“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 NIV

Familiar melodies – the likes of John Phillip Sousa with brass horns and big bass drums – waft through my open windows. I stop whatever I’m doing as memories barrage my mind and listen with a smile. 

While some preferred football or field hockey, my kids chose high school marching band. Armed with their brass instruments, a fat chalk stick, and a water bottle they took the field and marched their August days away with precious few hours to spare before the night session began. Fourteen straight days  of band camp in all types of weather, this little army of instrument-playing soldiers followed orders and practiced routines until their music and marching synchronized into one harmonious movement.

Some might argue that marching band is not a sport or that playing music and marching does not afford your child the same disciplines as other sports. I beg to differ. After observing seven years of band camp rigors – rubbing sore muscles and paying the PT bills for my daughter’s tendonitis – trust me, marching band is not for the faint of heart. 

Besides the physical benefits of marching and standing for hours a day, marching band served my kids in many other ways. It served as a:

1. Creative outlet – if your kids love music and play an instrument or want to play an instrument, what better way to learn than amongst a group of peers. My son taught his best friend (who’d never played an instrument) to play the tuba in 14 days.
2. Disciplined regiment – what better way to teach your child respect than to place them in the hands of a marching band director, drum majors and his peers. Harmony and synchronization of movement doesn’t happen without respect and discipline.
3. Leadership training program – if your kids shows leadership qualities, there’s always room for growth at band camp. Each instrument section is student lead and fall under the direction of student drum majors. These student leaders get direct, hands-on training in communication, peer counseling, and music conduction.
4. Safe community of peers – by far, band camp helped ease both my kids into their high school experience. By the time they set foot on campus for their first day of formal classes, they’d already developed a safe camaraderie between band members. What better way to start your first day of high school than seeing familiar faces between classes.
5. Competitive outlet – competition was the glue that held the band together; gave them a common goal to work towards and made them cheer one another along. Competitions were great entertainment for the football fans, too!

Now, where’s the spiritual aspect in all this, you might ask? It wasn’t blatantly taught because my kids attended public high school, but these band camp disciplines served as a foundation for their leadership roles with peer counseling, at church camp, youth group ministries, foreign missions, and in instructing and leading their own families. 

So, next time you attend a football game give the marching band a little encouragement, won’t you? They’ve worked hard for your applause!

Blessings,

Dawn Aldrich – Author, Blogger