CAS Reflection 2

CAS Reflection 2

Brendan Anders

April 4, 2016

            The All-State Band experience that I had this year is probably one that I will not soon forget. Oddly enough, I originally considered not even auditioning for All-State. I was really busy, and with marching band season it would be a challenge to prepare the material three weeks before the audition. I had mixed feelings about my ability to prepare for the audition in time, and so I talked to some adults that I not only trusted but also that had an informed opinion. After I talked with adults such as my parents, band director, and private lessons instructor I felt that maybe trying out would be a good idea. I know that if I had decided not to audition I would’ve ended up regretting it, and the outcome of the audition process would certainly be different. Excited that I had been selected, I received the music for the honor band and promptly tucked it into my closet. I figured that I would be able to look at it the three weeks prior to All-State and I would have the music all prepared. Unfortunately, this was not the best choice either. In the three weeks prior to the beginning of All-State, I contracted mononucleosis. I missed two weeks of school and the first week of spring break. Two days prior to our departure to Greeley, where the event is hosted, I made a mad scramble to prepare my music after being sick. Those two days were extremely stressful and I often feared that I would not be prepared in time. I know I wouldn’t have had to face this feeling if I had chosen to practice earlier, and it was a significant challenge prior to All-State. The day finally arrived, and we set off for Greeley in two white SUVs. After talking with the other students attending, I realized that I wasn’t the only student that hadn’t prepared until the final days before we left, but rather everyone except one person hadn’t practiced until several days before the honor band. This really helped ease some of the anxiety that I was feeling because I knew I wasn’t alone in my worry. I suppose that I could take this feeling one step further and notice that perhaps all humans are comforted by the presence of others who share similar feelings. There is something comforting about somebody that is similar in some way or another to us. Humans require social interaction, and to some extent both contrast and similarity amongst others of the same species. This idea is manifested by the harshness of total isolation from anyone else, which often leads to insanity or other mental diseases. Humans seem to require this sort of connection with each other, and this perhaps could explain why I was comforted by the idea that others had felt the same way that I did. Though the rest of the story is rather tedious, one of the most memorable moments that really stayed with me was when I saw the UNC mariachi band perform. I’m not entirely sure why, but I have always loved the mariachi band. Perhaps it’s the costumes they wear, the happiness with which they play their music, or the combination of the trumpet, guitar, and vocals that seems to blend like gold to me. Regardless, the experience as a whole was thoroughly enjoyable, and I learned about the importance of having confidence in my abilities and believing that I have what it takes to be an All-State Band member. Additionally, my untimely sickness showed me that being prepared for both the best and the worst is often in my best interest.