I wholeheartedly agree with Avery Jones in their article, "Is Marching Band a Sport?". I've been in band since middle school, and it took hours to prepare for a concert, now in high school the elemnet of marching is added causing the hours of practice to increase even more. I wake everyday at 5:55 to simply get ready for practice. Arriving to school at 6:55 and seeing refreshed faces in the band room waiting what the day has in store with them. I look up to these band kids who practice from 7am to 8am, including Saturday and evening rehearsals from 5pm to 8pm. I believe it is the "strength, agility, and stamina" that allow these students to keep going. Just like many athletic activities we are enforced to do cardio, mental and physical preparation, and we do not stop practicing until we are able to get our routine correct. As a band kid it is a shame that people contnue to look down on us. Thank you, Avery for expressing the feelings of all band kids out there.