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One day at band camp…

So my band experience was truly nothing like the infamous “one day at band camp” scene from American Pie, but it was memorable in all the good ways.

It was 6th grade when I picked out the trumpet as my instrument.  But it wasn’t my first choice.  I remember my family loaded into the brown station wagon (complete with side paneling) and drove to the “Band Wagon” store in College Park to select my instrument.  We left with a saxophone.  And then came back a week later to get the trumpet.  I just couldn’t figure out the reed of the sax.

In junior high at my first day at summer band camp I was extremely nervous.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of all those other students I didn’t know.  I remember the band leader, Mr. Taylor and the band room – with multiple levels with a door leading outside to the practice field.  Mr. Taylor wanted to know our playing abilities so he had us all play a few solo bars of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline“.  I was in the 2nd row so I had lots of time to get mentally ready. I sat there and worked out the finger chart and just hoped it would come out right when I played.  Not to brag, but I was terrific! It earned me respect from Mr. Taylor and bolted my confidence.  I have always loved the song “Sweet Caroline” ever since.

I stayed playing the trumpet when I joined the band at Edgewater High School. There was a huge difference in talent from junior high to high school. Big difference. I went from the big man on campus to the little fish in the pond. But it was all the fellow band friends that made the experience so much more.  I had the best time in band – made wonderful friendships and shared so many good times from the parades, football games, concerts, competitions, and parties.  I was a band geek and loved it.

Fast forward a couple decades later andwe’re now middle aged people. How is that possible?  This past weekend was one of the first reunions for multiple classes of the Edgewater High School Band Alumni.  It was so amazing to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in 20+ years.  What was interesting – some people looked exactly the same as they did in school and others, well, I had to peek at their name tags to figure out who they were.

One of the coolest things about the reunion brunch was that they had members of the current high school band come out and play for us in the hotel.  I think we all shed a tear when they played the Alma mater and I lost it on the fight song.  It was a flood of memories sparked by those songs.  Band days for me were such a fun and exciting part of my life. Being in band was such an experience.  Band taught us discipline and respect and time management.  Hours and hours of rehearsals paid off on the football field, in the concert halls and at the state competitions.

I was a band geek – and damn proud of it!

Tim Parmer and me – we both played trumpet

Teri Walls Ford (flute) & Joe Brecht (clarinet)

Dawn Serra & Ginny Davies (& Dawn’s son)

My senior year Drum Major photo.