Letter From A Band Parent
We are 2-year marching band parent and just wanted to share from a parent’s perspective of what marching band means to me.
Marching band for us has been more than just a crash of the cymbals, a rhythm of the drums, and cool evenings sitting in the stands watching a football game with anticipation of hearing the band on the field.
Our son started Slippery Rock in 7th grade, and to say that the year was a struggle is an understatement, until closer to the end of the year when he realized that he could join marching band and possibly play snare drum. We were definitely skeptical but wanted to give him a chance to join something that he would enjoy. Band is where he belonged, he was able to make friends, be a part of a team (not all kids play sports, but all kids want to be a part of a team), built up his confidence, strived to do his best since it was his 1st year and learned how to respect his peers. We couldn’t be happier with how things have gone for him in band. He is always striving to do better, after 8th grade he decided he wanted to play tenor drums, we again very skeptical as this was not something that we thought he would be able to achieve, he is small in stature and his co ordination was not the best. He spent the summer, walking up and down the driveway playing his tenor drums so that he would be ready for marching band. Although Covid hit and put a damper on the season, he still was able to do band camp and he proved us all wrong and was able to play the tenors. Going into his Sophomore of high school he will still be playing tenors and looks forward to playing.
Slippery Rock Marching Band is a community of kids who just enjoy what they do. They put in a lot of hours practicing and it shows. A lot of people don’t consider band a sport but when you see the kids marching in the heat, carrying their instruments and repeating step after step, you realize that sports come in all kinds of playing. Our band director is also an awesome, he meets the kids where they are and he treats them all with respect and encourages them as the go.
If you are considering your child starting band in 8th or 9th grade, I don’t think you will be disappointed in the outcome. Go Rockets
We are 2-year marching band parent and just wanted to share from a parent’s perspective of what marching band means to me.
Marching band for us has been more than just a crash of the cymbals, a rhythm of the drums, and cool evenings sitting in the stands watching a football game with anticipation of hearing the band on the field.
Our son started Slippery Rock in 7th grade, and to say that the year was a struggle is an understatement, until closer to the end of the year when he realized that he could join marching band and possibly play snare drum. We were definitely skeptical but wanted to give him a chance to join something that he would enjoy. Band is where he belonged, he was able to make friends, be a part of a team (not all kids play sports, but all kids want to be a part of a team), built up his confidence, strived to do his best since it was his 1st year and learned how to respect his peers. We couldn’t be happier with how things have gone for him in band. He is always striving to do better, after 8th grade he decided he wanted to play tenor drums, we again very skeptical as this was not something that we thought he would be able to achieve, he is small in stature and his co ordination was not the best. He spent the summer, walking up and down the driveway playing his tenor drums so that he would be ready for marching band. Although Covid hit and put a damper on the season, he still was able to do band camp and he proved us all wrong and was able to play the tenors. Going into his Sophomore of high school he will still be playing tenors and looks forward to playing.
Slippery Rock Marching Band is a community of kids who just enjoy what they do. They put in a lot of hours practicing and it shows. A lot of people don’t consider band a sport but when you see the kids marching in the heat, carrying their instruments and repeating step after step, you realize that sports come in all kinds of playing. Our band director is also an awesome, he meets the kids where they are and he treats them all with respect and encourages them as the go.
If you are considering your child starting band in 8th or 9th grade, I don’t think you will be disappointed in the outcome. Go Rockets