The Mycenaean

The LRHS concert band made an appearance on a field trip in Orlando, Florida from April 8 to 12.

The point of this trip was to see what jobs they could get if they became a professional in the instrument that they play.

Arra Caudle, sophomore, said, “[The purpose of the trip] was to learn how real world band works, like what you would do if you wanted to continue band.”

The students got to play a piece from the Lorax, do some voice acting, and learn a little about foley, which is the art of recreating everyday sounds for films and media.

It wasn’t all work for the band students, because after they did a few hours of hard work, they got to go to Universal Studios and Busch Gardens. 

I have zero musical ability, but last week I wished that I was a part of band and in Orlando, instead of English class. 

Most of the class had fun, even though the nine hour bus ride down to Florida was uncomfortable. 

William Harris, sophomore, said, “It was very bumpy. The seats were very uncomfortable.”

“I had a lot of fun with the people sitting behind me, and I mostly listened to music just because of how long it was. It was like thirteen hours,” said Aiden Flynn, freshman. 

The first day, they went to Universal Studios all day. The second day was when they did their band work, but once they were done with that they went back into the park. The third day they went to Busch Gardens.

It was a very split vote for who liked what park better. Caudle and Flynn liked Universal Studios better whereas Harris and Clay Alston, sophomores, liked Busch Gardens better. 

“I liked Busch Gardens more, but I think I would have enjoyed Universal more if I had gone on the rides. I didn’t do much when I was there because I just didn’t want to,” said Alston.

While all of the students had fun, most of them have some regrets about what they didn’t do.

Caudle wishes she would have done the VelociCoaster in Universal. Caudle said, “I wish I did VelociCoaster, but I was a little too scared. Now that we left I kinda wish I did that.”

“There was this ride called the Hagrid. I should have rode it but I just didn’t have time,” said Harris.

I am a huge Harry Potter nerd, so I would have waited hours for that ride, but for Harris it wasn’t as important to him.

Flynn said, “There’s the ride in the castle for Harry Potter. I don’t remember what it’s called, [but I didn’t ride that one] And then there was this one called ‘The Mummy.’ I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t get to ride that one.”

Alston just wishes that he did more in Universal, like he did in Busch Gardens.

There are plenty of things the students are glad they did. Flynn discovered his love for butterbeer in Harry Potter World.

“I spent like sixty bucks on butterbeer, it was so good,” said Flynn.

I personally despise that iconic Harry Potter beverage, but you either love it or hate it, and Flynn happens to love it. 

Caroline Murray, sophomore, typed, “My favorite part of the band trip was riding all the rides at Universal, and having to wait in line for rides without our phones, and being forced to talk with each other.”

That would be such a good bonding experience to be forced to talk with each other for hours. I know when I’m waiting in rollercoaster lines, I’m on my phone a lot.

“On the first day, Wednesday, my group and I were waiting in line for Hagrid Motorbike Adventure and we had to wait for an hour. It didn’t even feel like an hour because I had forgotten every single thing about Harry Potter and my group took the liberty of re-introducing me,” typed Murray.

Carmela Palermo, sophomore, said that her favorite part of the trip was being around friends and riding rides at the amusement parks.

While there are four theme parks at Universal Studios, the one that was talked about the most was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the park Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which is where I would personally be spending most of my time. 

Overall it sounds like concert band had an amazing time on their field trip and left a lot of people jealous back home.