David Rodeback on High School Bands and Marching Bands

The writerly thrills I chase are quotidian. It’s fine with me if others fill their books with the magic of wizards, castles, and all things speculative and paranormal. For my part, I want to tease the magic – and light and darkness – out of ordinary moments.

This may sound shallow or Pollyannish. But lately I am drawn more to questions of how we live together in families, neighborhoods, and communities – including religious communities – and less to similar queries on a larger scale. We navigate these things throughout our lives, but with special intensity during adolescence, so perhaps it makes sense to write of youth.

The fourth and final part of this photographic celebration of high school marching bands isn’t potential or kinetic or unusual….

Part III of my happy photo essay features more images from last fall’s state and regional high school marching band competitions in…

Here is Part II of my amateur photo essay, with more images from last fall’s state and regional high school marching…

Introduction — and My Marching Band Withdrawal After four years with a mellophone player in the American Fork High School…

I’m driving south to St. George, Utah, today for my middle son’s last two competitions as a member of the…

I know the educational reasons for having music programs — and drama and sports and other such programs in schools….