Region Band Auditions

The students have region band auditions tomorrow. This is what some of them have been working toward for months and some even longer. This is the equivalent of lower state marching championships but on an individual level. Each student will play as many as 12 major scales, perform a very difficult solo, a chromatic scales, sightread two different musical examples, and define terms for judges to receive a score. There are no second chances. For many of the students this is their chance to receive some attention from colleges to have chance for music scholarships. For all it is a chance to achieve and shine on an individual level in an activity that is so often viewed as only a group activity from the public. If they score well high enough, they will be asked to audition again next weekend for the South Carolina All-State Band. To me this is one of the most important events we participate in all year. These students have made the choice to go above and beyond the requirements to make the entire band perform at a high level. Even the students the miss the goal of being earning a spot in region or all state band have my respect for trying. I wish them all the best of luck tomorrow and remember if you have prepared properly...Leave the nervousness at home because you have already won!

It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.