Freshman Year Band

Welcome to Band

"My name is Mr. Zeno and I will be your band director for this year. I already see some new faces in the freshmen crowd so please don't be afraid to come talk to me if you ever need anything. Firstly, let's get started with attendance." Mr. Zeno's then began calling off down the list of students.
During this time I glanced around the room seeing around fifty other students in the room with me. This is really small. I wonder if they're actually any good? "Markus Wildes." I flinched, being brought back to reality. "U-uh, here," I stuttered caught off guard. It seems I'd turned a few heads and I heard someone smirk from the second row.
"Please pay attention," Mr. Zeno grinned before continuing down the list. Once he finished he set down his roster and looked over to the first row. "Now I'm sure that some people here are beginners so section leaders please get your instruments and prepare for a presentation. Some of the older looking students stood up and walked towards the double doors on my right. After opening it we were all greeted with the sight of what could've been a garage full of instruments. The shelves all had lockers with instruments inside which the upperclassmen opened and began unpacking their instruments. The students gathered at the front of the arc and one-by-one introduced their instruments in the order of flute, clarinet, french horn, oboe, tuba, trombone, trumpet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, euphonium, baritone saxophone, bassoon, bass clarinet, and percussion. They could've been at least been more organized. Like some kind of order. "In some cases we also have a piccolo, bass trombone, and soprano saxophone player for solos," concluded Mr. Zeno. "Now if you would please set up some tables, spread out, and gather at your preferred instruments for this year."

To this everyone stood up and congregated at tables as they were set up. Looking around I noticed most people gathered at the most common instruments like trumpet, clarinet, and trombones. I flinched at the sudden tight grip of two hands on both of my shoulders and the cheerful feminine voice of someone behind me. I turned my head to be greeted by a girl who was just a little shorter than me with bright blonde hair and green eyes. I stood transfixed in that moment for a little bit staring at her beauty. "I'm Kylie, I'm a freshman here! I haven't seen you before so I thought you must be a transfer student. What's your name?" Her smile stretched from cheek to cheek, increasingly implied by her dimples.
"Markus..." I stuttered, "I'm from Texas. My family moved her two weeks ago."
This seemed to really impress the girl. "Ooh, Texas? That's so far! You don't look really new so you must have played band at your old school right? I play flute, what about you?"
This was not improving my situation. I had hoped to have a new start with this school so that I wouldn't be stuck on saxophone again. "I-I um...actually haven't played before. I just wanted to play music." What a bad lie. I think she bought it though, even though my face must be a tomato by now.
"Hmm really? You should join my section then! We don't have any boys so you'd be great for us!" I reached my hand behind my head slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, uh, sorry. I was actually thinking of trying out for trombone," I chuckled quietly.
"D'aw~. Are you sure? Flute is really fun, you get most of the melodies," she said with a goofy smile tilting her head and leaning forward to stand at a now forty-five degree angle.
"Y-yeah..if things don't work out though I'll try flute?" I said trying to make her feel better. Oh gosh, what've I done? Why'd I make a promise like that when I know I won't switch?!
"Great! See you around then, Markus!" she stood upright again before lightly making her way back to the flute section to talk to her friends.
I gave a sigh of relief before turning to walk towards the trombone table. I smiled excitedly looking down at the brass instrument. It had held my interest since the fifth grade to play but our elementary school band didn't have enough woodwinds so I was placed on alto saxophone. It followed me into middle school as well, sometimes playing tenor sax when a piece needed that section to be accentuated for certain pieces. The trombone though had such a wide range of notes to play from and the sound of it blaring notes in the background is just so cool! I already know bass clef too so it wouldn't be much of a problem, just having to memorize the slide positions. I glanced over at the saxophone section feeling a pang of sympathy for them, seeing that there were only six members there. They'll never be heard like that. The other sections will drown them out. I shook my head. No, you're getting a new start to be different. So I stood by my gut by staying with the trombones.
Some time passed when Mr. Zeno called a silence over the class. He stood on top of a chair to survey the sections. "Seems we have a big low brass section, but not a lot of woodwinds," he commented.
The saxophone section leader, a brunette girl with a small ponytail, gave a saddened look to the director. "There are only two freshmen here too," she said quietly.
"Hmm, this does worry me," he said placing his hand on his chin. He surveyed the room seeming to attempt spotting anyone he knew to not be fitting for their section. His eyes stopped on me though. "Markus, don't you play sax?" he asked pointing at me.
I gulped, feeling my face flush red. "U-um no. You must been mistaken," I said quietly, feeling sweat begin to form.
"No, I'm right. You're old teacher specifically told me that you do." Crap! Why did he have contact with my old school?! "Please come to the saxophones. Trombones already have plenty of members." I sighed in defeat as I stepped forward to join what would ultimately become my new section.
To my surprise my new sections did not treat me with resentment, but rather with happy smiles. "Welcome, Markus. Which type do you usually play?" the section leader asked me.
"I've done alto and tenor mostly but I can also do bari," I answered softly.
The section leader's eyes grew with excitement. "Great!" she shouted. "Mr. Zeno I think we'll have enough sound now!"
The director smiled down at his student, "Thank you, Olivia. Now that's about all the time we have for today so please pack up and get ready for your next class."
Everyone began putting up tables, putting instruments away, and picking up their backpacks while cluttering towards the door. Once I reached my chair I was greeted by a familiar voice."So you've never played in band before huh?"
I flinched at the surprise poke in my side from Kylie. I gave a nervous laugh facing her, seeing an unexpected smile on her face. "Sorry, I was hoping to do something different. You know like a new school, new me kind of thing. Sorry if I made you mad for lying to you..." I said trying not to look her in the eyes due to my shame.
"Hey don't worry about it," she giggled placing her hand on my left shoulder. "I get it. Buuut you so owe me now." The bell rang to change classes but I stood still gazing at Kylie with confusion.
"Wait, what do I owe you?" I asked as she began walking away. She turned back shrugging lightly.
"I dunno. Buy me lunch or something. I'm a cheap date." She winked after that last comment leaving me there blushing. This made her let out a laugh before walking out. "See you around, Marky."
A nickname already? I just met her. I sighed loudly once she was out of sight, now walking out of the room. "What a strange start."