by Mariana T.
Member since:
May 10, 2006

Were You Ever In A High School Band?

November 25, 2007 01:19 PM EST
views: 79 | rating: 9.9/10 (24 votes) | comments: 38

 The image “http://media-files.gather.com/images/d252/d481/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

I played clarinet from sixth grade until I graduated from high school.  I do not know what I was thinking when I asked my father to buy me a clarinet.  I was never musically inclined but I had to have one.  It was a social thing.  After all those years, from 1962 to 1967,  I still couldn't play it.  I will probably go down as the worse clarinet player Franklin High has ever had.  However, I was probably the most fun member of the band.  Quiet, shy but goofy, I was constantly being yelled at by Mr. Turner.  He always singled me out to play certain notes.  I just blew and of course, always hit the wrong note. Everyone laughed including me, I was always a good time Charley.

I know I should have gotten out of the band but daddy spent lots of money on my clarinet.  Besides that, we had to either play in the band or join the choir.  I couldn't sing either.  How about you?  Were you in a high school band and how did you fare?  Thank you.  Salud.
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Comments: 38

necee t. Nov 25, 2007, 1:20pm EST
hi Mariana... no band for me... but i was in the chorus...
have a great day...
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 1:20pm EST
Mariana T. is the little tiny girl sitting on the front row where Mr. Turner could keep an eye on me! Salud.
Marci M. Nov 25, 2007, 1:21pm EST
I was a total band geek and still very proud of it. We had a great time at band camp and got to travel a lot.
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 1:25pm EST
hi Marci - oh I was probably a geek but I didn't know about that terminology back then - band camp - oh no not us but lots of band trips to other towns for football games - the best of course was LSU/Old Miss when we occasionally got to play at half time! Oh loads of fun with that band - my best friend was the big blonde in the back. Thanks for dropping by! Salud.
♥kyra D. Nov 25, 2007, 1:25pm EST
Yes. I played the flute from 6th to 10th grade. I was pretty good. Not fabulous but good. Could have been MUCH better if I was more into practicing then.... chasing boys. ;o) I am musically inclined..... it's in my blood. I come from a very musically gifted family. I also did the flags on the field in marching band. LOTS of fun. I still pull my flute out every now and then.

Awwwwwwww... look how cute you were. Do you ever play your clarinet for fun?
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 1:43pm EST
I still own my clarinet - I just noticed it in a corner with my rainsticks - maybe I should dust it off. No, it was never fun for me. Somehow it was hard to blow - I should have joined the choir but we did have many good times...my dad was musically inclined and played many instuments like banjo and accordian - maybe that's why I thought I could possibly play! Thanks Miz Kyra - I want to see some pictures! Salud.
Fred Hose Nov 25, 2007, 1:46pm EST
That's so funny Mariana but I played clarinet as well. I could play a bit but I had this personal battle with the reed. I just could not prevent the occasional squeaks and squawks. It never happened to anyone else.
They made me change cornet but that was hell. Neighbours a block away coud hear me practise. So I went over to the harmonica.

Hey I can see that gleam in your eye evenin that photo.
Debbie G. Nov 25, 2007, 1:47pm EST
Mariana, it was fun finding you in the photo. Love that smile! I never played, but always enjoyed watching and listening to the band. I didn't live far from the high school, and many mornings woke to the distant sound of rehearsals.
Juan J Martinez Nov 25, 2007, 2:18pm EST
I was both in the Jr and High School concert and marching school band. In college I was in the Mighty Hogie Marching Band. My main instrument was the tenor trombone. but I also played the bass trombone.
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 2:40pm EST
hi Juan - wow you must be pretty good on that bass trombone but it's a heavy instrument to carry!
Hi Lyla - that must have been almost as much fun.
Debbie G. mama used to hear us practice while she was hanging clothes and I am sure she heard Mr. Turner yell at me to get in step - lol
Fred. Oh wow - the gleam in my eye - hummm that's funny - well, I love the harmonica - to me that's a good old fashioned instrument that's easy on the ears.
Thanks folks. Salud.
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 2:41pm EST
I think this picture was taken in 1965 not 1967...not sure but we must have been at some field day somewhere maybe even Baton Rouge! Salud.
Curt L. Nov 25, 2007, 3:05pm EST
High school choir, but no band for me. 10!
Connie C. Nov 25, 2007, 3:05pm EST
I cannot play any instrument but both our daughters were in the band.
Donald M. Nov 25, 2007, 3:09pm EST
I never played in the band, had to join the choir, I could get by but not really sing that good either. All three of my children are musically inclined. All can read music. I took a year of it in 6th grade and didnt understand one word the teacher said. LOL
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Nov 25, 2007, 3:28pm EST
Oh that's great mariana...you enjoyed the band..!!
Vicky Duggins Nov 25, 2007, 3:53pm EST
Yes, and I have absolutely no good memories of it. I started playing clarinet in 6th grade. My parents didn't think I'd stick with it, so got me a very old, and very out of tune instrument. It never sounded right. The teacher would point at each clarinet to sound a particular note, and when he'd get to me, mine would be very flat, and everyone would laugh. I hated it. We had two crazy teachers in a row. The first would get mad at us and make us stand at attention for the remainder of the class period. Kids would lock their knees and faint, which he thought was very amusing. They finally fired him. Then there was the one that got mad at us during the first thing we played everyday, threw his baton at the drum section and went in his office and smoked and read Field and Stream until the bell rang. I quit when I was at the end of Sophomore year. What a dismal experience it was. I'm surprised I love music so much now.
Marian L Nov 25, 2007, 4:11pm EST
Yes, I was in a high school band. I took up the clarinet when I got to high school. I was, and still am, a keyboard player (organist). I needed to play some instrument that I could carry. I have no idea why I picked the clarinet. All through high school and beyond, I was working as a church organist, so I never practiced too hard on the clarinet.
Anne Marie A. Nov 25, 2007, 4:19pm EST
I was in the marching band for half of 11th grade. They needed someone to play mallets and I knew how to play piano so I fit. My best friend Amanda was in the band and got me to join. to be honest I have to admit that I joined because they were going to Disney World that year ...... we had to pay our own way but it wasn't that much... Also I didn't have to march because our section's instruments were on the sidelines
Juan J Martinez Nov 25, 2007, 5:25pm EST
Vicky, that sounds a lot like my Jr. High band director.
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 5:44pm EST
hi Anne Marie - I enjoyed reading your band experience - it sounds like you had loads of fun - enlighten me on the mallets though.
Hi Marian - I think it's wonderful when folks have musical abilities and can read music.

