There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing extracurricular activities at Dover, each with its own perks and opportunities. From field trips to scholarships, there is not one sport or club in the school that a student will not benefit from. However, one of the best options for outgoing, hardworking students is band.
Being a member of the band presents a student with many opportunities to grow and learn, as well as socialize and have fun. In my experience, band students are some of the most determined people, as well as the friendliest. This quality is especially important when it comes to meeting new people from different ensembles. The program also presents people with numerous chances to further their education, such as scholarships and mentoring opportunities.
Band requires its members to put in a lot of effort in order to grow as musicians. This presents a need for hardworking, responsible, and resilient students. One of the most important skills that I personally have gained from band is the ability to push through mistakes and persevere in the face of hardships. Nobody can learn all there is to know about an instrument, but they can always keep improving.
One of the best things about the band program is how often students get to interact with people from other schools. I have met some of my closest friends through this ensemble, as well as people that I never would have met otherwise. There is something about music that seems to connect people from all over, no matter where they are from. Our band attends football games, band shows, and many different field trips throughout the year, with opportunities to meet different ensembles from all over Ohio and beyond. This creates endless opportunities to make new friends from different backgrounds.
Additionally, the music environment has a positive effect on everyone involved. In my seven years of experience, I have never met an unfriendly band kid. I cannot name a more welcoming and inclusive group of people than band members. From the moment one joins the Marching Tornadoes, sometimes even before, they will feel like they are exactly where they belong. As long as they share the love of music that encompasses all band students, they are sure to fit right in.
If that is not enough to justify being in band, there are plenty of benefits that come into play after a student graduates. Although not all colleges offer musical scholarships, being in an ensemble can showcase a student’s dedication and commitment to prospective schools. This will almost certainly enhance one’s college application and set them apart from their peers. Band also compels students to learn in different ways than they are used to, which is extremely helpful when it comes to furthering education.
After interviewing band members from other schools, the overall consensus is clear: band is a wonderful program that presents students with endless opportunities to grow as people.
Interviews:
Micah Dodd, The Linsly School (Wheeling, WV):
Emerson: “Would you say that band has helped you connect with people from other schools?”
Micah: “Yes, I do think that my band, in the past years I’ve been in it, has helped me meet new people. One example, besides the obvious (the Dover band), is that I went to a game at Trinity and met their band, and I’m still friends with people there to this day.”
E: “What kind of opportunities does your band get presented with?”
M: “Our band definitely has less opportunities than others because we have so few options with our limited members. However, we still do get to play at pep rallies, football games, and basketball games, which makes it easier to interact with the student body as a band and get more people to join.”
E: “How has band affected your life?”
M: “Band has affected my life in so many ways. It helps me play the music I love. It helps me meet new people from other bands. And it also helped me get over my stage fright as a freshman.”
E: “You come from a very small band. How has this affected your experience compared to what you’ve seen in other bands?”
M: “My experience has been different from other bands because our band is smaller than others, and large bands can be intimidating. However, our band’s struggle for people affects us, we still love doing it, and we will continue to do our best no matter if we have forty people or four.”
Sam Witmer, Green High School (Green, OH):
E: “Would you say that band has helped you connect with people from other schools?”
Sam: “Yes, I would definitely say that. Being in band automatically gives you a thing in common, so it’s much easier to go up to people during the football games or in general because you already know something that you can talk to them about. Also, most people that you talk to are really nice so those positive experiences have especially helped me feel comfortable talking to people outside of my school.”
E: “What kind of opportunities does your band get presented with?”
S: “Even though Green’s band isn’t a competition band, we still get many opportunities presented to us. First, volunteering, our band has a great program in the second week of summer called “Summer Band Camp.” This week is for 5th-8th grade band students to come in and play fun music for a week. We have theme days and a bunch of other fun stuff for the kids. They need high school students to come help, so the directors ask about 2-5 people per section to come and help out during this week. Another thing our school does is participate in solo and ensemble. Even if you don’t take private lessons, our directors will help you pick music and even go over it with you. They also help us find groups and get prepared. Another really cool thing that we percussionists get to do is percussion ensemble. This is a group of only percussionists that get together, usually starting in December or January, to play really fun pieces that we wouldn’t get to do in a regular concert or marching band. This goes from playing with jars and buckets and trash can lids to arrangements of popular songs like “Cococabana” and pieces arranged for percussion groups. Also, soloists get the opportunity to play their pieces if they please. This performance usually happens in the last couple weeks of school and is a great way to end the year.”
