Why are we band "GEEKS?!?!"

kflutist · Post by **kflutist** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:08 pm

I think that it has something to do with the fact that when someone is a musician they can do something that others can't and that can be very cool, but when you belong to the band or orchestra they don't understand what all is involved. I'm not sure if this is right, its just my theory. Whatever lable they give you (kind of like a mathlete) if you wear it with pride then it takes any harm out of the lable and you make it your own which is even cooler.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:45 pm

there is no way to be cool and be in band. at least not from where ive been. thats why musicians are friends with each other.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:50 pm

At my high school, the athletic departments werent all that great. We had a terrible football team... so badly that 3/4 of the crowd came to see us perform at half time.... after that, everyone left.

So, pretty much, at my high school, if you were in band, you werent exactly a geek [ afterall 1/3 of the trophies in the school were band related, and 1/3 were championship trophies from whenever our cheerleading squad won nationals* which really surprised me that our cheerleaders were nationally ranked

*].

musical_Kat · Post by **musical_Kat** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:23 am

Claiken wrote:there is no way to be cool and be in band. at least not from where ive been. thats why musicians are friends with each other.

Wow....you can't be cool and be in band?! Being "cool" is all how you perseve it. I was on homecoming court and had a lot of friends outside of the band program. Yes most of my close friends were musicians but that doesn't mean you aren't "cool". Yes....we were called band geeks...but I think that was because that was already an accepted term that has been used forever and we actually liked it. I was very proud of my band geekness and still am at 28! So just remember to embrace it....try to wear it as a badge of honor....that is what being cool is all about....not letting things like a label get to you.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:03 am

it doesnt help that my high schools music program was just getting started up after a hiatus.

its amazing the different treatment you get in a high school setting being a rock guitar player, as apposed to a woodwind or brass player. its all music.

we did ok if we played songs which normally had words, but pure instrumentals werent accepted as well by the students. it was 'lame'.

kflutist · Post by **kflutist** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:02 pm

don't worry... my highschool was in the same situation. i'm the first piccolo player in it's history for like 20 years and yeah band isn't necessarily cool but honestly that's when you have to go out and say heck yeah i'm in band and i love it... sure kids will give you wierd looks but if you don't care and you think that its cool and everyone else in the band does too then you can make it cool... at least that's what my band has managed to go and do

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:24 pm

*shrug* for me, "bandgeek" isn't a bad thing in my school...I have no clue why they have "geek" at the end but it's not a bad thing if you're a "band geek"

Maybe the fact that some people are really obsessed with music and that many people use the term "geek" for obsession in a particular area...

Perhaps the fact that people are just so shallow..

Ex: Why is it thathaving a social life is "cool"?...being smart could be 'cool' too. Like why is that people just randomly pick that having friends make you cool...There's really no particular reason. Just the fact that people can be bigots and they irrationally insist that one is better or worse than the other.

*shrug* Guess we have to just deal with it. I'm not a fan of stereotypes; if I had the time to do so, I'd make an essay about these types of stuff in my own free will.

I'm already stereotyped as a "nerd" for just being "smart". Who knows? There are lots of 'smart' people who are 'cool' and can do a lot of stuff other than studying.

This is by no means to be offensive, but I think humans are probably one of the most superficial, shallow, disgusting creatures at times -they insist one is better than the other for no clear, definite reason.

(sorry. got too carried away with this whole stuff.

)

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:06 pm

kflutist wrote:don't worry... my highschool was in the same situation. i'm the first piccolo player in it's history for like 20 years and yeah band isn't necessarily cool but honestly that's when you have to go out and say heck yeah i'm in band and i love it... sure kids will give you wierd looks but if you don't care and you think that its cool and everyone else in the band does too then you can make it cool... at least that's what my band has managed to go and do

youre right about that - lucky for me ive never given a rats behind about what others think. lemme put it this way, im probably the only person in University who still has her cherry. I also hate parties. far too hectic for my liking. i prefer 'get togethers' (parties minus the beer and insane freaks, lol). It doesnt help on the popularity scale, but people who like you for what your willing to do, and not who you are, arent real friends anyway.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:17 am

If YOU think you are cool, so will everyone else. If I knew in school what I know now, I would have known the difference in people thinking I was strange, and people thinking I am cool. I would have also learned that not everyone is going to think you are cool. Most of the time, the people picking on you actual look up to you. You will be surprised how many people may admire you, and will not express it....till the 20 year school reunion!..

Phineas

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:05 am

^are you sure about that?? It was clear that I loved music & thought it was awesome... but nobody ever said "I look up to you for sticking to your guns" or anything. true, some may have thoguht that. but never said it. except maybe teachers.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:11 am

Yeah, do what you love and don't be too concerned with the opinions of others. At no point in life is any one person ever universally liked or considered cool. It's naive to imagine nobody ever thinks or says anything negative about us. After we get out of high school, and college, we can look back more objectively, and we can realize that everyone in high school is a little (or a lot) insecure and looking for reassurance. Everybody wants to feel good about themselves. Unfortunately, lots of teens try to bolster their own self-image by belittling others, calling people names, or by branding others uncool or less worthy. It's amazing how many former classmates, on the rare occasion I see any, have no problem identifying me, complimentarily, as a musican. "You were always practicing; you must be pretty good by now!", or "I knew you'd still be playing flute!", or something like that. My favorite is, "You're in an orchestra? Cool!".

Ah, the irony; they don't even realize what they're saying. Many (adult) non-musicians, for some reason, consider music a very exotic, fascinating career, a different world out of their reach.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:15 am

Also, since the band I was in was about the best in four states--college-level literature, excellent jazz and chamber music, kids going off to conservatories and major universities, fully one-fifth of the all-state band from our school one of those years--we wore the name "Bando" with considerable pride. Who cares what cheerleaders think?!? Though plenty of students respected us, and said as much.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:05 pm

The key word for teenagers is re-inforcement. You get over that really quickly when 10 years after highschool you see some of your former classmates doing the same thing they were doing when they were in highschool. Very few of those jocks and cheerleaders everyone looked up to make anything out of their lives. At the same time, you would be surprised how many nerds and geeks turn into someone who is totally hot.

The key is, never take yourself for granted, nor take anyone else for granted. ESPECIALLY in highschool.

Phineas

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:18 pm

Well said, Phineas. I totally agree. It's just something that time takes care of in the end.

SK

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:03 pm

Hey, nerds wind up running the world and signing everyone's paychecks! My husband and I are two content nerds. He's a pathologist, which is even considered a nerd by other doctors! Life does get better after high school. Except for those way-cool, popular people, sometimes. My friend and I work together, and watch folks from the school days come in with their kids, and it's interesting to see who's just not aged well.