From the first note, (perhaps squeak is more descriptive)through the monotonous scales, the parent beams because this young msucuan is learning so fast.
A band parent quickly learns that it requires considerable hard work, time and money to have a championship band. After extending credit to purchase an instrument and finally locating a pair of all-white marching tennis shoes, the harried parent is then introduced to fund raising campaigns. This usually means selling concessions during football games while the band is doing the half-time show. In between runs on the concession stand, the parent dreams of a day when oil will be discovered in the end zone suffiencent to finance all school functions, beginning with the band.
A band parent is a calm, multipurpose machine who can bring order out of choas of getting ready for a high school football game. Dad rushes to the stadium concession stand to help set-up, while Mom finds the other black sock, combs hair (off the collar), and herds the family int to the van for a speed-breaking dash to the bandroom. The following week the game is away and the band parents beocme chaperones, and dispensers of hair pins, safety pins, aspirin and other essentials.
A band parent is one who when attending away games gets to see the half-time show, but unless they move to the "oppenent" side, they only see the back of the band and hear an echo.