Paige Smith (9) waits patiently as she stands in the row of contestants. Her heart starts beating faster as the performance that she worked so hard on is now being judged. The St. Louis All Suburban Honor Band is one of the best rewards and challenges for a musician in high school. All of the memories of the achievements, failures and timeless moments flood back to Smith like a tsunami hitting a shore. A few days after the audition, she gets the results.
“The results were … sent … to the band director,” Smith said. “I wasn’t honestly even going to check because I really didn’t think I’d get in. But my friend texted me and [said], ‘Congrats on making honor band.’ I was … like, wait, what? I was genuinely… so shocked. So I checked the Google Classroom and sure enough, I’d made it.”
After months filled with unending practice and tweaking, the hard work finally paid off.
“I think the biggest feeling was just shock when I found out,” Smith said. “I really did not think I was going to make it and when I did … I was kinda just stunned. I think after the audition, I was just really happy to get it over with and … that feeling continued. I didn’t even know what to think when I found out I’d made it in. But obviously, I’m very happy about that now.”
Getting into the St. Louis All Suburban Honor Band takes a lot of commitment and dedication to learning how the instrument you’ve selected operates and functions. Not only playing, but traveling, performing and marching takes a lot of time. This is something other students and adults may not understand about band students who have chosen to make band a huge part of their life.
“Going back to the commitment [part], I don’t think a lot of people realize how much time the band actually puts in [for the] marching show and … [concert performances],” Smith said. “There is so much work and so much effort that goes behind what those five minutes [show] on the field [when performing a] song [or] … playing at a concert. There is so much more work and so much time and effort behind it.”
Since band can be time consuming and a huge commitment, students like Smith who are involved in band can often have their perspective changed about school in general. In addition, supporting each other is likely to make the huge commitment well worth its time. The sense of community in working together to improve one another is something that band students can cherish.
“It’s given me a greater appreciation for teamwork, greater appreciation for my peers and honestly, it’s just improved my high school experience by giving me something that I enjoy doing,” Smith said. “The whole band has a very positive environment, and I feel like everyone gets along pretty well. I think we all are willing to encourage each other and … learn together. I feel like that supports us and makes a stronger group as a whole.”
Supporting each other is also another way to overcome the difficulties that are inevitably going to occur. When you’re learning a new instrument, song or even a type of language, it can feel impossible when you face something you’re unsure you can overcome.
“One of the biggest things I [had] to overcome in band is honestly just learning to kind of, be okay with not being amazing at something the first time you try it,” Smith said. “With playing an instrument, you have to take time to actually learn how to play well. You’re not going to be perfect at it the first time and just learning how to work through that [process] has been a challenge.”
Overcoming these challenges over the years is a big part of being able to learn and adapt to the events that are thrown at you. By getting through these challenges, Smith has been able to learn more about herself and other band members.
“I overcome them … by just continuing to practice and continuing to work towards my goals,” Smith said. “[I focus] more on progress over trying to be perfect right away. [Also, I try] to enjoy the process, too.”
With band being a big dedication and challenge, it’s hard not to wonder how band students like Smith get interested in band in the first place.
“Originally when I joined band, my parents told me I had to, but I had developed a genuine passion for it and that has inspired me to keep playing,” Smith said. “All of my good friends who are in band definitely are a big part of why I continue wanting to play in band.”
While Smith has been performing for four years, she has played the clarinet, bassoon, flute and trumpet. She’s grown the most in her journey in performance and style, having confidence when joining into the harmony or playing solo. From first joining in sixth grade to playing in the St. Louis All-Suburban Honor Band, Smith has grown a lot throughout her life already as a musician.
“I’m genuinely honored to be going into the St. Louis All-Suburban Honors Band,” Smith said. “That was something I was not expecting, and I’m just very grateful for the opportunity to perform there. [I’m also grateful] for everyone who has helped me to get to that point. To my past self, I’d honestly just say keep practicing. That’s what’s going to really help you get there.”
