My Years in Band (6th - 9th)

My first year in band was in 6th grade. I was a new student at Wood C. Middle School. Mr. Reis, the band teacher, was the greatest teacher ever. He would tell jokes, do stuff. I don't really know, but everybody respected him. Band was my favorite class. I played clarinet, a black instrument that uses a reed. We would just play our instruments in preparation for the concert. There were two concerts, the Winter Concert, and the Spring Concert. In the Winter Concert we played Christmas songs. I do not remember much about 6th or 7th grade in band, so i will skip to 8th grade.

In 8th grade, I took Concert Band. Concert Band was for advanced students who took band for one year. We played many songs, from weddings songs to Hunchback of Notre Dame. There were chairs, 1st and 2nd chair get 1st clarinet, 3rd and 4th get 2nd clarinet, and 5th and 6th get 3rd clarinet. 1st clarinet was the melody with the highest notes, the hardest, and 3rd was the easiest, with more breaks inbetween. I was originally 1st chair, but I lost my chair to Sally Fang. I didn't really care, except I would have to accept matches from other people wanting 2nd chair. If you were in 1st chair, only 2nd chair could challenge you. If you were in 2nd chair, 3rd and 4th chair can challenge you. Only Dongho and this other girl challenged me, so it wasn't a big deal.

In 9th grade, because I liked band, took Concert Band at Alameda High. I thought it would be fun like Mr. Reis's class. I was wrong. It turned out worst. It was not fun, and was pretty much boring. The teacher was new at teaching. I just slacked off in that class and bearly even played. I was in 4th chair. I could pretend I was playing, and he didn't even care. He didn't even notice me not playing. Nobody actually liked the teacher, but just stayed in that class. My mom got me out of the final, which was to play for the senior graduation. Instead, I went to my cousin Beverly's graduation. This year I am happy to say I'm not taking band.