Enjoy the Challenge!

There comes a time when everyone’s abilities are put to the test. Evaluations, auditions, and other things like this are extremely tough for a lot of people to go through. Last week, I, along with five other students, auditioned for the position of drum major in marching band. In our band, the drum majors lead and conduct the marching band. I was extremely excited, this is a job I have always dreamed of doing! Ever since early February, I, along with the other candidates, attended clinics with our director every Tuesday until the day of the audition. As the weeks went on, I began to worry. I was having some trouble with conducting, and playing the audition music. I was becoming more and more nervous every day. Finally, the audition day arrived. I was practically shaking throughout the school day. Then the audition began, and it all went away. During the heat of the moment, I realized something. As I looked at the five other students auditioning, I remembered how much fun I had working with them, and how all of us became really good friends. The journey to this day had been so fun, educational, and positive, and at that point, I knew that I didn’t care if I was selected or not, but as long as one of them was, I would be happy! At that point, I decided to have fun. I love music, and I also enjoy conducting (I plan to be a music education major). When it was my turn to play and conduct, I imagined that it was a performance on the field, and I approached it with the same amount of energy and joy. When all was done, my director said, “You looked like you were having a great time!” Later that night, I got a text from my director that I, along with two others, were selected for this year’s drum majors. I was extremely happy, and excited. The overall moral to this is, if you are ever under pressure, due to an audition, evaluation, or anything, forget about what it is. Don’t think about the audition, think about the journey towards that audition, and the fun you will have if selected. If you do that, the judges will see exactly what you will bring to the table, and you will have a very good chance! Even if not selected, the journey is worth it.