This Is My New Jersey

As much as I hate to see summer come to a close, it does mean one of my favorite seasons is right around the corner. No, not all that pumpkin spice nonsense. It’s marching band season!

If someone asked me one of most memorable times growing up, my time in marching band would probably be at the top of the list. I actually first became aware of marching band when I was little, watching my cousin march in Glen Ridge’s color guard. I was absolutely fascinated.

At one point I even dressed as a drum major for Halloween when I was young!

When I hit high school in Belleville, I immediately tried out for color guard. I went all in. Yes, I went to high school, but my focus was the music department. Before school, lunch time, after school. You could find me in the band room. It became my second home.

For the record, we weren’t great. We loved our band director, we tried hard, but we were missing something. That all changed my junior year.

Our previous band director left teaching and with our new band director, a new generation came through. I actively recruited people to join. We definitely stepped up our game. And I became drum major. I played xylophone in the pit and conducted. I spent the next two years marching backward during every parade while conducting the band.

Our numbers grew, the quality increased. We became a real family. We lived to hear “you’re a step above crummy;” our band director’s way of saying he knew we were giving it our all. I’ve said to people over the years I actually feel bad for students that weren’t involved in the arts and music in school and chose sports instead. They really missed out on something wonderful.

I think honestly one of the best things about it was even though we received very little (and I mean almost zero) respect or recognition from well, anyone outside the music department, we really didn’t care. We were in our element. We had each other. And that’s all that mattered.

After high school, I had the opportunity to teach pit and M&M (that’s sideline instruments and marching and maneuvering for all you non-band people). It is also where I met my future husband. Yup. He’s a band director.

When we lived in Belleville and I was no longer teaching, I would sit outside at night during the season with a cup of coffee and I could hear the kids practicing.

For me, marching band was magic. And it still is.

Most kids have already started band camp or will start on Monday. To all the musicians, color guard, section leaders, drum majors, staff, and parents, I say have a great season!

And to those who go to football games, I say keep your fanny in your seat and watch the halftime show. Cheer for the kids that don’t get a “time out” to regroup after a bad play. They won’t have their name in the paper after an outstanding performance because it is all about the marching unit. They function as a single synchronized group. They are a true team. According to the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association, a marching band has a total 15 minutes to get on the field, warm up, perform, break down equipment, and march off the field before penalties are applied. It is the ultimate test in time management.

So take a minute and show your band some love! #BandKidForLife