By Chris Dietrich

VYPE: What made you choose saxophone?

Anna Seitsinger: My brother played saxophone. I originally wanted to do percussion, but he told me to try saxophone—so I did. I didn’t really like alto, though, so I switched to baritone.

VYPE: What interested you about it?

AS: I don’t know, I just really like baritone—and I really like the people in band, for the most part.

VYPE: How long have you been in band or playing your instrument?

AS: It’s been a long time, about 5 years.

VYPE: What got you into band?

AS: My brother. He was in band, and he had a lot of friends that I already knew and liked, so I joined too.

VYPE: What’s your favorite piece or song that you’ve played in band?

AS: I really liked our marching show this year. It was cool—it had a lot more emotion than some of the ones we’ve done before.

VYPE: What made it your favorite?

AS: It was a scary show, and it had music from Radiohead in it. I really liked that. In the beginning, there was a big part for the lower instruments, which was nice.

VYPE: Do you prefer concert band or marching band?

AS: Marching band, for sure—1000%.

VYPE: Why marching band?

AS: I feel like you don’t really get to hang out with people as much during concert band. And the people who aren’t in your specific concert band kind of disappear for half the year, which sucks.

VYPE: What’s the most challenging thing about being in band?

AS: We spend so much time working on stuff—especially during marching season. There’s like no free time at all. Ever.

VYPE: How do you prepare for a big performance or contest day?

AS: It kind of depends. If it’s marching, I drink a ton of water—because I never drink water otherwise. For concert band, I always make sure to practice beforehand, even if I already feel prepared. It just helps me work out my nerves. And I’ll usually talk to one of my friends in band—like Grace or Zach.

VYPE: How has being in band changed your high school experience?

AS: Almost all of my friends are in band, so it’s given me a really tight-knit community. I never feel isolated, because there’s always some band kid around.

VYPE: What’s your favorite memory from band?

AS: Last year, I was on the marching band loading crew, which was really fun. My brother was there too, and we all hung out a lot. It was just a really good time.

VYPE: How do you balance band with schoolwork?

AS: I feel like the band directors really prioritize our schoolwork and academic standing. They care about how we’re doing in school, so I’ve never had to worry about balancing it too much.

VYPE: Do you plan to continue playing in a band after high school?
AS: Not with my saxophone, probably. I might play in a jazz band, but I’m not sure yet.

VYPE: What advice would you give to someone starting band?

AS: Don’t be scared. There’s a lot of people, and it can feel intimidating at first—but everyone’s pretty nice, even if they’re a little weird. Making friends in band is really valuable.