So, as I start my final marching season at UD, I would like to reflect a little on what being a part of the section has meant for me and what has become the definition of trumpet players in the UDMB. I came from a small marching band of 80 people at its height, with a trumpet section of around ten. Walking in as a freshman among ranks of 40 players was extremely intimidating. That was as big as the brass and woodwinds in my HS band.
One of the first things that I noticed about the trumpet players was the dedication among every member of the section. There was a lot of humor and kidding around to be had, but when it was time to work we all put our heads down and did what we had to do. Some of the heroes of my early days were the dudes who raced to each set and knew their spots perfectly. Each reset was a competition, and that should be a common theme among the trumpet section. Never would it be said that the trumpets were the last ones to their dots. HEART
Another aspect of the trumpet section is the love of the activity that the ones who have been around have. My absolute favorite moments from band were the epic park and bark sections from Malaguena where I looked over and saw some of the older members grooving, worlds away from the stick-up-the-butt that I was used to in high school. Then there were crazy kids like Jordan Marvel who’s dances got more and more ridiculous as the years went by. The running of the stands is another place, during a game you will often see an extra five trumpets slip in because they just can’t go a game without it. SOUL
I’ll never forget the first time I heard a recording of the band. The immense wall of music coming out of the TV at a Delaware Decision Day. At the forefront of that was the trumpets. Or the solo from Malaguena that the screamer played my freshman year, that will forever be ingrained in my head. Or lifting another soloist up my Junior year as he played out “Mama Mia” during Bohemian Rhapsody. Half of marching band is getting that music to those thousands of people in the stands. Our numbers are smaller this year,but as Pisarcik said in an email to the trumpet section, if we focus we can create an even bigger sound that we had with fifty with thirty. SOUND
What in the end defines the UDMB trumpet player? Three simple words that I wear on my wrist: Heart. Soul. Sound.
It’s important to have those ideas in mind as we launch into the 2010 season. As a trumpet player it is your responsibility to say what do those words mean to me and how can I uphold the tradition of excellence that has been a part of the UDMB for years before I was here?
