In class 2/19/09

My first impressions, for the most part, were accurate. I knew a lot already about marching band because I was in one myself and I have a close friend in the specific marching band in which I’m doing my field study. I understand the factors that play into the way a band room is formatted, for example. The band room was created to have acoustics that would enhance the sound of the band, and give them a good spacious area to practice.
At times I feel very comfortable with these people because a lot of them are my friends. They accept me and make me feel part of the group because they know I was once part of a marching band as well, but when I meet people I didn’t already know they don’t feel as comfortable around me because they know I’m not a part of their group. They don’t know that I was in marching band, and that I’m friends with so many of the people in their band.
I am still able to tell that I’m an outsider though. When I’m with a group of my friends just talking they will begin talking about sections of their show. They might start singing the music and getting excited about other things they’re working on which I know nothing about. I’m invited to some of the marching band parties, but not all of them because there are still people who aren’t even aware of my existence. Marching band is more of my past then it is my present, and sometimes I forget that when I’m with people in Ball State’s Marching Band. Then there are other times where I seem to smacked across the face with that information.