Hey everyone! Thank you so much for sticking with me. I know I haven't been updating as much as I should but I finally finished it and I am on to a new story. This story did have more truth to it than I had originally intended and many of you have been asking about certain things so I thought I would write a page of author's notes. Here goes.
Paris Sketches: A Discovery of Color – My school did this show my freshmen year (2003). We won States with it. I thought it would make a good story. I set the story up as if it was a show. Paris Sketches was the name and all the chapter titles were the movements. Because it was my freshmen year and my first year marching, it truly was my year to discover a whole new set of colors.
Bands of America – This is a real, nation-wide competition. My band went in 2004, my sophomore year. Our show was Piano: The Colors of the Keys. It was not as good as Paris Sketches and we only got 13th place. (Those of you true band geeks now have enough information to figure out what school I go to.) The competition did actually take place at Rutgers but because my band never made it to finals, a lot of it is made up. There were about five bands with trees. Four made finals and one of them won. And yes, Krispy Kream does sponsor BoA and gave us all free doughnuts.
Cheerleading – I was a cheerleader from 4th grade to 8th grade. I quit so I could be in marching band. Unlike Allison, the decision was very easy for me. Most of my band friends don't even know I was a cheerleader for so long. We didn't really have a classic preppy cheerleading squad. Most of those girls don't even cheer anymore and have moved on to other interests like I have. I used it for conflict because I could relate to it.
Allison McAlister – This name was the hardest. Allison means beauty and sounds innocent. I choose it because I wanted her to be a naïve girl who didn't really know much about what she was getting herself into by not choosing between cheerleading and marching band.
Ryan Palmer – Ryan was supposed to be my nasty section leader. I choose Ryan because it means little prince. It was perfect for my dictator like section leader. I had him fall for Allison only because I thought I needed a little romance in the story.
Scarlet Jones and Lola Sakole – Scarlet and Lola were the two girls in the band that kept Allison there. Every girl has a few other girls in her life that mean the world to her and keep her dreaming. Scarlet and Lola represent that spirit.
Sean and Jimmy O'Sullivan – I'm not really sure why Sean doesn't have a last name. These two characters, especially Jimmy, are the two goofy guys everyone knows that always have a goofy comment. These two can make you laugh no matter what. Every marching band has a few. These boys are often found in the clarinet, trombone, trumpet, or tuba section. No band is complete without them.
Andrew Murray and Lily Jackson – Andrew was just my drum major. He ended up playing a bigger role than I needed him too. Over the years I have noticed drum majors come in all shapes and sizes. Andrew fit the heartthrob, knows-what-he's-doing drum major stereotype. They seemed to be the strongest and I needed a strong drum to lead the band to success. Lily, as gentle as her name, was needed to round out Ryan's character. Every band has a sweet,caring section leader that everyone loves.
Jake and Leah – The classic bad guys of the story. Football and cheerleading is always fighting with the marching band.The Marching Band seems to win ever time.
Jenny – There is always someone playing on the evil side that doesn't really belong there. Jenny is one of them. And she did come to her senses and join the band at the end anyway.
It's not about the sets – Our drill guy did make a point to say "it's not about the sets; it's about the movement between the sets." I've always liked that. My friends and I probably interpreted on way too deep of a level but it worked for the story.
Algebra – I hated algebra freshmen year so I thought I'd make Allison hate it too. It doesn't mean anything.
Frost and George Washington High School – These names don't mean anything nor are the based off real schools. They are not real schools. I just needed names. My school much like Frost hasn't been open long. The marching wasn't that good until Paris Sketches. It was a while before we got everyone to work together to create a successful band. But in the end we became the band that went behond everyone's wildest dreams.
Every band has a story to tell. This one just happens to be mine. Thank you for reading. I really appreciate all of your comments. I will be posting another story soon called Is Your Band Ready? I hope you will all check that one out too. And remember, no matter how bad it gets, no matter how many people mock your marching band, we are stronger than all of it. All you have to do isdiscover the colors.