Exhibit:                      “The Cowboys” and “Sing, Sing, Sing”
 

Benchmark:               Academic

Skill:                            Best work in elective classes

 

Throughout my many band classes we have played many difficult pieces.  From freshman and even to today our director Mr. Rouster has found ways to challenge us. There are many pieces I could have chosen, but I chose “The Cowboys” and “Sing, Sing, Sing” because they were the most difficult and memorable of my high school career.  They are some of my favorite pieces and they are something I will always look back on fondly.

 

“Sing, Sing, Sing” was the highlight of freshman year jazz band.  It was the most difficult song I had ever played.  It was especially challenging because I had never played valve trombone before.  I had to learn a completely new instrument along with a completely new style, jazz.  Swing was completely new to me and it did not help that I had no idea how to play my instrument.  With help from my fearless trombone section I learned quickly and that year we took home a one at state jazz festival.  “The Cowboys” was a western song we played my junior year in Concert Band.  It was the hardest song I have ever played on French Horn.  It made me stretch my limits and perform better than I ever had before.  It made me a stronger player because I had to practice for the first time.  I had to try to play the part, as opposed to just going with the flow.

 

In high school I was never really challenged, so I never really expanded my horizons.  These songs made me expand I had to try really hard to play them well.  They made me understand that sometimes everything will not come easy to you and sometimes hard work is required.  This lesson is very important going into college, because in college I will have to study, because everything will not be easy.