The yearbook people were harassing us in woodwind period for quotes for the yearbook. The question [shocking and original]: why are you in band? But, it got me thinking. Why do I do this?

• music is sometimes the only thing keeping me going
• you can get away with saying the stupidest things ever recorded
• "shiny-keys" momments
• when you've just given your all, and the crowd goes nuts and that defeaning roar that goes straight to your heart...
• you can be a total nerd and you're excused for it
• you're lumped together with some of the best people on planet earth
• like... 5,000 upper-classmen to back you up at any moment
• oh, the inside jokes [and you just lost the game]
• cracking up over the air-grams as you march on to the field
• dancing way too white and nerdy in the stands
• loosing your voice after every football game, whether you won or not

Oh, and one more: music is my everything. Plain and simple.