Every once in a while, when school starts to feel like its dragging on us, sections like to create fun spaces for each other to hangout in. Sectional time outside of band is so important because it helps get to know one another better as well as bolstering positive attitudes for when we get back out there to march.
Guard at the Cascades; Source: Sara Larson
For example, taking an athletic hike through the Cascades is what helped Sara Larson, a junior in color guard, bond better with her section. “It was really nice to be up there with them,” she said to me from her couch. “You learn a lot more about each other in quiet places like that,” she continued.
The horn section at their horn weekend on the lake; Source: Sandy Nell
For others, a little TLC comes in the form of taking over one of your section member’s lake house. The Nells were generous enough to host 19/27 section members of the horns roughly three weekends ago. In a Facebook post addressing their fun weekend, Sandy Nell, one of the hosts and proud horn parent, stated “MV Horn Parents, you have THE BEST kids ever!! I would have them all here again all day, every day!!”
The saxophone section during their tubing trip; Source: Julie Van DeMeulebroecke
Water seems to be a common theme for most sections, but when it’s hot summer heat you’re trying to outrun, tubing can be quite fun! The saxophone section knows how to do it right, spending some of their sectional time at New River Junction in early September. Nothing brings you closer than flying off plastic tubes in river water.
The tuba section and piccolo section tubing trip; Source: Jason Anderson
The tuba and piccolo sections were also caught hanging out at New River Junction tubing the same day as the saxes! Sectional time can be very important, but cross-sectional time can be just as fun and pivotal to improvement and moral among band members. Happy to see sections meeting other sections outside of rehearsal- remember, there’s more to us than just rank numbers!