Sunday, December 08, 2002

Problems with band and my response:

I just spent half an hour writing a response to this website. I'll post it here. Just because it's time for my semi-annual reminder of why I'm in band, the cult. ;)

Hey there,

Someone gave me the link to your website, specifically your journal entry about quitting the marching band. I just wanted to let you know what I thought about it, especially since my reaction to it is probably a bit different from the average USC bandie – definitely a lot less belligerent, in any case.

My name’s Jen, and I’m a Silk. I actually remember meeting you – I was with Karina, who lives in Pardee Tower and we were exiting the building at night, in the middle of band camp. I saw you carrying your mellophone and I introduced myself. You seemed like a really nice guy, genuinely excited about being in the band. I noticed that you were gone a few weeks after that, and it seemed sad, especially since there are a lot of awesome people in your section, like Jessie and Marco and Lacey. But I figured you just didn’t like all of the drinking or whatnot. The TMB is hard to swallow, at first. I know this from experience.

I too was really disappointed at band camp my freshmen year. I hated it. I hated the people, I hated the fact that everyone lorded over the fact that they had to run freshmen laps at Oxnard, and I hated actually twirling my flag. I was a complete newbie – I had never touched a flag before PLUS I had to learn the marching style PLUS I was the only person in my building for much of the time PLUS I was really supposed to be a senior in high school, so I felt homesick like you can’t believe. (I skipped my senior year. Let me tell you, that was another experience altogether.) It was trying. It sucked. I stuck it out, but I have no clue why.

I did the first game. I completely blew ass. I almost dropped the flag, I barely twirled Tribute right. Our TAs yelled at me and the rest of the freshmen for being so pathetic. It wasn’t a great feeling knowing that you messed up in front of 70,000 people. It sucked. I stuck it out. I didn’t want to quit.

I went through another week of practice. I was still completely shitty. It took me SO much longer than anyone else to learn the routines. I went to all of the practices sore, and a bit fed up, really. We went to the game, and we lost. It sucked. I stuck it out because I’m a stubborn bitch.

The season continued like this up until the trip to Notre Dame. I really bonded with a bunch of people in other sections and felt like I belonged. The rest of the season was still hard. I STILL hate torture drills. I don’t always yell all the relays full out. But right now, I’m glad I finished that first year. These people have become the most amazing friends I have. The short gnome that yelled at you? Dan is one of my best friends at ‘SC – he’s witty, amazingly smart, and loves ska, just like me. Jessica Belch, the tuba bitch/band manager? She has a great sense of humor and is always willing to help you out when you need it. Ito, the drum major? He’s really just a big softy – he works hard, he loves ‘SC, and he loves the marching band and has spent the last years trying to improve it – his piano skills (or lacking!) are also hilarious, if you catch him practicing for his keyboarding class. The vast majority of the assholes on the field are great people off the field. You just can’t take anything personally, a skill that’s rather hard to refine. Even now, I have trouble with the yelling, and I have to remind myself of the nature of the ‘SC band.

What am I trying to say? I don’t know, really. But when I’m out there, on the field of the Coliseum or on the field of the Rose Bowl or wherever I happen to be with the band, I’m transported to another place. These fans are yelling and cheering for me. When I step onto that field for Fanfare, I’m no longer just Jennifer Noble. I’m part of the Trojan Marching Band, an amazing organization. All of the shit, all of the stupidity, all of the crazy traditions… they aren’t what I treasure the most. When the football team comes over to the band, when Traveler races by during Conquest, when I perform a show flawlessly – these are the moments I remember. They are why I stay at ‘SC.

I’m truly sorry that you didn’t find that with us. I hate to see talented people like you leave the band program. And from your writing, you seem like you put a lot of effort and thought into your decision. I respect that, and I respect you.

Fight on,
Jen