Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Education

27 Things I Wish I Knew Before Heading to band camp

Written by band nerds, for band nerds.

Kristen McBride

Jun 11, 2018

Ithaca College

594

27 Things I Wish I Knew Before Heading to band camp

John Burns

In my four years of marching band, I have learned many things. Skills, tricks, technical stances, and much more. But nothing could have prepared me for band camp that first year. I found myself wishing someone had told me these things before other worse things happened. And now, I pass on the torch of advice, of things we wish we knew. Sincerely, the band nerds.

I wish I knew how close of a family band would be.

-Abby

I wish I knew the techniques to marching.

"It would have been a lot easier for when we learned drill." -Ryan

I wish I knew that you won't know what to do -and that's ok!

"Everyone tries to be perfect on the first day, when in reality, no one knows what's going on. But you'll get better with each day." -Cass

I wish I knew it was going to be physically and emotionally exhausting.

"but by making friends and having fun performing for an audience, it was all worth it." -Miranda

I wish I knew where band would take me.

original photo

Drum Major Academy, States, Nationals, even Italy!

I wish I knew everyone had it out against the color guard.

"Though this may not be true for every band, it certainly was for mine, and probably some others, too." -Rhys

I wish I knew how much focus would actually be put into it.

"The struggle is so worth the work." -Abby

I wish I knew it would be more work than I originally thought.

"I never thought standing in the sun would be so difficult..." -Roberto

I wish I knew how fun it was before the first day

"That way I wouldn't hate it." -Greg

I wish I knew that DCI was a thing.

"I learn by replicating, so why not replicate the best of the best?" -Bennet

I wish I knew the amount of sunburn I would get.

"Yeah, no thanks." -Rachel

I wish I knew that growth is so much greater than not making mistakes.

original photo

-Kirby

I wish I knew how physical band is.

"There is so much happening at one time -running, spinning, playing, moving. Most people don't realize that until they witness it (but really until they do it). I like to think I'm fairly active." -Jenn

I wish I knew to get ready to be social.

"It's mandatory." -Chris

I wish I knew to refrain from sitting.

"Never sit down after a day of band camp until you're ready to stay in that spot for the rest of the day." -Brooke

I wish I knew how strongly the whole experience would impact me today.

"The Leaders"

original photo

-Maria

I wish I knew how much time I'd spend at school.

"We're there almost all day and at odd hours at both night and day. We know the building the best because we're in it the most." -Justine

I wish I knew that nothing matters.

"Take nothing seriously because having fun is all you'll remember." -Caroline

I wish I knew to learn the music beforehand.

"It's one less thing to worry about." -Austin

I wish I knew how time consuming it'd be.

"Two weeks and two days. That's 12 days 8 AM to 5 PM in the sun, wandering around on a field learning. And that doesn't even include the introductory rehearsals..." -Ana

I wish I knew that I'd make lifelong friends.

"I never knew that band was going to be the place that I made the friends that I'd have for the rest of my life." -Noah

I wish I knew of the leader I'd become.

"Who you are as a freshman compared to who you are as a senior speaks volumes in your leadership skills." -Kirby

I wish I knew how fit and tan I could get in two weeks.

-Justine

I wish I knew the goofy times wouldn't last forever.

original photo

It was something like a family, like being part of something bigger than yourself, all while having fun and enjoying these moments.

I wish I knew how much drama it would bring into my life.

-Mateo

I wish I knew to put myself out there.

"Everyone is so sweet and so willing to take you into their family." -Hannah

I wish I knew that the pain would only be temporary.

Not to beat a dead horse, but we all know the pain is worth the win -all the hard work pays off. Just remember that water jugs are a must-have and to bathe in ice, if it even gets that bad.

marching band

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

The 12 Stages Of Course Registration, As Told By "Friends"

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

The State University of New York at Stony Brook

5170

YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less

registration

Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

Florida International University

302254

Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause

StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less

Entertainment

13 Times April Ludgate Perfectly Explained College

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

1739

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

april ludgate

Recommended for you

27 Things I Wish I Knew Before Heading to band camp

Written by band nerds, for band nerds.

In This Article:

I wish I knew how close of a family band would be.

I wish I knew the techniques to marching.

I wish I knew that you won't know what to do -and that's ok!

I wish I knew it was going to be physically and emotionally exhausting.

I wish I knew where band would take me.

I wish I knew everyone had it out against the color guard.

I wish I knew how much focus would actually be put into it.

I wish I knew it would be more work than I originally thought.

I wish I knew how fun it was before the first day

I wish I knew that DCI was a thing.

I wish I knew the amount of sunburn I would get.

I wish I knew that growth is so much greater than not making mistakes.

I wish I knew how physical band is.

I wish I knew to get ready to be social.

I wish I knew to refrain from sitting.

I wish I knew how strongly the whole experience would impact me today.

I wish I knew how much time I'd spend at school.

I wish I knew that nothing matters.

I wish I knew to learn the music beforehand.

I wish I knew how time consuming it'd be.

I wish I knew that I'd make lifelong friends.

I wish I knew of the leader I'd become.

I wish I knew how fit and tan I could get in two weeks.

I wish I knew the goofy times wouldn't last forever.

I wish I knew how much drama it would bring into my life.

I wish I knew to put myself out there.

I wish I knew that the pain would only be temporary.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?

What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

Told through Parks & Recreation GIFs

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Education

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter