By CHELSEA SMISEK / Guest Columnist

Participating in the 2008 District Honor IV Band was a rewarding experience I will never forget.

Making an honor band is like making an All-Star athletic team – it requires a lot of practice and determination.

Practicing and playing for different people over the past few months was something that I had to fit into my schedule to prepare for my audition.

I was very nervous about the audition, but with the encouragement of my family and friends, I got through it.

When I found out that I made the honor band, I was thrilled.

This meant I would get to join the other participants and learn more about music and performing.

When the day for the honor band rehearsal came, I could not wait to get started.

On that Friday, we played our instruments from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; I was extremely exhausted.

The band was given four songs to perfect by the next afternoon, which is not something a band is used to doing.

Normally, there are many days given to a band in order to practice and tweak songs.

Despite the stress of learning music in a day and a half, and being extremely tired, it was a lot of fun.

There are many benefits in participating in an honor band.

I got to spend time with a lot of my friends from my school and from other schools, as well as meet new people.

I also got to learn about musicality and how to express myself through playing music.

The best part about the honor band would have to have been the concert.

The band sounded amazing (not to be biased), and the crowd loved it.

The best thing about the concert was being able to look up at my dad, who had been invited to be the guest conductor for the high school honor band.

Music has always been extremely important to my family and me.

To be able to learn about music from my dad is such a blessing.

Being under his direction during the honor band is a memory I will never forget.

Hopefully, I will one day be able to share my love for music with future generations just as my dad is doing.

Chelsea Smisek is a sophomore at Pelham High School