“Every experience, good or bad, is a priceless collectors item.” -Isaac Marion

One of my favorite parts of being in high school band is being able to play our school’s pep band. In the area, my high school is known for having a strong music department and one of the better pep bands to play for sporting events in the conference. Everyone loves a good pep band tune before any kind of football, volleyball, or basketball game and even during parades. The drumline just really has that kind of effect on people! Here are my top pep band tunes from our lineup.

Coming in at number 5 is “Iron Man”. We added this selection to our flip folders a few years ago, and let me be the one to tell you that it was ROUGH. There are tricky rhythms throughout the piece that were challenging for us at first, but after working on it for a few weeks, it came together and it is now a fan favorite! My favorite part of this piece is the how the snare drum part keeps everyone riding along, and how the beginning of the piece is so loud that it draws all eyes to the student section.

My next favorite on this list is “Pirates”. This is a medley from Pirates of the Caribbean. It holds all of the classic tunes from the movie, and although it isn’t on the peppy side of things, it is still loud enough to be a crowd pleaser. It is also one of the songs out of the flip folder that our band knows how to play and execute pretty well. This is one of the saxophone section’s favorite songs to play, along with “Bad Romance” because their parts are really cool.

My third favorite song to play for pep band is “Land of a Thousand Dances”. It’s a classic! This song is usually taken at a moderately fast tempo, but I think that it is one of my favorites to play because at my school, we have always taken it at warp speed. That’s the way we like it! It wasn’t always like this, but as long as I have been here, our band has played it just about twice as fast as it is marked. This one always gets the crowd and the players goin’!

Coming in at my second favorite song to play in pep band is “Paint it Black”! This is one of our songs where the whole band would agree that it is one of the best ones. Everyone gets to share the melody with the baseline and our extra-loud freshman bari-sax player. My favorite part of this song is when the drumline takes turns playing their solo-rhythm section somewhere in the middle. The rest of the band is quiet during this time and so it really adds to the feel.

Coming in at number one is my favorite song to play for pep band is “Low Rider”. This is just such a good one. This is another one of those songs where my band takes the tempo at warp speed. I don’t know what exactly it is about this song that just makes everyone so hype. Maybe it’s cowbell, maybe its the baseline, or maybe it’s the fact that it gives you the nostalgic feeling of waking up with the cold sweats at 2:00 am as a kid and seeing George Lopez on your TV and hearing this song. Whatever it is, this is song gets everyone dancing!

“Music is the language of emotions.” -Emmanuel Kant

Most of the posts on my blog have been about my experiences in high school level music ensembles and activities, usually pertaining to classical selections of music from the 1600s. You are probably under the impression that all I do is practice my flute, spend my weekends at band rehearsals and strictly only listen to a Beethoven playlist on Spotify. I can’t deny that I love a good French-Composed flute solo, but I also love a good album from Harry Styles or Rex Orange County. Funny how that works, huh? Here are my top playlists on Spotify for all of your high school mood swings.

One of my favorite playlists that I listen to is my playlist titled, “chips to my salsa”. This playlist consists of songs that will always make me turn up the volume and sing just a little bit louder. It features songs from the 90s all the way to the current top 100 hits, and you best believe I will be singing every word. So roll your windows down, and turn up the volume. Similar playlists include: “windows down”, “pump it up”, and “good weather”.

We all need a playlist to listen to when we are sad, or just feeling down. Some may choose to listen to songs that make them feel better, but I prefer to listen to sad songs that make the situation worse. For some reason, crying harder makes me feel better I guess. My favorite playlist for these occasions is titled “big sad”. Featuring artists like Post Malone and Harry Styles, this playlist will really make me start crying about a break up that I’ve never had. Similar playlists include: “owie”, and “when I’m sad I listen to these”.

Some of my favorite playlists that are good in every situation are my “broadway tunes” playlist, “cOuNtRy” playlist, “Jesus Jams”, “oldies”, and my freshman, sophomore, and junior year playlists. Whenever I have a long car ride or just need something on in the background, these are my go-to playlists. If you happen to check out any of these playlists, let me know what you think!

https://open.spotify.com/user/225fc7eh7oqukruevk23xv5wq?si=uBNiAr2ZQ1WxhIqBJ_2QDw

“The secret to life is finding balance in everything you do.” -Unknown

In high school, we all know that it is hard to manage school work, extracurriculars, home life, and a healthy sleep schedule all at once. We usually end up sacrificing one thing for another. No matter what activities you are involved in, it can be really hard to keep priorities in line!

My freshman year of high school was really a wild ride. When it came to music activities, I had no idea how busy things would get for me, especially in the fall. Filled with practices and concerts and clinics, my weekends were fully occupied and it wasn’t uncommon for me to get home after 9:00pm on the week nights. I was torn between deciding to have a healthy sleep schedule or to continue giving 100% of my energy into the musical opportunities that were in front of me.

I quickly learned that a busy schedule comes and goes throughout high school, and that I only have four years to experience as much as I can while I am still here. The long nights of homework after packed day of activities are all worth it. After all, I won’t get to do all of these things for ever, so I have learned to soak it all in. I may complain about preparing for performances or auditions with long rehearsals or practice sessions, but I really do enjoy putting in the work because it pays off in the end.

Like I said, in the end, it all comes down to making the most out of these four years I have in high school as I can. I may be busting my rear end and I may be sleep deprived, but I sure have made so many great friends and memories that I will remember forever! All the work that I am doing now will pay off someday, or at least that’s what I’d like to believe!

