Wilson Hibbs | November 13 2023
October has finally come to an end, meaning that Sandia’s band is finally able to rest after a month of constant performances. October, known colloquially as “Bandtober” in the band, is a month full of competitions, adjudicated performances, and football games, all of which require the band to perform. Band members report that it’s a stressful month, but also a very rewarding one.
Two of the leaders in Sandia’s band this year are Seniors Bo and Grey Wilson, the pair of drum majors who are also twin brothers. The drum majors agreed that Bandtober is both very stressful and a lot of fun. Grey Wilson stated, “It’s probably the most stressful month, but I also feel like it’s the most rewarding just because… we get to know what we’re doing well, what we can do better, and it’s just a lot of fun.” Bo Wilson reported that during Bandtober, there are “at least two band performances each week with… different rehearsals and such. [It’s] just a busy month [for] band, and then it ends at the end of the month.”
As drum majors, Bo and Grey Wilson were among the busiest members of band during Bandtober this year. Bo Wilson said that his responsibilities as drum major extended well before Bandtober, with duties such as, “having everyone on a schedule, communicating with leadership and general band members… and also with band parents and volunteers.” Both drum majors stated that they are responsible for keeping everyone on track during the month and helping their fellow band members wherever possible. Grey Wilson also added, “Something that I didn’t expect to deal with was just a lot of drama and attitude… I wouldn’t say that’s part of the job, but [it] doesn’t make my job any less… I’m thankful to be drum major.” Grey Wilson then summed up his duties by stating that as drum major, “You have a lot of responsibilities. You’ve got to make sure people are getting along. Make sure people are being decent to each other. Make sure we’re representing well.”
Another person who was very busy during Bandtober was Tyler North, the band’s director and teacher. North said that his job during Bandtober, “looks the same as it does most other months of the school year except that there are a lot more performances put in, [and] there’s a lot more dealing with… problems that might come up… There’s a lot more going on, a lot more logistics, a lot more behind the scenes.” North acknowledged that Bandtober this year was stressful, but said that he also enjoyed it this year. He said that Bandtober is “never stress-free. It’s not a matter of whether you’re going to have stress, it’s a matter of how much stress, and I would say this one was pretty fun.” North expressed that he was, “pretty happy with how everything came together. And like I… told the students, I’m sad to move on but I’m also happy to move on to learning new music.”
Both the drum majors and North agreed that the people are a big part of what makes band fun. North said that “every year is different because every group of students is different. They all have dif
ferent needs… different challenges, and watching the students reach those challenges and triumph through… what can be hard times to get th
ere… There’s always obstacles, rough patches… things to work through, and watching the students succeed and grow from that success is… why I do what I do.” Bo Wilson agreed, saying that, “it’s a family.” Grey Wilson agreed that the people are a major part of the band for him and added that he also enjoys band because, “I’m very challenged in band sometimes, and it’s not to a point where I’m… overly frustrated, and… give up, but it’s to a point where I’m like, okay, I need to work on this, and I do, and it’s very rewarding.”
Bandtober can be a stressful time for both students and teachers involved in band, but it’s also very rewarding. Band is a place where students can challenge themselves and build connections with other people. Bandtober raises the bar for those challenges even higher, making for a very rewarding experience. If you’re looking for a place to really push your musical talent and make some friends along the way, you may want to take Grey Wilson’s advice: “Join band.”
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