Transcript

Jeffrey Nowack:

On this field, it’s just, it’s just such a great place. You’re in front of a large crowd and it’s just such a good experience to play here and sort of be in the heart of it all. But it’s, uh, it’s time I gotta go join the band, so, see ya.

My name is Jeffrey Nowak, I’m a Music Education major, I’m from Auburn, California, and this is my life in the Pines.
I knew I wanted to go to a college that had a marching band and I had seen videos of UMaine’s Marching Band online and it just sort of drew my attention and I really wanted to come here. I started on alto saxophone in middle school. And then I transitioned to trumpet soon after and I’ve played that ever since. The joy of making music with other people, it’s just, you can’t beat that.

I’m in Symphonic Band, I’m in Marching Band, I’m gonna do Concert Band next semester, I’ve done Collegiate Chorale. I think my favorite thing about being in these ensembles is the relationships I’ve made. I talk to everybody every day, I wake up excited to hang out with them more.

I think UMaine has afforded me more musical opportunities than I think other campuses would. I didn’t expect I would be a Drum Major one day, but last year, three old spots opened up and I sort of decided I’d throw my hat in the ring and I ended up getting selected. So I get to work with and be around so many incredible people and really I just can’t describe it, it’s just amazing.

Coming in here as a non-traditional student, it was tough sometimes because I didn’t have a lot of time to take the classes I needed to at the right time I needed to, but the professors here are amazing because they will literally move mountains to get the help you need if you talk to them. No matter what it is, their door is always open.

I got led into Music Education because music is what I’ve done my entire life and I just really wanted to continue that and give back to what band and music gave to me growing up and lead the next generation of students into doing what I love to do too. It’s been great, I don’t have regrets at all.

You know, when I lived in California, I grew up there, I lived there for like 20 years and I saw snow maybe twice. I actually feel the seasons in Maine, that’s apart from California, where it’s just summer the whole time.

I love walking through the Mall and just seeing all the trees covered with snow and the friends you make are just friends that you have for life, you know. The bonds are just unbreakable. People just want to talk to you and in California it’s not really like that, it’s just such a tight-knit community that we have.

You know, I’m walking down the Mall right now and it just feels like home at UMaine. When I wake up and think about going to UMaine, I have like a big sigh, I go, “Ahhh.” And I think if you can find your “huh” then I think you’re at home and I think that’s a really special thing about UMaine.