From some of our MRD alums:
"On the very first day of marching band, I have to admit, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. Since I didn’t know too many people, I introduced myself to other freshman in my section. Today, those people are some of my best friends. Band allows you to easily meet new people with similar interests. Knowing kids from band made the first day of school a lot less frightening.
Aside from meeting new people, band comes with many unique experiences. We go on amazing once-in-a-lifetime trips, play at every football game, and compete with other highly-ranked marching bands. Though we may not win all the time, the rush of performing is what keeps us working hard. The football games are a great time to socialize and just have fun. And being with the band, you get in for free!
Being in marching band has taught me discipline, patience, and other skills that I will take with me through high school, college, and my career. Though band may get frustrating and repetitive at times, I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world."
♪ Laura (mellophone)
"My experience in the Marching Red Devils really has been one of the most important of my life. Above all else, it allowed me to become more the person I wanted to be. I used to be a very shy person who never spoke up unless it was absolutely necessary. But being of member of the MRD put me in a situation where I was a member of a real team, where I could work together and share an enormous amount of time with other kids. It’s made me so much more comfortable with my peers, and has given me the ability to step up and lead them. I feel much more confident in myself and in my abilities as a result of being in the Marching Red Devils.
I, just like almost everyone else coming into the band as a freshman, was afraid of the seemingly huge time commitment involved. Would I be able to keep my grades up? Would school work keep me up late at night after band practice? I was certainly worried. As the season began, though, I soon realized that I had nothing to worry about academically. There was always enough time to get homework done, and my peers and I found that the “let’s get it done” attitude of the band carried over into homework, and that some of my highest grades of the year occurred during the band season, from freshman year to senior year.
The value of the MRD experience doesn’t end at personal issues, though. I know for a fact that it has helped me in my college applications process. Colleges all say that they value a well rounded student who shows a strong commitment to something. The Marching Red Devil experience fits this description and provides this perfectly. The personal gains, everything it’s done for my character, and even the help it’s been in the college application process all combine to make the experience of being a member of the Marching Red Devils like none other at Hunterdon Central."
♪ Ben (alto sax / drum major)
"Deciding to sign up for Marching Band was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I have met so many awesome people over the last four years and have made lots of new friends. I love the thrill of playing and marching the show in front of a big crowd; Giants Stadium was the best field that I have played on. Even though I didn't sign up because of the trips abroad, the trip to Italy and Austria was a very unique experience. The past four years in band were wonderful and I wish that I could do them all over again."
♪ Laura (clarinet)
"MRD means a lot of things to me. From the first day that I got to band camp I knew that being a part of this organization would change me as a person and for the better. This organized activity has taught people not only new responsibilities but how to work well with others and work as a team. Marching Red Devils is not only a team, but it is family and full of friends. I have learned so much about people and have grown so close to many of these members. For almost four months a year most of us are inseparable, we do almost everything together and grow stronger throughout it all. Whether it be at practices, on trips, at football games, or at competitions we all work together and we learn something new everyday. Being a part of the Marching Red Devils is one of the most important things to me and I know that being a part of it will be one of the greatest things that I can take from my High School years and take with me for the rest of my life."
♪ Kayla (Color Guard)
"For me, band has been more than marching and music. It has been a place to grow, meet amazing people, and be a part of another family. Band combines intensity, pride, skill, and compassion all into one activity. There is nowhere else I would rather spend my fall."
♪ Megan (clarinet)
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