Zeke was in band before we lived in Korea, but he had not had any music experience the whole time we were gone. He originally chose band as an elective class this year but had decided he would rather do theater. They were offered the same hour and we had not had a chance to talk with the counselor to change the classes when I got a call from the band director informing us of band camp the two weeks prior to school starting.
I explained that he was going to drop band, but she suggested he attend camp and see what happened from there. He was hesitant, but I told him even if he dropped band, this would at least give him familiar faces the first day of school. He drug his feet bright and early the first day, but he attended.
The rest is history. He has made his best friends from band.
The week before school the band was invited to play for the teachers' convocation. Daisy and I snuck up to watch/listen.
I was stealth and Zeke never even saw me. No embarrassment for him. Whew. Daisy was embarrassed of me, but that's nothing new.
The band teachers take band pretty seriously down here in Texas. Band camp was 7:30am-5:30pm the first week of summer with about an hour and a half lunch break. The next week they practiced several hours a day. During football season they practiced 45 minutes before school three days a week and on one of those off days they practiced two hours after school. They also attend every football game, including the away games. All games are actually like away games because FWISD has three stadiums that all the high schools share, with no games being at your actual school.
Throughout band season I volunteered to chaperone and ride the bus several times. That first game was the hottest and longest ride ever!
When Zeke first came on he was assigned cymbals because everyone else already had a percussion instrument. However, by the first game his teacher realized he was skilled he moved up to bass drum.
They received their unis a few games into the season.
That's Maddie and Zeke on the bass drums. They are good buddies.
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| Maddie and Zeke |
UIL competition is a big thing. The day before competition was a day off of school, so a few parents (and my kids) went up and decorated the band hall.
The cheerleaders made signs for each band member. Daisy left a tiny note at the bottom of Zeke's so he knew we were there.
Game of Thrones was the theme of their half time show this year, so we decorated in a medieval theme.
The seniors got to choose a few people to escort them on Senior Day. Angel asked Zeke and Ella to walk with him.
I'm proud of my little drummer boy.
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