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Band... Who Are You?
“We are also one big family dedicated to drumming like crazy and kicking it together. Why? It just feels good to love
something this much. We have a whole lotta fun when hitting things well. We are very proud of what we do, how we do it,
where we come from, and why we do it. And so goes the Oregon tradition.” -D.H. Skogen
A pivotal moment in my life happened one day in January 2004 when my sister's friend Dave
Skogen came to my house to try and convince me to join the Oregon Marching Band. When my sister
told him I played percussion, he pounced on the opportunity to get more members into the band. The
director of 25 years, Steven Spiwak, stepped down after the 2003 season and Oregon was presented
with an almost entirely new staff. As the only returning staff member from the 2003 season, Dave set
out to help Nick Lane, the new director, take the band in an entirely different direction.
When I joined in 2004, there was only seven seniors to help Nick, the rest of the staff, and the
first years — “rookies” — transition into a new band molded by traditions of the past. My first day at
rehearsal, Nick and Dave asked whether I preferred keyboards or drums. Thinking that he meant a
piano, I quickly replied “keyboards.” When I walked into a nearby music room, I surprisingly was
greeted by eight strangers and by six looming mallet percussion instruments: a xylophone, two
vibraphones and three marimbas. Being from Madison West, I knew no one in the band. Yet despite
this, my fellow band members welcomed me with open arms: offering to take me out to eat, help me
pack for tours and prepare my show music. Although only 75 members made up the 2004 band, Nick
and the staff pushed forward with the show concept of “The Rhythm of Life.” The concept brought
forth trash cans, untraditional marching, Brazilian drums and rain sticks to the field. A crowd favorite,
the 2004 program never won a show, yet we didn't care. Every night, when I put on the uniform, I was
proud that instead of sitting on my couch watching television, I was surrounded by people that
supported me. My first year truly taught me values such as self-discipline (doing push ups when I
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messed up), respect (not talking back to older members in the band), independence (relying on myself
and not my parents), and sacrifice (giving up half of my summer to help others achieve greatness).
The 2005 season saw little changes in the student leadership and the graduating class of 15 saw
the band expand to more members and a more traditional show concept — “Persian Evensong.” The
original show, “Scheherazade,” was performed in 2004 by the Santa Clara Vanguard and it opened my
eyes to the exciting world of Drum Corps. Mesmerized by the skill of the Drum Corps members, I
spent hours watching videos of them. Although the band's drill was not as complex as the Santa Clara
Vanguards, our pit music was. A direct transcription, our book featured almost every aspect of their
show. Our main feature, a 14 measure, sixteenth note run performed at 168 beats per minute, became
my challenge. The feature was presented to me and three other older members of the pit. I struggled
through the maze of notes while the other members approached it with ease. The day of our second or
third show brought me to tears — I felt like I was weighting down the rest of the pit. My pit instructor
pulled me aside when he saw how frustrated I was: he told me that he would not have given me the
music if he did not think I could play it. That day remains one of my greatest memories of band, it was
the first time someone who was not my parents told me that they believed in me. Although we had a
horrible show at our final performance, the band still had a wonderful time the next day at the beach,
showing that it is not the amount of awards we win, it is the bond we form with the people we march
next to.
Winning 10 out of 12 shows, the 2006 program saw incredible strides to the Oregon Marching
Band. We began the season on a six day adventure to De Pierre, Wisconsin. Nick woke the band up at
six AM every morning and led us on a half mile to a mile run. On the second day, someone stole
money from another member. Nick took us through a painful half hour — sit ups, push ups and other
strenuous activities — until the thief stepped forward. Although we all grumbled about how everyone
was punished, it taught us a valuable lesson: every action we did, at band or outside of it, affected every
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other member.
Our show concept, “Apocalypse: Prophesy of the Earth,” was the daunting tale about the end of
the world. After a dramatic interpretation of the downfall, the Battery killed the Hornline and the Color
Guard, leaving the audience — unsure whether to applaud or cry — in silence. Mid way through the
season, we added a “tag ending” in which the band came back to life to the music of “The Firebird.”
The audience, tears still streaming down their cheeks, erupted into cheers at the end of our show. The
judges awarded us with first place in every show but two the entire season. The Drumline, at every
competition but one, took home top honors. Yet still Nick stressed the importance of family and
supporting each other, and the other bands in our circuit. 2006 saw a bond formed by The Racine
Lighthouse Brigade and the Oregon Marching Band, as far as playing together in the parking lot after
shows, making friendship bracelets with the members of their pit, and tying for first place at finals.
The last day of the season, Nick pulled us all into the band room at Columbus High School,
where we spent our final week. Playing a clip from “Fantasia: 2000” on the television, the entire room
began crying. At the beginning of the season, Nick showed us Disney's interpretation of the song
“Firebird” and no one thought much of it. Yet after the season, when we all felt the strong emotions we
showed on the field, everyone sobbed throughout the entire song. That day, when the 22 seniors played
their last show, we weren't performing for our parents, for Nick or for ourselves: we were performing
for every person that ever had the privilege to march with Oregon.
This summer, I enter the band as a graduating senior: only one out of eight in a band of near 100
members. Presented with one of the three main leadership positions in the band, I now find myself in
the same position as my past leaders — finding a comfortable balance between friendship, respect and
communication with the younger members. This year I am trying my hardest to make sure everyone
has a great summer that they will remember forever. Our show concept, “Band Camp,” exhibits the
wonders of a summer at band camp: leaving school, summer hook ups and even a wild bear. Although
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this show is radically different from last years first place masterpiece, it is an exciting challenge — we
must make the audience laugh, while still impressing the judges.
This band has shaped who I am today. Entering the workforce at the beginning of this school
year, I easily transitioned into the work place, despite of my young age, because of my hard work ethic,
something I learned from the twelve to eighteen hour days spent under the scorching June sun. Though
I am sad I am leaving this organization, I can say proudly that it has impacted me, and that I have left
my own mark on the band: shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.