[musictlk] Marching Band Advice

[kwakmiso at aol.com]

Hello all,
I'm Miso Kwak.
I am a blind high school student who plays flute in the school band.

To explain my background,
I only can see light and things really close to me only when I 
concentrate, and
I had to transfer school at the second semester of 9th grade.
In my first high school marching band was mandatory for any student who 
were in in the band program.
The director was a really nice teacher who knew how to work with a 
blind student,
however, he was afraid about accidents that might happen if I 
participate in marching,
and was not sure what would be the best way for me to participate.
Since it was mandatory for everyone, I didn't want to be only student 
who didn't march.
After searching we started to use ropes which connected me to a person 
in front of me and back of me.
I would feel when the person in front of me is moving so I could follow.
As a result, I had a wonderful fall, participating in local parades and 
football pregame fanfares.
For half time show I stayed with percussionists since moves were too 
complicated.
I didn't mind it since I wasn't only student who stayed on the sideline.

In my new school, marching band is not a requirement for every band 
student,
however marching band counts towards PE credit so I signed up to do it.
The problem is this school's band director is determined to get at 
least 4th place on marching competitions.
The director says paperworks will cover my needs so the whole band 
doesn't get points off because of me.

Mostly, students would run the rehersals and they are quite strict 
about step sizes, neatness of lines,
posture, horn angles, ETC.
Also, uniform for this school is not structured well enough for the 
ropes because it doesn't have belt loops.

I would like to know if there is any solution for me to try for my 
marching.
I know that Ohio State School for the Blind has a marching band with 
guiders for each student.
I think I'll try that method as well.

Thank you for reading a long e-mail, and I would appreciate any advice 
from
people who have ideas or have done marching with sighted people.

Miso Kwak