Vicky - everything your write is hilarious even this dismal experience - I can just see you playing your flat clarinet - actually , mine probably sounded just as bad...great that you and I both love music - lol...those good old high school years! huh!
more later. Salud.
Tina Coruth Nov 25, 2007, 6:51pm EST
Mariana, no band for me. No chorus either. My singing is actually a dangerous weapon and is considered cruel and unusal punishment to anyone within the range of my voice! LOL
Debbie H. Nov 25, 2007, 7:10pm EST
Such a funny story!!! I never was, but both my daughters were. One played the flute and the other played the French horn!!! It used to kill me to bring her to practice with it...never had enough room in the car and it was heavy!!! I was a cheerleader though!!!
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 7:46pm EST
Tina - you're a trip - so funny - Miz Debbie - here's our cheerleading song:
Hot Boudin, Cold Cush-Cush, Come on Hornets - Push Push Push - is that funny or what! French horn - wow yes, those are big...thanks for dropping by - great to see you. Salud.
Cecile V. Nov 25, 2007, 9:01pm EST
Sorry.... no band but I was in girls glee. By the way...Dec. 20th I'll be here in Tujunga - Send me a message & I'll give you my address if you want to mail me the book. Won't be getting up that way till next May or June more than likely. Although I'll be headed to Death Valley the last weekend in January.
Mariana T. Nov 25, 2007, 9:05pm EST
Cecile -Send me your address to Bayoutoes@aol.com - and I'll send the book to you by book rate but not sure when...we have a new post office and the new folks who work there are crazy. Ok Talk soon! Salud.
Sue D. Nov 25, 2007, 11:35pm EST
I played the piano, but never played in the band. I was in choir during middle school, but I mainly took academic classes during HS.
gibbs williams Nov 26, 2007, 12:41am EST
Yes - I played alto sax in the Miami Beach High School Band from 1952- 1955. I was also the Captain of the Band in my Senior Year. Among the good memoires was that we used to march in the Orange Bowl parade every New Years day and was in the New Years show in the Orange Bowl every New Years Eve. I got close to a lot of my fellow band members.

Among the bad memories was the fact that we often had to prepare for elaborate half time shows in stifling heat and down pours.

When the parades were over I went with 4 fellow band members to play gigs with our combo in some swanky Miami Beach hotels. I played piano.

Little did we know we were on the cutting edge of the small band era in the middle of the fifties.
gibbs williams, Nov 26, 2007, 12:40am
Mariana T. Nov 26, 2007, 12:42am EST
Gibbs - how very nice to see YOU...and thanks for that wonderful story about the bands - yes indeed talk about cutting edge...what a wonderful musical life you have lived and through a really neat era - I'd love to see pictures! Thanks for dropping by! Salud.
elizabeth e. Nov 26, 2007, 6:09am EST
My high school didn't have a band...too small...but I played the piano for all the school's performances...does that count? All three of my boys played in school bands...Will and Zach played the clarinet and Aaron chose the flute! Zach also plays the guitar now.
Apryl Just Apryl Nov 26, 2007, 12:35pm EST
No, I was in Orchestra. I played violin. My son was in band , he played the tuba, I loved going to the games to watch him march and play. He was quite good at it.
Mariana T. Nov 26, 2007, 8:16pm EST
Hi Bob - great to see you! I figured you muscially inclined! Apryl - do you still play the violin? Thank yall! SAlud.
Elsie Duggan Nov 28, 2007, 2:34am EST
No, never played an instrument, although could play the piano a bit, but they don't go in a band. I loved watching the kids in the parade, but I was working from age 13 on, after school and weekends to help my mother so would not have had time for the practice anyway, but thought he bands were great .
Mariana T. Nov 29, 2007, 12:18am EST
Greetings Miz Elsie - thanks for commenting and I remember reading your story about growing up and helping your mother - well, it's good you got to enjoy watching the bands...
Miz Rose, you're so funny and yes, I love Motown as well! Bring it on! Salud.
amarpreet k. Nov 29, 2007, 1:59am EST
I have participated in lots of group songs and dances durin shool and college ...and I graduated being as bad singer as I was in my first grade ...
amarpreet k. Nov 29, 2007, 2:00am EST
Nice pic and love the litle humrous part of musical fun attached with it
Krista P. Nov 29, 2007, 7:59pm EST
Not me. My three brothers are all musicians, I'm strictly audience material. 'Bet you were the cutest person in the band!

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