So Much More Than a Melody by Kaylin

So Much More Than a Melody by Kaylin - September 2017 Scholarship Essay

Dut. Dut. Dut dut dut dut. As I took the field for the first time as a petrified little freshman with the stadium lights beaming down, nothing but fear surrounded me. I had only picked up the Tenor Saxophone a few months prior and barely had the ability to squeak out a few measly, out-of-tune notes. I ran through my coordinates in my mind: “arm up 16, 180 degree turn, jazz run, pick up instrument, and then into the whirlpool of death,” where almost every band member, whether they be Freshmen or Seniors, dreaded the impending doom that was sure to follow. We expanded and nearly avoided the trainwreck that seemed inevitable at the time. With my undeveloped, freshman lungs, I sighed with great relief until the thought dawned on me, It is almost time to play, and my mind was immediately paralyzed with anxiety. It was time, just breathe: In, out, and play.
Having never played an instrument, and stepping out into the unknown amongst the experts and mediocrity, nothing compares to the strength, perseverance, and integrity it took to keep pursuing my goals. Marching season was the toughest. It enveloped the drastic weather changes of the sweltering 103℉ band camp days in July to the below freezing temperatures of October. For those who have never experienced this lifestyle, the band is often shrugged to the side, and forgotten. What they fail to realize is all the hours spent perfecting the halftime show by running rep after rep, the hours taken to put on a winter concert during concert band, or even the time dedicated to preparing and playing pep band at sporting events. For me, the amount of commitment this sport required overwhelmed me, yet I pressed on, learning an innumerable amount of life lessons along the way from being early to never letting anyone get in the way of my dreams.
Some of the concepts that I learned I know will continue to have an impact throughout my entire life. The most prominent one was spoken by my band director, “Just because the effort and the work is there, doesn’t mean the reward always manifests right away”. This lesson was significant to me as I struggled repetitively with notes, rhythms, articulations, or anything musical. I was working hard and immediately thought that if I put the work in, then the results would manifest instantaneously. Prior to band, I had never understood the meaning of hard work. As a child and even into my middle school years, everything, whether it be school, show choir, yearbook, technology-- everything had come effortlessly to me. As an 8th grader transitioning to a freshman, I thought I had a solid work ethic, simply because everything worked well for me. However, through years of training, band finally converted me to the ideology of true work. In addition to instilling in me an unwavering work ethic, band, specifically marching band, taught me the imperativity of being on time. We have a saying in our band, “To be early is to be on time…” Preceding entering band, I had always struggled with procrastination and my time management skills left little to be desired. I have grown immensely in this skill since, thanks to this procedure. Following these precepts, I learned about pride and respect and the role those play in my life. Our saying goes, “It’s a matter of pride and respect that must be earned every stinkin’ day”. Rolling in freshman year, I had no clue what this saying meant, yet I repeated it robotically at every rehearsal, football game, and competition, like a cult chanting their sacred oath. It was not until the end of sophomore year that I began to grasp the meaning and levity of our moto. It meant three things: One. Have pride in yourself. Make sure you give your all 100% of the time. You cannot take a rep off, and you cannot be in this sport half-heartedly. Two. Have respect for others in addition to yourself. Three. Both of the aforementioned qualities have to be earned everyday. It does not matter if someone disrespected you the previous day. Today is a new day to earn their respect and for them to earn yours. This brings me to my final lesson, “Give your best today, for we are never promised a tomorrow”. While it seems slightly dismal, it inspired me to be the best that I can be, always put forth effort, and to never take the present for granted.
Band has shaped my life for the better, encouraging me, and teaching me that life is not always going to be smooth sailing. Life takes work. It does not present itself all nicely packaged with a bow on a silver platter. It is a process. With the struggles I faced and the lessons I learned, I know that band has taught me so much more than a melody.