Instrumental music, the best extracurricular to invest your time in

The lights dim and the audience goes silent. The musicians see the bright white baton in the stage light and everyone puts their instruments up, ready to play the piece they have been practicing for months on end. With a flick of the baton, the entire band begins to play “Omens of Love” by T-Square. Performing this piece at the 2022 Winter Concert was the highlight of my time in CVHS’s Wind Ensemble.

Throughout my entire music career, the most enjoyable part is the final product, the concerts! Many believe that the band is simply going to class and playing as a group for an hour, leading to a concert with incredible and complicated songs. They are mistaken.

Instrumental music, especially in Castro Valley, has numerous moving parts to make every single program a success. Of course, we have our regular period classes in school, whether it is band or orchestra, but besides that, we have so much more. This includes marching band practices which are held around two weeks before school starts, practicing countless hours on the hot field almost every single day until the start of school. Additionally, there are separate percussion practices and color guard practices.

We also practice plenty for the school’s football games! We get to practice popular songs that everyone knows and loves, as well as powerful chants that all members of the band shout to support our football team. Staying from the very beginning to the end of the varsity games requires some strength to get through, but is definitely worth it.

Apart from marching band, the most important thing that any musician has to do is practice. This, in my opinion, is probably the most annoying and excruciating part of mastering your instrument. While not many students, especially students in junior year, have time to practice, we try our best to squeeze in a bit of time for music when we can. 

The music programs here at CVHS are incredible. Along my musical journey, I have made countless friendships and bonds with amazing people that I still learn and work with almost every single day that I do not think I would have otherwise made.

Evidently, there are so many moving parts to music required to get a final product, whether it is for marching band, pep band or for our concerts at the CFA. Music is extremely fun and rewarding in school, but all of it takes a tremendous amount of work and time to accomplish. 

With the challenges of school itself, including classes and homework, musicians work extremely hard. Whether it is taking time out of their summer to practice marching or simply practicing at home, the work of a musician is rewarding, yet exceptionally challenging. Along the way, however, the experiences and memories that are created are truly priceless.