Henrietta (Etta) H
Band has greatly improved my life by introducing me to new people and music, taking me off of screens, and raising my confidence. Band is very important to me and is one of my favorite classes in school and I always look forward to it. I love the people and playing in my school’s band program and jazz band so much. I have made a lot of friends through my school’s band program. It’s a great way to find people who enjoy similar things as me. Most, if not all, of my friends are in the school’s band or choir program, which means I can have so much fun reading music with them. Jazz band is also a great way to meet new people and enjoy music simultaneously! My friends and I love playing in the jazz band together. The band program has given me many opportunities to meet new people that I may have not otherwise met. Band has also introduced me to new genres of music that I did not listen to before. Being an average teen, I had mostly listened to pop or whatever my parents listened to. After joining the band, I discovered so many genres of music that I enjoy! I now like to listen to classical music, jazz music, and instrumental. I used to think that these genres of music were boring or weird. Band has taught me to appreciate these types of music and enjoy them much more than I ever thought I would! I now truly enjoy many different genres of music and I never would have without joining the band program. Another way that band has improved my life is that it takes me off of screens. Before band, I was addicted to screens. I have spent days on my Nintendo Switch, which is very bad for me. After joining the band my screen time has gone down by a lot. Band is very tangible and has given me something else to focus on. I can read music and enjoy it, a much better alternative to playing video games or sitting in front of a television. I still use my computer to read music sometimes, but I think that if you’re on a screen for an educational purpose it makes it 10 times better. Band has greatly improved my confidence too. I am not a very confident person around anyone but my friends. Being in my school’s band program has given me much more confidence. I have given introductions for songs at band concerts. I never would have done that without all the encouragement I have gotten from my peers and the band director. It has taught me to be confident and comfortable in my own skin. It has also taught me that I only live once, so I might as well try to do things while I can. In addition, band has allowed me to find new mentors other than my parents. My band director has encouraged me to try new things and has helped me so much throughout my musical journey. He has inspired me to become a band director. I had never previously considered this a career option. I now know how to play three instruments with proficient knowledge and I have seven more to go! Band is extremely important to me and has helped me so much in my day-to-day life. Band has drastically improved my confidence and has opened my eyes to so many new things. I have learned about so many genres of music and met many new people. Band has decreased my screen time and encouraged me. I am so happy that I joined my school band and jazz band programs and I am looking forward to learning more next year!
