Rominger says that his favorite thing to do in band so far is marching.
“Because we’ve never really marched like this and played music,”Rominger said. “We have way more to do in high school than in middle school. There is more things that we can do in high school, like we can go to All State, All Area, we can do Jazz and All Region. We can do full orchestra and we can go to marching contest.” Why do you think people leave band in high school? Freshman clarinet player Asael Leon responded with: