Sarah Baxter

My First UCF Football Game UCF vs BCU 41-7 The feeling of performing for the first time on the field UCF Marching Knights

Grandfather My mom sang to me when I was a baby. Papa used to play his trombone when I was little and I loved listening to him. Professional Trombonist

Elementary Music Class Every year my grade put on a play Classes twice a week Learned a lot of songs Percussionist brought in drums once a year for the kids to play and learn on. K-5 th Grade

Piano & Violin Lessons Started piano when I was in third grade Started violin when I was in 4 th grade. Did not continue when I moved 3 rd -5 th Grade

Middle School Attended the instrument “petting zoo” and chose the saxophone Then a month later, my dad told me we were moving  Going to Play the Saxophone

Moved to Michigan Starting Middle School in an unknown area and didn’t have any friends…it sucked Having to make friends Constraint

Middle School Chorus Did not like the band director so I chose to participate in chorus all three years I continued to learn music, just vocally 6 th -8 th Grade

Moved to Pennsylvania Again, had to start over and meet new people. New area and I started high school. Constraint

High School Marching Band My sister joined playing flute and I decided to do color guard as it did not require to learn an instrument yet I still got to be part of the marching band. Colorguard

Auditioned for Drum Major End of my freshman year I auditioned because I was really intrigued with conducting and leading the band. Still had never been in band before. I took lessons from the head drum major from the past season Constraint- did not get it

Joined High School Band I did not make it and I asked the band director what I can improve on and he suggested I join band. It was really rough at first but I just jumped in and did my best and learned a lot. 10 th Grade

Indoor Competition Percussion Same year I joined band, I joined indoor drumline and played vibraphone. Really helped me with timing and reading rhythms 10 th -12 th Grade

Xylophone/Mallet Lessons When I started band and indoor, I started taking lessons with the percussion instructor on xylophone and marimba. He helped me learn the indoor show and the concert band pieces. 10 th -12 th Grade

Auditioned for Drum Major I joined band, indoor and took mallet lessons and continued conducting lessons all to help me achieve one goal…Drum Major I auditioned at the end of sophomore year and I GOT IT! It was a goal I set at the beginning of 9 th grade. Got It

Auditioned for UCF Drumline UCF Marching Knights do not have a front ensemble (mallets) and therefore I picked up cymbals I took lessons with the percussion instructor still and he taught me all the different crashes etc. Made It

Without the support of my family, friends and teachers, I would not be where I am today and I would not be who I am today. They have impacted my life more than they will ever know.