This story is based on my marching band experience as a freshman tuba player in the Cuyahoga Falls High School Marching Tiger band, only I changed names of schools and band members to keep my seniors from doing things to me..........

UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE CUYAHOGA FALLS MARCHING BAND! THEN YOU KNOW WHOTHE PEOPLE ARE!

Also I changed most of the cadences and other traditions but that's for security reasons.

(Note in the story I am one of two freshmen tubas, in realty I'm the only one)

My Marching Band Experience: Freshman year.

Chapter 1: Training band week

I sat in the RS High school band room. Mr. Davids, the marching band director was telling us what the RSHS Eagle Marching Swing Band was all about.

"How many of you played the national anthem with the marching band at last years Homecoming game?"

I and about half the 75 rookies raised our hands as we had been in the middle school parade band.

"Good those who did have marching experience, but that wasn't the marching we do. Our marching is high knee 8 to 5 marching, with lots of horn swing. Now there are 75 rookies and there are only 70 open spots this year, which means five of you will not make it, today we learn the basics, at ease, attention, mark time, head bobs, and of course the forward march and the to the rear. So we'll get you out to the parking lot and get started. Look for your instrument the upper classmen are already out there in their spots.

(in the parking lot)

I walked over to where the tuba players were standing. There was James; the guy got me started on tube in the seventh grade. There was also a girl and two guys. I and the other freshmen tuba, Johnny, introduced ourselves to the guy with four watches on.

"I'm Rob."

"My name's Johnny."

"Hello Rob and Johnny, I'm Dan the band president, one of three Senior Tuba players and that makes you wieners, and don't worry I call everyone that."

After we were introduced to Michelle and Mike, I found out that Mike was the bass player in the high school's premier jazz group, The Golden Tunes.

"All Right band lets started with going to attention, Veterans."

And that was the first time I heard a whistle that hear a lot of in the coming months.

"TWEEET TWEET!" and the Veterans responded.

"EA-GLES!" they yelled in unison and jumping to attention.

They did it a few more times then we all had to try it

"TWEEET TWEET!"

"EA-GLES!"

I soon I went to attention for the first time I knew that was going to march in the purple and gold uniform of the high school marching band.

On Friday we had the sectional competition. It was only me, Johnny, Mike and Michelle, and our performance was simple, I and Johnny forward march for 64 counts while the two seniors mark time for 64 counts and at the end we left flanked and screamed. It was pretty stupid and we didn't win but it was cool.

When training band ended, Mr. Davids told to us look on the door to the band room. The list of who made it was up and I and Johnny both made it and we looked forward to the two a day practices starting in August.

My shoulder hurt when I got home but I didn't care. I was looking forward to August.

Sorry it was so short the rest will be longer.

Next chapter coming soon it's the middle of two a days!