We were lucky to catch up with Bex Riehm recently and have shared our conversation below.
Bex, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I started marching band in middle school, inspired by my older brother, who was two years ahead of me. The first instrument I picked up was the French horn, but I later switched to trumpet. In 8th grade, I even joined choir, expanding my love for music beyond just instrumental performance. Music has always been my greatest love. Its my drive, my passion, my favorite part of life. I only wish I had started sooner. Imagine how many instruments I could play well instead of feeling mediocre at most of them.
My primary instrument is clarinet, but I didn’t choose it for myself. My best friend in high school offered to teach me, and that’s how I ended up playing it. Unfortunately, we later fell out of friendship but still had to sit next to each other in band every day. It was heartbreaking, it got so bad we couldn’t even make eye contact.
I’ve realized that almost everyone I meet wishes they had learned an instrument. It’s one of those skills people regret quitting when it got tough. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard, “I wish I kept playing piano” or “I regret quitting when I was younger.”
Now, being at the University of Idaho, where my high school band director also graduated from, is an incredible feeling, but it also comes with heavy imposter syndrome. I’m not a music major, and there’s a clear difference between LHSOM (Lionel Hampton School of Music) students and marching band members.
If I had started sooner, I would have learned piano as early as possible and focused on music theory to better explain what I feel, hear, and play. It would have given me more confidence in my musicianship and a stronger foundation. But even with all of that, I know one thing for sure, music is and always will be a defining part of who I am.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Bex Riehm, and music has always been a defining part of who I am. I got into marching band in middle school, inspired by my older brother, and from that moment on, music became my home away from home. Throughout high school, I felt like I had to prove myself. I didn’t have the most stable home life, and after losing my father at a young age, I needed something to ground me. Marching band became that safe space, and my band director, Mr. B, was like a father figure to so many of us who just needed somewhere to belong.
Music gave me a sense of purpose and something to work hard at. I remember the first time I played a high C on trumpet during practice. Mr. B thought the student next to me played it, and I wanted so badly for him to know it was me. When I played it again and finally got a “good job” from him, it meant more to me than he probably ever realized. That’s the kind of validation music gave me, it pushed me to prove to myself that I could keep learning and growing.
Now, I’m proud to say that I play multiple instruments, including clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, baritone, euphonium, sousaphone, snare drum, bass drum, and even bass guitar. No matter where I find myself, I always seek out new instruments to learn and new ways to express myself through music. I even took Percussion Tech with Spencer Martin, the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Idaho, where I learned drum set techniques and how to properly play tambourine and triangle, which was way more fun than I expected!
Beyond music, I’m also a visual artist and creator, working under the name Bex. I make handmade scrunchies, custom stickers, and upcycled jewelry, and I create acrylic paintings that reflect my love for music, mental health, and personal experiences.
What sets me apart is my drive to always keep learning and my passion for bringing people together through art and music. I know what it feels like to need an outlet, a safe space, and something to hold onto and that’s what I strive to create through my work. Whether it’s through music, visual art, or handcrafted pieces, I want people to connect, feel something real, and be inspired to create their own form of expression.
At the end of the day, I’m extremely proud of how far I’ve come and excited for where my creative journey takes me next.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
One of the most meaningful books in my life is Hope for the Flowers. My high school band director, Mr. B, gave it to me as a gift when I graduated. Inside, he left a note saying that the same book was given to him when he graduated. The message of the book is simple but powerful. It said follow your own path, gather the facts, and figure out life in your own way. It has been with me ever since. I love it so much that when I graduate college, I plan to include a quote from it on my graduation cap. I never thought I would make it this far, and every time I read the book, it reminds me that while love and comfort can feel safe, and going with the flow might seem like the right thing to do, ultimately, this is my life and I can’t let anyone, including myself, hold me back. If it weren’t for Corey Blaker, I wouldn’t be here today.
That lesson continued when I got to the University of Idaho. Spencer Martin, the Director of Athletic Bands, gives a speech to incoming freshmen every year. His energy is electric, and he always finishes with the same powerful words: “Don’t let anyone hold you back from your passion.” Every time I hear it, I get chills. And he’s not just talking about outside influences. he’s also talking about ourselves. That speech reaffirms my love for band, for performance, and for being part of something bigger than myself. It reminds me why I keep going because music is what I love, and I want to share that passion with others.
Finally, my brother has been my biggest inspiration. It might sound cliché since he’s my sibling, but I don’t think he realizes how much I admire his hard work, initiative, determination, and grit. We’ve lived similar lives, yet he has forged his own incredible path, and I’ve always looked up to that. Growing up, I remember going to his performances, concerts, and parades, thinking, “Oh my gosh, my brother is so cool.” I’d constantly hear, “Michael’s your brother? We love him! He’s amazing!” and though it used to annoy me, deep down, I felt the same way “Yeah, that’s my brother, and he really is amazing.” Even now, performing with him, whether on stage or just singing sea shanties with our grandma, music brings me so much joy.
Without these men in my life, Mr. B, Spencer Martin, and my brother, I honestly don’t know where I would be. They’ve shaped my passion for music and have reminded me, time and time again, to never let anything or anyone hold me back from doing what I love.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
One thing I think non-creatives struggle to understand about my journey is just how much time, effort, and sacrifice go into music and art. People often see them as luxuries, but in reality, they are what separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom, they are what make us human.
Art and music aren’t easy. They take hours of practice, discipline, and resilience. The people who casually toss some paint on a canvas or upload a quick performance to TikTok tend to be the ones who have the time and money to burn. Meanwhile, the students, performers, and artists who didn’t grow up with those privileges have to fight for every opportunity.
What many don’t realize is that I’ve had to balance an intense workload just to keep doing what I love. In undergrad, I consistently took 20 credits, worked part-time, and still committed to music. Now, I work full-time while pursuing my master’s degree part-time….. all while continuing to perform in marching band and pep band. This isn’t just a hobby, it’s a grueling, time-consuming commitment.
Marching band isn’t just about showing up and playing. We practice, run, sweat, cry, get lockjaw, develop blisters, throw out our backs, faint in the heat, get sunburned, slip and dislocate shoulders, drop sticks and keep playing anyway. Every time The Sound of Idaho steps onto the field, we bring the same pride, intensity, and energy as the football team. We don’t just play the fight song after a win because we have, WE WANT TO! We want to scream, dance, cheer, and lock in during halftime.
People underestimate the cost, financially, physically, and emotionally of being a musician. But that’s also what makes it so rewarding. It’s fun because it’s difficult. It’s fun because it builds community. It’s fun because it gives us pride. Pride in our school, our team, our band, and ourselves.
So, if you’ve never poured your entire heart into something, sacrificed sleep, money, and comfort just to create something bigger than yourself, you might never fully understand why we do it. But for those of us who live for this…it’s everything and I wouldn’t change a minute of it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bexy_bex/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-riehm619
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UIVandalMarchingBand
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@martenhiemstra5416
Image Credits
The main photos of https://www.instagram.com/safesaxphotography/ who use to plat with the Vandal Marching band and is now the official photographer of the marching band. Takes such great photos.
The Photos of snare are me playing as a senior in Highschool. The sousaphones dressed us as Mario characters for Homecoming 2024 – I was bowser. My Nex to the U of I presidents Truck – U of I branded of cores.