Hitting the road. Playing the music.
February 27, 2009
On Tuesday the Ole Miss Wind Ensemble went on tour. So much fun!
For those of you who don’t know what a wind ensemble is, think of a small concert band.
I play clarinet in it and have since my freshman year. Most of the people in it were also in the Ole Miss Marching Band, which only meets first semester. Anyone can audition for wind ensemble, from undergrads to doctoral students, and from music majors to law school students (like the first chair flute player).
We made stops at Southern Baptist Educational Center in Memphis, Hernando High School in Hernando, Miss., and at Northwest Community College in Senatobia, Miss. I liked playing at the high schools the best. It’s fun to see the students’ faces when the band cranks up, playing a piece that we’ve been preparing for weeks. There is nothing like performing.
On the bus, I found the amount of things going on interesting. Some students were on their laptops, writing papers due the next day in class. Some of the science majors had printouts of PowerPoint slides the teacher used in class so they could study for an upcoming test. Ah, the life of a college student.
I tried reading a book for one of my English classes, but ended up talking to my friends sitting close to me for 90 percent of the trip. I paid for it later when I was forced to study in the library until all hours of the night when we got back.
Hey, it happens.
A small highlight of the day, especially for a broke college kid like me, was that the music department treated us to lunch. In other words, we got $10 to go to any of the fast food places near our bus stop that our little, musical hearts desired. Hey, don’t knock it – $10 equals $100 in a college world. You’ll see.
But I admit, I was a little jealous when we were pulling back into campus that night. We passed the baseball stadium, where the first game of the season was taking place. Students stood around cheering in the stands and in tents behind the outfield. I wanted to be there.
I always like going places with the band, though. In fact, I couldn’t imagine my college experience without it. When I was a freshman, it felt like I instantly had 200 friends when I joined. Even though I’m not a music major, I can still participate, have fun and make friends without having to get too involved.
It’s not like high school band where you meet for a class period, then meet later for an after school practice. At Ole Miss it’s much more flexible, and honestly, much more fun. You meet once a day, get your work done, and leave – all while making a ton of friends. And there are music majors, yes, but the students that participate in it come from all majors and walks of life.
On top of that, I get scholarship money! Since I pay for my own tuition, this helps me out a lot.
In fact, I think you should check out their Web site: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/band/. Or check out the music department’s Web site: –. You can do anything from the marching band, jazz band and orchestra, to concert singers or taking private lessons.
Interested in band scholarships? Call (662) 915-7390 for more information on how to get assistance with in and out of state tuition.
Anyways, there is something for everyone. Music just happens to be my thing, and I highly recommend it.
