Many stereotypes surround electives like band and orchestra but it seems most people don’t know as much about the classes as they think they do. It is often stigmatized when brought up and thought of as weird or boring, but in reality, being in an orchestra offers a unique and enriching experience. Orchestra offers great opportunities to make new friends and learn the discipline and creativity it can take to learn an instrument. It’s more than just a class or a place where kids play instruments, orchestra is a community and a welcoming one at that.
One of the most rewarding parts of orchestra is the sense of community you feel. Being in a room full of people you’re either already friends with or who would like to be friends with you is a warm feeling. Students who join the orchestra often find themselves a part of a close knit group of friends as the relationships go beyond just class time. With concerts, school trips, extra rehearsals and more everyone spends a large amount of time together compared to other classes allowing for a more smooth transition into a friendship outside of school. One of three basses in the Sinfonietta class, Patrick Ruocco, says the best part of orchestra to him is “Having fun and messing around with my friends. It’s a place I can go to just relax and chill and not feel the pressure of school.”
Not only is orchestra a great place to make friends, but it’s also an opportunity to grow creatively and express yourself through music. Music has a large impact on how people feel and using that to your advantage can lead to beautiful pieces written or just performed by you. Learning about the way that music affects people can be really interesting and can even help lead to bigger opportunities in the future for anyone wishing to continue with music after high school.
Orchestra is more than just an elective, it’s a community where students can make friends and explore their creative potential. The next official concert will be in May, think about stopping by and remember that it’s never too late to sign up for next year.