“I’m a strong believer that you practice like you play. Little things make big things happen.” – Tony Dorsett

The way our band handles class varies on the time of year. In the fall, we mainly focus on marching and pep band pieces because that is our main focus at the time. As concerts approach, our practices change. This time of year is particularly busy for my school, and I am here to tell you how our band class operates throughout different times of the year.

Summer

After a long hard year of school, we have all of June and July to take to ourselves. August comes soon enough. By mid-August we find ourselves practicing out in the heat to prepare ourselves for our upcoming town festival and homecoming parades. With the senior class gone, we welcome in the freshmen to our band program! Even though we all complain about the heat, it is fun to get together and kick off the year!

Autumn/Winter

Spring

Springtime is a very busy time of year for all band students in our program. When we come back from Christmas break, we begin to prepare for Solo & Ensemble and Large Group Festivals that quickly approach, all while we are still kickin’ it with pep band, because the basketball seasons last forever! This is the final push until graduation!

No matter what time of year it is, we are all working hard all year long. Since our school is so small, most members of the music department are also a part of at least 2 other sports or clubs. Our band director is very adamant about giving 110% into everything you do, and that’s exactly what our program is about!

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso

When I chose to play the flute in sixth grade, I had no idea it would take me to the places I’ve been in the last five years. I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities to play in different ensembles around the state and more importantly within my community. I have made so many friends and connections that would have likely never happened if I hadn’t picked up the shiniest instrument I could find on that day when we chose our instruments. Here are some of my experiences from the last five years!

I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the WSMA State Honors Project for the last 4 years. Students from all over the state audition in the spring for a spot in one of the all-state ensembles. I have made so many great memories within the short time that we are together. The thing that I love most about being a part of any of the all-state ensembles is that every person that is there has worked hard for their spot, and they want to be there just as much as you do. Every present musician is there because they want to do what they love most, and that’s to make music! Everyone has a common goal to work hard and make the music come to life.

Coming from a small town, I am blessed to be involved in many parts of the community, but even more blessed to be able to give back by doing something that I love. I love being able to put myself out there and play music at community choir, church (especially at Christmas time!), and the occasional wedding. Since I started playing, I’ve learned so much. I have learned that hard work truly pays off. Preparing for auditions and performances has taught me determination and perseverance. The feeling that I get when I leave an audition knowing that I did my best because I had worked hard to prepare for it is so gratifying.

Picasso said, “the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” I will keep playing until I have nothing left to give, and that’s what it’s really about!

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Whether it’s a solo performance, ensemble concert, or an audition, every musician knows the feeling of sweaty fingers and a racing heart when they stand in front of what can be an audience of maybe a hundred people, or a panel of judges. In the few seconds before the selected opening piece begins, there is no time to regret the lack of preparation for the current situation. This is where musicians master the act that goes along with “fake it ’til you make it.”

Sometimes, no matter how many hours of practice you put in a week, a page of thirty second notes in the key of B major simply does not become muscle memory… or at least, not easily. Personally, that is a problem for me, because muscle memory is my biggest crutch when it comes to performances. Aristotle said, “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” This is my way of telling you that when I am in front of an audience, it is as if a switch is flipped and I go into “robo mode.” I put enough practice time into my week to play my pieces in my sleep – and for good reason!

I may be able to fake (and/or sweat) my way through site reading a piece in a lesson, but performances are a different story. Whether I am competing or not – there is too much on the line for me to painfully miss a key signature, or fall a measure behind the piano accompaniment in front of anyone! I guess you can say that for me, practice makes muscle memory… and it has to!

Everyone knows that there are the same typical cliques in every high school. To name a few, you have your jocks: the varsity football players that meet the bare minimum grade requirements that they need to play their sport, the brainiacs that always have their noses in books and are a week’s load of homework ahead of the class. I’m here to tell you the truth that any member of any music ensemble knows is completely true, yet will not confess.

The Lower Voices

Between the tuba, trombone, and euphonium players, these are the hippies of the ensemble. Unlike the flutes and clarinets, these players have it easy! They get to sit in the back of the ensemble – which makes it so much easier for them to get away with whatever they want. Throwing pencils at each other? Never! Phones out on their stands? Absolutely not! Call me jealous – maybe I am! However, these hippies never know what rehearsal number we’re at, and are sharing a stand with three players because their dogs must eat their music!

The Trumpets

Oh, the trumpets… where do I begin? These are the true jocks of any ensemble. Always goofing off, cracking jokes, throwing pencils at the low brass – there’s never a dull moment for these musicians. Their egos may be bigger than even the flutes, but they always somehow come through with their parts learned, even if it is the night before the concert.

The Upper Voices

Whether you’re thinking of the violins in an orchestra, the flutes, or the sopranos in a choir, they’re all the same. The competitive nature found within all of these musicians gives them all one thing in common – they’re all brats. I may sound frank, but I am only speaking facts. I am a flute player and a soprano myself, and even I am guilty of possessing the bratty qualities of the upper voices. What can I say? The constant tension over chair placement or who gets the piccolo solo in Stars and Stripes Forever makes us who we are. Mozart himself once said, “What’s worse than a flute? Two flutes!” And that my friends, is the truth.

Hello! My name is Hannah Stoutner, and I am a junior at Whitehall High school in Whitehall, Wisconsin. I am involved in a few diverse activities at school, but music is sort of my thing. I play the flute in school, at church, out in the community, and participate in any unique ensemble when the opportunity arises! I hope this blog can make you laugh, whether it’s with me, or at me!