Mezzoforte, or so says D

Students chatter in the band room

Many conversations fill the air

Taking out their instruments

They start warming up

Now the noise grows louder

Voices intermingled with

The sounds of instruments

A flutist practicing her scales

A clarinetist playing a song

Sounding like chaos

To a non band member

Mr. Band Director now shushes

The whole class

Some quiet down while

Some still whisper

The ones still whispering

Are silenced with a glare

(Or not)

After simple directions

To play the scales

His arms rise up

With baton in hand

“Start on concert B-flat”

(Trying to imitate him)

Baton swinging down

Right at the downbeat

The first note’s been played

And away we go.