Recently, at Celina High School, a brand new Adams vibraphone was purchased. It is a remarkable instrument. The only problem is how our line got it.
This year, for the first time in many years, our band's show had no marching percussion. All the drummers played pit. I was really depressed since my drumline was reduced to only nine people. However, I still had a friend. Natalie Feliciano was a clarinet. I got her to switch to mallets for the 2006 year and now we were close since we were both in the pit. She was a cheerleader. I was a band nerd(I still am). We bonded. After hours of time together during practices we were like family. I loved her. I remember one time during a practice the pit set up and we had down time so she tried to teach me how to do a front handspring. I fell on my face in front of the whole band it was hilarious. She taught me how to do a round off. Picture a 225 lbs. band nerd doing roundoffs in the highschool parking lot.
She is the reason my school got a new vibraphone. In late November, she committed sucide. I was demolished. My line was in shambles. We all loved her and none of us could understand why. To this day I still think about her. I've been asked to play a vibe solo at our next concert in her memory since the money to buy the Vibraphone was donated by her mother. Her mother said she always loved playing with all of us in the line, she would talk about us nonstop. I will never forget her and The Celina Highschool Drumline will never be the same.
What does a person do to move on? I am not sure if I ever want to let her go.

Without getting into details....I have lost a lot of good friends while I was in the Air Force...I can tell you that all you can really do is get through the day at first. Another good thing to do is talk to someone about it...anyone...a trained professional is best but anyone who trust will work. Remember the person(people) and honor them by living a good life and doing things you think they would be proud of ect...

Its a pain that will never ever go away completely. I think another member here on DLO has lost a friend...Font maybe? At any rate there is someone who lost a friend named Yansel(I think). Perhaps he can chime in with some words of comfort and help as well.

I understand how you feel. Recently my friends girlfriend committed suicide... he followed suit a few days later. And it is very hard. It's hard to think why and how this can happen. But the fact is it did happen. And you should cherish the time you had with her. And I feel that you should give her a vibe solo that would make her smile! And remember that every time you play that vibes. That feeling will come back to you, that impart that she had in your life will be with you as you play. So move on. But don't try to force yourself to. She will always be in your heart - let that be a good thing.

My guess is that her mother saw how happy that playing made her daughter, and she donated the money because she wanted to see other kids get to be that happy. I'd do the solo. Even if you burst into tears in the middle of it, the crowd will only support you more. I think your friend would want you to do it.

Thanks for the support. I am doing the vibe solo. I'm not sure what I'm going to play. I still can't understand why all this has happened. I felt comforted by the fact that there are other people out there who have gone through the same things. If anyone has any suggestions for an easy vibe solo, I would thankful. I have college auditions this month so it has to be easy so I do it well on top of my other piecies.

You could try composing one.

i have lost a friend to suicide, it was somebody i saw everyday. just like you nobody saw it coming. if you struggle to figure out why, it will just intensify the loss you feel for her. the truth is there was no reason anybody could understand. its hard to accept that and move forward. things will never be the same. it will get a little easier everyday. what helped me was thinking about all the good things we shared in her life, and not dwell on how her's ended. you never get over the loss. you just learn to deal with it a little better everyday.. i know that isn't much comfort.