Play with purpose

It was encouraging to see the “Back to School” and “Fall Sports” inserts in The Examiner newspaper last week. Looking at the marching band photos really took me back. Having been a band nerd throughout high school, I know what the incoming freshmen band members are feeling with the first football games approaching. Having to learn the marching methods, trying to memorize all the songs – especially the fight song and the alma mater. They are about to have a great and memorable year.

The first game I ever marched in was at a Houston Oilers game in the Astrodome. The Oilers were playing the Cleveland Browns. When we arrived, there was just a lot of noise and so much to look at. We were crazy excited to be playing in the dome.

Within our drum section, everyone wanted to play the snare drum. Anything else was second fiddle. However, I was just a lowly freshman and at the bottom of the totem pole. I took what I could get. For this game, I was assigned to play cymbals. Our high school cymbals were no ordinary cymbals. These were massive, concert-sized cymbals – not suitable at all for a marching band. Not suitable at all for a 4’10” 110lb. percussionist. They were simply too large for me. They weighed a ton. And there was no way in the world I was going to be able to twirl these huge chunks of metal.

The band’s first duty at this game was to take the field and perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This was at a time when the tv networks actually showed the bands performing during pro football games. So, we had no doubt, we were playing to a national audience.

Going back to the oversized cymbals, I had never actually played cymbals during this song. But I had heard it all my life. I knew how it went, right? I basically just had to crash the cymbals every other measure. It started out fine, this song we all know so well:

“Oh, say, can you see” [CRASH] “by the dawn’s early light” [CRASH]

And on it went. Then the quiet section came. I couldn’t remember if the crashes continued during this part or not. To crash or not to crash. There was just a split second to decide, and I went for it:

“And the rockets’ red glare” [CRASH] “the bombs bursting in air” [CRASH]

“Crash” is right. And speaking of “red glare,” you should’ve seen the look on the band director’s face! Well, at least I played purposefully – I didn’t hold back. Although I admit it was a new take on an otherwise traditional performance.

It took about three months before the band director would speak to me again. And I’ve since learned a few valuable lessons that I will pass on to this year’s group of freshman musicians.

One: Play with purpose! And...

Two: When in doubt, sit out.

Johnny McNally is Grimes County’s Best Dressed Businessman advocating for Grimes County.