Box 18

They all file into this one room, which no matter how many people go in, it never seems to fill up. Every day music majors from my classes grab their instruments and squeeze into a room that doesn’t seem very big, but manages to find a place for each of them. There’s not a lot to say about this room when it’s empty; just four white walls and a hard wood floor. There’s one large window at the front of the room that’s usually covered with a long white curtain so that your mind won’t wonder as you’re supposed to be focusing on their music. What makes this room spectacular is when it’s full to burst with people and their instruments filling the room with music. In this room the band director becomes king and dictator, and everything he says must be followed by his loyal subjects. The room is also buzzing with his minions; for example there’s the percussion minion, the brass guy, the woodwind specialist, (etc.). These people are there to make sure that each and every section is pulling their weight to keep the band at its best. The band room is a key focal point for a marching band. This is the place where they grow and learn about their music and about each other.