Okay, I guess I am officially on another monologue phase, because this is my fourth monologue in about six weeks.

Okay, disclaimer right here so you don't get mad at me, you guys are probably tired about hearing about band by now, but I really don't care; I seriously think that people need to know this. Also, I am not hating on concert band. I love playing the complicated songs, and it really helps me improve my playing as well as helping me re-develop my skills in reading music, so don't take this the wrong way. You guys probably aren't going to listen to me, anyway, since I've only been in band for five months, but hear me out. Don't think of this from a perspective of someone who is still technically a beginner, think of this from a perspective of someone who was in marching band before concert band with prior musical knowledge and background.

*sigh* I love debating.

So, I get a lot of people who call themselves hardcore musicians getting upset with me because I love marching band and still want to be a music major. They argue that whilst marching band is fun, it does nothing to improve your playing, as you are required to almost blast your instrument, and you are playing simpler songs to make it easier for you to march while playing.

Okay, so let's start with why the songs we play are simpler than concert band songs. To be fair, I do see why this is on the table. But, seriously, guys, face it - most of these guys don't care at all about the music, they were just there for the game and to have fun. The majority of the people in the stands would probably get bored hearing some of the songs that we would normally play in a concert band. Also, it isn't that simple, trust me; I've seen other bands play super simple songs. I actually liked what one person said to me once; maybe most of the marching band songs are so simple because none of the "hardcore musicians" would ever in their wildest dreams join a marching band.

Another argument is that marching band is just too hard to juggle with all the practices and homework. Yes, this argument is 100% true. Marching band requires you to practice your music and your drills, preform, finish your schoolwork in time, and go to work if you have a job. But let me ask you just one question.

Since when was concert band less demanding?

You guys literally just said that the songs we play are simpler than concert band songs. And yet we still have to learn the field show and practice marching in time with the tempo. Yes, the concert band songs are complicated, and you have to practice. A lot. Maybe that is also why marching band songs aren't as complicated. Don't even tell me that concert band is harder. "Oh yeah, concert band songs really emphasize on dynamics and stuff. Marching band requires little skills in music."

I'm sorry, if this is your view of marching band, you must have had really bad directors. My drum majors, my band director, my section leader, the older band members, and the band moms are constantly on me about watching the dynamics, getting louder/softer when I need to, cutting off the note, etc. I don't know about your band, but here, we are required to memorize our music. Concert band has the music in front of them. Either way, even though the marching band music is easier, who's to say you don't have to practice? Even if your band has flipbooks or whatever those things are called, it is hard to sight-read. You still need to practice. And what happens when you don't practice concert band music? If you think that practicing simple music and drills for performances is demanding, then how is practicing complicated music on a stage that also requires you to act professional in front of a crowd of people of which most of them actually know something about music and are passionate about it and likely to judge you not demanding? Practice, practice, practice more, perform, keep up with work. It's the same concept. I fact, I found myself practicing more than I usually did for the winter concert than I ever did for a football game or parade, and we were only playing two complicated songs.

Lastly, I am actually grateful that band is so demanding. If I want to play, I have to keep my grades up. If I am failing, I don't get to play. If I don't graduate, I can't go to college. If I don't go to college, I can't get a degree. If I don't have a degree, my chances of having a career in music are slim to none. Because it is so demanding, I am motivated to keep trying to keep up with my school work, even if it is hard or long. Since I have grown to love band, my grades have jumped up from mostly B's and a D to high A's and a very high B+ in an advanced class. Even after high school, you are still expected to take care of your life outside of band. You may have a family to take care of. You have to take care of yourself. Even so, practicing means sacrificing your own free time so you can do well when you perform. If you want to get paid to play, you're going to spend a lot of time in rehearsals, so be prepared to give up a lot of your free time.

Very briefly, marching band highly improves your sense of rhythm. You are required to step in time with the beat. Especially if you are playing drums, this is a very good aspect to have, no matter what instrument you play.

And now for the number reason why people tell me marching band is not good for your musical talent: you are required to play too loud, messing up your breathing for concert band. Yes, we play loud. How else do you expect the people in the stands to hear us? That's like saying that if someone is at the end of a large room, don't even bother yelling, you're going to mess up your voice. Yeah, we play loud. Concert bands have not only a stage surrounded by enclosed walls that sound waves bounce off of, but there are microphones. Just as you have to get louder or softer in the music for concert band or play softer or louder so the audience can hear you/he other instruments, you have to learn to adjust your volume so the audience can hear you. What do you expect us to do? Spend thousands of dollars so we can stick a microphone in our bells? Make the football teams play inside?

Some of you are probably yelling at me, "That's why marching band shouldn't be a thing in the first place!" Well, say you are a beginner at your instrument. Say you are a nervous player. Say you just naturally play your instrument soft. Marching band requires you to play loud. Yes, you can be someone who has no idea how to play and still play with the marching band. If you are given a solo in concert band, it is nerve-wracking because, as all of you have just said, the music is harder. What if you mess up? Well, that's one of the first things you learn about marching band: if you mess up, the show must go on. Don't let it show that you messed up, make it seem like that was supposed to happen, and the audience will never know. You need to learn that quickly if you play in a concert band, especially since your face is covered by a shako while you are marching, while your identity is out in the open during a concert.

Going from personal experience, I am a very quiet player. If you've known me for a while, you would know that I was playing the ocarina for a long time before I could play a band instrument. Can you imagine how difficult it is to blow hard enough into a low brass instrument to get a good sound after playing an instrument that requires very little breath? I mean, by the logic that you are putting in here, maybe the trombone is bad for me. I'm so used to breathing more while I'm playing the trombone that I often forget the techniques that I've taught myself when I'm singing or playing the ocarina or recorder that I get out of breath too easily. I'm not just talking about marching band here, this is even after practicing for concert band. I have to play loud even in concert band; their are not very many trombones in my band. I am also a nervous player. Yeah, it doesn't matter too much if you mess up in marching band. That is exactly what gives me confidence to play in concert band! I'm so used to improvising when I mess up that it just comes naturally when I'm playing at a concert.

Marching band is not for everyone. But just because it is hard does not mean that it ruins your musical talent. It teaches you to adapt when something goes wrong. It teaches you to not be nervous about what you're playing, because no one really cares if you mess up in a marching band. It teaches you better breathing techniques and endurance, as you are not only playing loud, but you are also moving at fast speeds, so you have to teach your body to adapt to the way your body is bouncing around. It helps improve your memory so you will remember to watch the director or pay attention to the dynamics in a concert. It teaches you confidence by expecting you to step our of your comfort zone a bit. It improves you rhythm. It tests your dedication - you will be required to sacrifice precious moments of your time to practice.

Even if you still think marching band is bad for you, you are telling me that you are dedicated to concert band, as you insist that it is for the "real musicians."

Think about it.