187 days.
4,488 hours.
269,280 minutes.
16,156,800 seconds.
All are representations of just one marching season — a season that felt never-ending, until one day, it did.
The yearly area contest, held on Saturday, November 2 for the 24-25 season, decides the fate of the marching season. The band either makes it in the top five and continues on to state, or it doesn’t.
“Especially when the show is completely put together, I think that’s the most rewarding part,” band director Kyle Emiliani said.
Lights, camera, action! The stadium is so silent you could hear a pin drop. The lights are drawn to the field. Everyone is waiting to see the first performance of the year — the first thought of a full show brings a rush of adrenaline and pure happiness to the start of marching season.
“My favorite part of marching season [is] probably seeing the first performance,” band director Leslie Flynn said. “Even though sometimes it’s not the best performance, the first performance is always special.”
Marching band is like a family. It’s a way to make friends and it really makes the experience better, bringing a sense of happiness, bringing people together, and creating a healthy environment, which leaves everyone smiling.
“I prefer marching season,” senior Jackie Jiang said. “It’s a good source of exercise and like happiness because you get to hang out with your friends. It’s really hot outside but it doesn’t really matter that much because you’re with all your favorite people and you get to play music.”
Marching band depends in large part on student leaders. There is a drum major, who conducts the entire show — they are always busy. There are also captains for woodwinds and brass, who are in charge of all instruments under that category. Then, there are section leaders, which are in charge of their particular section; for example, a flute section leader will focus on the flute section.
“This year, as I was a drum major, I was more separated from that environment,” senior Eva Graebe said. “But I did enjoy the leadership aspects that I got to do and just working with different sections that I had not worked with before.”
The start of concert season is a complete switch from marching season. There are fewer after school rehearsals, with less physical activity. Concert season is a lot more sitting down, and much more technical work to do for music, with three pieces of music to learn instead of one. It is also different for the directors, who are now working with classes, conducting, and striving for effective teaching.
“The longer I’ve taught, the more appreciation I have gained for concert season and the beautiful music that exists,” head director Jeff Johnson said. “We start with not being able to do anything, and then we turn out this beautiful piece of music three months later.”
Free time is something that most people look forward to: getting home from school and just being able to relax. It is rewarding to get through a season of marching band because when it’s all over there are no more long rehearsals after school outside in the heat. Sometimes, students can end up picking up new hobbies in their new free time. Even though there are still rehearsals in concert band, it’s much more relaxed than marching season.
“I take my dog on walks,” Flynn said. “Can’t do that in marching season. I read more books. I don’t have time for that in marching season.”
A huge difference between concert season and marching season is the music the band plays. Concert music tends to be more lyrical, calming, and emotional, with many more tiny details that are incorporated within a piece. There is a variety of style and volume in concert music that differs greatly from the typical loudness of a marching band piece.
“Concert band season allows me to play my instrument and express myself through it,” senior Sophia Cobb said. “We get to really incorporate emotions into the music we play that we can’t often do during marching season.”
