This article is the third out of seven discussing low student involvement.
In Littleton High School’s marching band, “The Pride of Littleton,” concerns about participation and enthusiasm have been brought to light. Various members share additional thoughts on their experiences within the activity and their thoughts on how the communities have changed in the past years.
Many people have been faced with choosing band over their health recently. We are told, “I don’t care how you feel, get it done,” which can cause people not to take care of themselves or their bodies. Also, it can lead to burnout. Marching band can significantly drain people’s mental and physical states, you are told to remove all feelings and emotions to focus on performance.
Change is constantly happening, and it can be very stressful. We must change our muscle memory and where we are supposed to accept these changes frequently. After a while, the stress goes away, and you memorize your new dot, but it can be very stressful when it first changes. You are sought to fulfill extreme expectations even though we are still children. We are still growing and learning, and we can’t be perfect.
But marching band is still fun. Despite some drama in the community, everyone has a great time doing what they love. You meet new people who you wouldn’t ever have met otherwise. You make new friends and grow as a person.
One member humorously recalls their unexpected journey into marching band:
“Actually, the really funny story about that is, I didn’t join marching band because I thought we would be marching. I joined it because I thought I had to, and that one class would be marching, one would be concert band. Overall, I am very glad I joined band.”
They lay out some personal goals as a band member, emphasizing doing their best, sounding good, and, most importantly, having fun. This member shares that the marching band has not interfered with any classes. But even though they don’t do many other extracurricular activities, they have seen their peers struggle to do other activities due to the emotional strain that marching band can put on someone.
They express benefits like making new friends, indulging in their love for playing their instrument, and relishing other bands’ performances. However, they don’t shy away from acknowledging challenges like extreme weather conditions, persistent breathlessness, and the time-consuming nature of band commitments.
Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support, this member underscores the unwavering encouragement from fellow students and staff. Reflecting on potential reasons for band dropouts, they cite misconceptions about the ease of band life, reluctance to invest time and effort, and the practical constraint of time commitments.
When promoting band activities, this member suggests a focus on portraying the joy and fun derived from the experience, even if it demands a significant investment of time.
“I have seen quite a lack of motivation in some of my fellow students, but I think the reason is that the new people didn’t know what to expect, and because a great deal of them are new people, they look up to the people who have done this before,” notes a member.
However, they acknowledge a potential disconnect as the veteran band members, in turn, may be experiencing a dip in motivation, creating a cycle that impacts the overall energy of the junior/senior class.
The stories shared by band members give us a glimpse into the ups and downs of life in “The Pride of Littleton.” These students capture the sense of togetherness and personal growth each member experiences. As we navigate issues like time constraints, misconceptions, and changes in motivation, these insights become helpful markers for making the band experience even better. Restoring enthusiasm and building a lively community within the marching band is a joint effort—a cooperative journey where every member has a vital part to play.
