At The Beginning

Hi, everyone. Peter Gomez here, and thank you for finding me on the MAI website. I decided to start this blog simply because I have a lot to say when it comes to the Marching Arts as well as a ton of personal notes I’d like to share with all you.

To begin with, for those of you who don’t know me, I am the founder and CEO of Marching Arts, Inc. where we provide products and services for the marching arts. I am also a designer, a choreographer, a judge for all aspects of the activity, and an overall good guy. I am a very generous person when it comes to advice on the activity we all are so are so passionate about, including the trials and tribulations I have gone through to maintain my career through this activity.

I am writing this blog as an experiment during these COVID-19 solitude days we are being asked to do. I am writing to you from my West Hollywood apartment where I am now in my 3rd week of isolation. Those of you who know me, you know that I thrive on my student’s energy as well as my co-workers and clients, so this time is particularly tough on my emotional and mental health. I am hoping that this will ease all of the anxiety and even fear I have a bit, if not a lot. 

In this blog, I will be talking about my challenges with work related issues, my upbringing, nutrition, overall health and fitness, or just offering any advice anyone may need in regards to my expertise or life lessons I have learned over the years.

Here we go….

I am in my 40th year of teaching and creating in the field of the marching arts and I have taught every season starting with my senior year in high school (1979) where I created my own rifle solo, competed, and won the championship in solo rifle. From there I was asked to teach at a local high school program, Lincoln HS from San Jose, CA., and even an independent winter guard called the “Sailorettes.” The kids would bring a small donation that the director would give me after every rehearsal, which was usually about 20-30 bucks. Trust me, at the time where I would beg my dad to drive me everywhere, it was a great surprise to him that I offered to give him gas money.

My family is originally from west Texas, a small town near Lubbock called, “Idalou.” The Idalou “Wildcats!” I just love saying that as it brings me some fond memories. I will never forget being in elementary school and seeing the high school kids walking around with a garment bag inside of which was their band uniform. I remember asking one of them if I could see it. He opened the bag and there it was…. the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!! From that day on, I knew that I was going to be a part of the pageantry world for the rest of my life.

That is all I have for now, but follow this blog and see where this takes us. In my next post, I want to share with you the life with my family and the imagination my sister and I had during those times, and of course, picking up my very first instrument… the CLARINET!! Talk soon friends.

P-