I Did It My Way: Reflections from a UMMB Member of Three Years
By Grace Chai
Content
The story of how I joined the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band begins on an evening at Quincy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in October 2021.
A sophomore in high school, I was aware that I should probably start looking for colleges to apply to. I also knew that I wanted to continue pursuing music in some shape or form in college, even though I wasn’t looking to be a music major. I loved band; it was my life, and marching band was a community and experience that was especially special to me.
Just the feeling of playing powerful chords in union, creating art that could be enjoyed with the eyes and the ears, and doing something bigger than myself with some of my best friends in the world lit me up inside.
How it All Started
Every year, my high school marching band would make the trip to the marching band competition finals — or festival, as it’s actually called — hosted by the Massachusetts Instrumental Choral & Conductors Association (MICCA) and perform our field show for that year. It was the culmination of all our hard work of the season, and I have now been to MICCA finals six times — once every year except for 2020. As a high school student, one of the highlights of the trip was always watching the collegiate bands’ exhibition performances at the end of all the high school band performances.
That fall in 2021, band programs around the country, including mine, were starting to rebuild after the pandemic, trying to figure out how to continue to keep the art of music and marching arts alive. Since it was the year after the pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty.
The UMass band, however, brought the fire to MICCA with the ABBA medley that evening. I didn’t know where to look because my eyes were being drawn everywhere — first by the entire band, then by the massive color guard, then by the twirlers on the 50 yard line. The opening sound was earth-shaking and the cheers were so loud that I couldn’t hear my own voice among all the noise. I remember spotting the flute section from my spot in the stands and cheered extra loudly when they cadenced out. I wondered what their dynamic was like: Were they all friends? What would it be like to be one of them?
Joining the UMMB
I didn’t have to think too long about what it would be like to be a member of the UMMB flute section, as I committed to UMass in the spring of 2023 just two years later after writing my "Why UMass" piece about the marching band. As soon as I committed to UMass, I knew that I was going to march in the band. It was a given. I filled out the I-Bander, a Google form you can access on the band’s website under “Join.” If you have specific questions or concerns, the band’s summer recruiter is happy to answer questions ummbsummerrecruiter [at] umass [dot] edu (via email). I remember having a bunch of questions, especially about a class conflict I had, and I got them answered easily through email
Arguably the most nerve-wracking part of joining the band was going from a 100-member band to a 400-member band and relearning all the basics in UMass fashion during the week and a half band camp in August. On the first night of band camp, I actually fell off the lofted bed that I was on while attempting to turn off my alarm and landed with a big thump on the ground. Hilariously, the first thing that came to mind wasn’t about how my side was starting to ache, but worries that my band camp roommate — who I had met just hours prior — would hate me. The joke was on me, because she became my first friend at UMass and is someone I am still close with. The next few days were a whirlwind of marching technique drills, learning music and getting to know everyone.
Unforgettable Experiences
Over the next few years, I played many tunes, some of my favorites being our percussion feature, Malaguena, my first year and the Beyonce medley my second year. I remember being in the back of the field and watching the color guard members in front of me unfurl their “wings” — flags of periwinkle blue and gold — at the climax of “Halo” and soaking in every moment. I played at three more MICCAs and made direct eye contact with my high school band on the same field I had watched the UMMB perform on just years prior as I played.
I experienced the UMMB’s 150th anniversary and jumped on stage at the Newport Folk Festival to play “Fa Fa” with Guster and some fellow band members, where I witnessed a crowd so large that it seemed like an endless sea (not to mention, we saw Hozier backstage!). I attended countless rehearsals where sometimes the temperature reached over 90 degrees and sometimes dropped to below zero. I helped zip up people’s jackets. I also marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: a once in a lifetime experience that was only slightly dampened by the pouring rain (it made for a great story after I got back to Amherst and took the longest shower I’ve ever taken in my life).
While I was a non-marching member of the band this past year due to my busy schedule, I was able to continue being on student leadership and contribute by visually capturing the season through my camera lens. I took hundreds of photos to share with band members and their families — jokingly and half-seriously, some parents thanked me for posting proof of life from their college-aged offspring. I got to travel to Gillette, run across the sideline of the football field, and take photos there while it rained (when does it not rain on the UMMB?) I also got to go to Plymouth for America’s hometown parade and watch the band wow the audience both outdoors and indoors.
What Marching Band Taught Me
After seven years of marching band, six MICCAs, six band camps, and dozens of performances, I can confidently say that marching band has changed the course of my college experience and honestly, my life. It taught me how to be a strong leader and how to work with anyone on a team. It tested me in many ways, but it also taught me how to remain calm under pressure, deal with the unexpected and how to be resilient and believe in yourself. I wouldn’t be the same person I am today otherwise.
If you have the opportunity to join any community where you will be challenged, meet new people and learn something, I encourage you to do so. Taking the chance made all the difference for me.
Featuring
Grace Chai
