I was very active in my high school's music program as a member in my school's
Jazz band, Wind Ensemble, Marching band, Orchestra, and Brass Choir. I also participated in All County Band and All County Jazz Band for two years. And since all that wasn't enough, my friends and I started a brass sestet which performed at our school concerts.
Be sure to visit Westminster's Instrumental Music Webpage
My life-long dream was to be in the Michigan Marching Band(my life hasn't been all that long yet). My parents made the mistake of taking me to the Rose Bowl when I was about 9, and had just started playing trumpet. When we went to the pep rally and I saw and heard the Michigan Marching Band for the first time I was awe struck. Well, that day I decided I had to play trumpet in that Marching Band. Now, I have accomplished that goal, and I have found that the MMB is a greater experience than I ever thought it would be. I went to the Citrus Bowl this year with the band and had a great time.
The Trumpet Section is of course the best part of the band, and they are the ones responsible for making marching band so much fun (at least in my opinion).
Last year I went to a couple hockey games as a substitute in the hockey band and realized what a great sport hockey is (I didn't get much exposure to hockey in Westminster, I feel so deprived. Anyways, after realizing what I had been missing out on I joined the hockey band this year and it is one of the highlights of going to school at Michigan.
1999- Pandora's Box
I got the flugelhorn solo!! (sorry, that just had to come first). My senior year was great we went undefeated until ACC's where we came in second. It was a good way to end my high school marching band experience.
Westminster high school competes in the
Tournament of Bands.
If you're really bored check out Old Marching Band Stuff
Or read my groovy essay I wrote in English about marching band.
You could always visit the WHS Instrumental music page
or even the WHS Trumpet page
I really love Marching Band and sugest it to anyone who has a chance of being involved in it. It's a great way to make friends. Since I am such a band geek I have to give you a link to these sites:
The Official Marching Band DictionaryYou have to go here if you've ever been in a marching band, It's hilarious!
The Michigan Marching Band webpage
Check out JJ's Trumpet/Music Geek page. It's a great site
In 5th grade I had a jazz solo in one of our songs. I wrote the solo myself, so it was kindda lame, but come on it was 5th grade. That experience made me fall in love with jazz and band for that matter. I loved all the attention I got, and after the concert people coming up to me and telling me how good it was (what can I say, I got that classic Trumpet ego). So, this solo in 5th grade gave me courage enough to try out for middle school jazz band when I was only a 6th grader. I made it, and was in the East Middle School Jazz Band for 3 years. Every year I had a solo, which I wrote, but my 8th grade year, I decided to try some real improvisation and that was exilerating! My Sophmore year, I thought I had no chance of making the High School Jazz Band, but I tried out and made it. I remember having listened to the WHS Jazz band and thinking I could never be that good.
I've always been insane but at the Jazz Band Concert, Dec. 4, 1997. I think I truley lost it. As always, the band director asked if anyone wanted to do a solo. I had never tried a solo before (during highschool), and hadn't practiced one. So during the last song of the concert, Z (the director) asked if anyone wanted a solo. Me, being insane, took one. It was great! I love improv! I didn't know what I was playing until I actually played it. I shocked everyone because they had no clue that I would ever take a solo. It was rather fun hearing the reactions of people afterward. That shock made it so much better. The Jazz Band rocked that night!
My junior year at our winter jazz concert I got to play a solo in Never No Lament which was awesome, the best part was our trombone player yelling at me for showing him up though. The whole concert was great and I wish more people could have been there.
There's already enough bragging on this page, so I won't continue. I'll just say that my favorite part of playing trumpet is playing jazz, and now that I'm in college I miss it.
As for what kind of music I listen to, I'd say all kinds of music. I love punk, ska, alternative, and rock the most. Some of my favorite bands are: The Samples, Rush, Ben Fold's Five, Catch 22, Reel Big Fish, New Found Glory,Mary Prankster ... The list continues forever. I like to consider my taste in music to be eclectic. I often listen to classical, punk, ska, and classic rock all with in the same day.
