Junior high had a 7th grade band and a combined 8th and 9th

Junior high had a 7th grade band and a combined 8th and 9th grade band. The 7th grade band was just band lessons. In the 8th and 9th grade band we marched at football games and in a couple of parades downtown.

In the 7th grade since we did not march, I was not exempted from PE and I hated every aspect of PE. I was large and clumsy and got picked on and harassed by the older bullies.

Marching in the next two years was actually quite fun. We wore white shoes and white pants and were issued grey uniform coats and gray military style hats. One of the downsides of marching in the parades was that often the Jr High bands followed the horses with the obvious degradation of our white shoes.

I was never first chair but I played solos and got medals in the UIL contests.

Every cornet player wants to be a trumpet player. At some point in my jr high years I upgraded from my used cornet to a student grade trumpet. I bought this trumpet on time (financed) from Parker Music using my salary as a news carrier.