E: “How has band affected your life?”
S: “Band has affected my life greatly. Even though sometimes I want nothing more than to tell everyone in that band room to be quiet and just leave, the band has given me a community that I love. The friends that I have made here are some of the best people I know and some of the most talented, like Saya Uejima who is an incredible pianist and overall musician (trust me, look her up). Band has also given me confidence, and a love for a craft that I didn’t even know existed beforehand. Playing by myself or in an ensemble when everything comes together perfectly after hours of practicing is one of the feelings I will never get tired of. Finally, band has given me many opportunities to expand my talent and get to know more people. I am getting into honors bands that give me the opportunities to meet new people that love the same craft as me, but also gives me the chance to work with amazing new teachers who give me a new perspective on my playing.”
Allegra McMillan, Tusky Valley High School (Sandy Township, OH):
E: “Would you say that band has helped you connect with people from other schools?”
Allegra: “Definitely! Band is a great opportunity for me to not only make friends but to see friends that I don’t get to see often in the first place.”
E: “What kind of opportunities does your band get presented with?”
A: “Tusky Valley Band gets all sorts of opportunities. We do band shows, parades, invites to watch other bands perform, and more!”
E: “How has band affected your life?”
A: “High school band had had a huge impact on my life. Throughout the past year, I have leaned on those around me for support, and they have always been there. Others lean on me, and I hold them up. I have grown incredibly close to people I didn’t think I would be friends with, and the sense of community that we have is unmatched. Band isn’t just about playing instruments, it’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself. A community that cares about one another and lifts each other to their fullest potential. In many ways, band has given me a sense of belonging and a reminder of how music can heal. It’s more than a class or a hobby; it’s part of who I am now. Through highs and lows, band has changed my life by teaching me the value of community, resilience, and surrounding yourself in a strong community.”
Kacy Ireland, Dover High School (Dover, OH):
E: “Would you say that band has helped you connect with people from other schools?”
Kacy: “Yes, I think band has helped connect me with other people from different schools. A recent example is at a jazz band concert this past year I met another tenor sax player from a different school, and we’ve become good friends since that concert.”
E: “What kind of opportunities does your band get presented with?”
K: “My band gets presented with a lot of cool opportunities. We get opportunities to see other amazingly talented bands such as Ohio University or Ohio State and we get to perform in a variety of cool places such as Disney and Cedar Point.”
E: “How has band affected your life?”
K: “Band has had a very positive effect on my life. It’s helped give me most of my long-lasting friendships in school and it’s taught me so much about working hard for something I truly want to improve at.”
Mr. Redd, Dover High School Band Director (Dover, OH):
E: “What have you noticed about how band helps students make connections with people from other schools?”
Mr. Redd: “Band is a great community of people. Thanks to our marching band traveling to other schools (and other schools traveling to us), we get a chance to meet a variety of students from diverse backgrounds. This expands to events like Large Group Adjudicated Event for our concert bands, and community events for our jazz band and steel band.”
E: “You often say that band members will become lifelong friends. Are you still in touch with people that you met while you were in high school band?”
Mr. Redd: “Yes! I am still well-acquainted with members of my high school band. I teach with one high school friend (Mr. Carrick) and am also married to another high school band member. Many of my best friends today are people that I met in my first year of college band!”
E: “What would you say to people who are thinking about joining band?”
Mr. Redd: “The benefits of learning a musical instrument cannot be overstated. It is a creative outlet for us all, and it is a wonderful community of diverse people with diverse backgrounds. Beyond the creative and community benefits, playing an instrument is a lifelong endeavor. Famous cellist Pablo Casals, who had played professionally for over 40 years, was asked later in his life why he still practiced between 4-5 hours a day. His response was “because I think I am making progress.”
The band program has had a positive impact on all those involved. It improves education, growth, and overall quality of life. In conclusion, the band program is a fantastic opportunity with innumerable benefits.
