The one class that I knew I was going to take first semester no matter what I got credit for from my AP tests, and no matter what my major would be, was Athletic Band. I was very involved with music throughout all of middle and high school and I wanted to continue that. My problem was, that I knew if I just did a voluntary band, I wouldn’t truly commit to it. So I had to take a class. Athletic band was a great opportunity to take a ‘class’, without sacrificing the music I like to play. I was always more of a pep band music kind of person and this band provided that.
The main part of this artifact however isn’t the class itself, it is the effect the music has had on me. I very much underestimated how stressful college was, and practicing hard music for band relieves stress for me. It may stress some people out to try to read challenging music, but for me, it uses a different part of my brain and I love doing it. I’ve already spent countless hours sitting at my desk going at a practice pad to figure out just a measure or two that are especially hard. This practicing has also given me some of the drive I have to have when I don’t think I can do an assignment or that it is too complicated. I work through the work like I’d work through a hard piece of music.
I’ll personally use this experience in the future when I need to calm down but not just do nothing. I can use it to refocus if I am having an extended study session. I love band and I love what music has done for me in college.