When I had the thought of writing a blog post about the Cherokee Band Home Competition, I thought to myself 'Who is going to read that?' For many people, the marching band is the white noise that plays between halves of the football game, when most people go to the bathroom and get a burger. To be honest, I am a freshman marching band parent, so I really don't know the support the marching band gets from the school and community. But here is what I was doing in high school 30 years ago, which makes we want to write about it. If no one wants to read it, so be it. I'm the guy on the sign to the right.
I had planned on writing about what it takes to put on a competition, from a logistical perspective. The focus wouldn't be on the kids, but on the adults who do all the behind the scenes work. I have been working on the 'Pit Crew', the group responsible for getting the props and larger band instruments to the field (and into trucks for away games), so I had a little insight on what occurs during football games.
What occurs during the Home Competition is vastly different, with many more people volunteering, working in the kitchen, concession stands, judging booth, traffic control, etc. Since I was volunteering, I figured I would be able to see alot of the behind the scenes work that makes the day happen. However, I started my day on parking lot duty, directing traffic and answering questions of spectators. By the time I was relieved, much of the behind the scenes work was already completed.
My focus of this blog post changed when it started pouring.
The day started HOT. I think the temperature was only in the upper 80s, but I was standing in the sun much of the day. I can only imagine what the band members, many in wool uniforms, felt like. By the time the competition began at 4, it had started cooling off. The first several bands scheduled competed in excellent conditions. For a few hours yesterday, it was very pleasant out.
But then the rains came. The first band to play in the rain stood for several moments in the rain until the entire band and the judges were ready. (Sorry, I don't know which band it was. I brought paper and pen to take notes, but the rain prevented me doing so.) As they performed, it began to rain harder, and then harder still, and just when I thought it couldn't rain any harder, it did. The band received such loud applause and screams just for finishing their set. They looked and sounded great and you can clearly see the rain in the pictures.
By the time the next band took the field, I was under the bleachers, in a spot reserved for Cherokee Pit Crew. But what I saw there was what made we want to change the focus of this post from the 'behind the scenes' idea to the kids. I was huddled under a tarp under the bleachers, watching a band perform in a torrential downpour. Between songs, the girls in the color guard were standing still, as required. And smiling! While part of their performance is to project a certain air, you could tell the smiles were genuine. For the kids in the band, had they not had instruments in their mouth, you could tell they would be smiling as well.
It is difficult to play in rain that heavy. From my experience, for reed instruments (clarinets and saxophones), even playing in good conditions for any length of time requires occasionally having to suck moisture out of the reed, or else the notes won't sound right (and sometimes cause squeaks). In addition, there are fabric pads on reed instruments (and flutes) that need to seal holes shut that start to malfunction if saturated with water. I can't speak to brass instruments, but I suspect there are similar issues. Watching the drummers from 50 feet away, you would see splashes when they'd hit the cymbals or tomtoms as the water puddled on them. But the band played on!
The Cherokee Marching Band was the last band to perform. It was still raining, but not as hard as it had been.
There are two different styles of marching bands. One, collegiate style, is where the kids just march and play. This is the style I was used to from my time in marching band. The other style, called Drum Core International, is quite a bit more theatrical, which is the group that Cherokee belongs to. Their performance, entitled 'Contagion', tells a story of a virus that is spreading and causing grave illness and death. Much of the time while the kids are marching they are flailing like infected zombies. During practice, I've heard instructors yell 'You look too healthy', because the kids were standing at attention. They needed to slouch and stand a little more haphazardly to display the proper sentiment.
With instruments strewn randomly about a wet field, the children begin the performance crouched on the wet field under tarps. (They aren't under tarps to avoid the rain, this is how the performance always begins)
If you've never worn a wool marching band uniform, it is not the most breathable fabric. Half a dozen children in wet wool, combined with sweat and covered with what is essentially saran wrap must make for a pleasant odor!
The kids performed brilliantly. I have heard and seen the show a few times now, and this was their best performance yet, in spite of the rain. The story their performance tells, while somewhat hampered because they could not use their normal PA announcements due to the weather condition, was readily apparent nevertheless. Each time the music swelled, the crowd cheered their approval. The mellophone solos received thunderous applause and the band finished to a standing ovation from the wet but appreciative crowd.
The Cherokee Band took first place in their division, but that almost seems irrelevant to the story. The pride of performance and professionalism they displayed was inspiring. Indeed the professionalism by all the bands in attendance was something to emulate. I believe some of the bands were given the option to cancel their performance due to the conditions, but they all decided to perform anyway.
Two additional things occurred after the competition to make me realize what marching band means to these kids. After they were dismissed, one of the band's drum majors immediately turned around and ran to the far set of bleachers. They didn't run like sprinters, but like little kids crazily chasing bubbles, giddy with excitement. Their band was in the far set of bleachers screaming raucously, and there was a spirited celebration when the drum majors met the band.
The Cherokee Band stayed on the field long after the other schools were dismissed. I think they spent another 30 minutes cheering, chanting and generally having a good time. They had been at the school since 9:45am, and they weren't dismissed until around 9pm. Somehow, they still remained just as cheerful, excited and full of energy as when the day began. That's what the band brings out in them, and it is wonderful to see.
Some additional pictures are below. The first ones are from the Cherokee Band. The rest of the shots are random shots of other bands and some of the behind the scenes prep work.
A judge walking around with a box on his head to protect from the rain
A bass guitar player with amp, hiding under the drum major's platform to avoid damaging his equipment. The show must go on!
I had planned on writing about what it takes to put on a competition, from a logistical perspective. The focus wouldn't be on the kids, but on the adults who do all the behind the scenes work. I have been working on the 'Pit Crew', the group responsible for getting the props and larger band instruments to the field (and into trucks for away games), so I had a little insight on what occurs during football games.
What occurs during the Home Competition is vastly different, with many more people volunteering, working in the kitchen, concession stands, judging booth, traffic control, etc. Since I was volunteering, I figured I would be able to see alot of the behind the scenes work that makes the day happen. However, I started my day on parking lot duty, directing traffic and answering questions of spectators. By the time I was relieved, much of the behind the scenes work was already completed.
My focus of this blog post changed when it started pouring.
The day started HOT. I think the temperature was only in the upper 80s, but I was standing in the sun much of the day. I can only imagine what the band members, many in wool uniforms, felt like. By the time the competition began at 4, it had started cooling off. The first several bands scheduled competed in excellent conditions. For a few hours yesterday, it was very pleasant out.
But then the rains came. The first band to play in the rain stood for several moments in the rain until the entire band and the judges were ready. (Sorry, I don't know which band it was. I brought paper and pen to take notes, but the rain prevented me doing so.) As they performed, it began to rain harder, and then harder still, and just when I thought it couldn't rain any harder, it did. The band received such loud applause and screams just for finishing their set. They looked and sounded great and you can clearly see the rain in the pictures.
By the time the next band took the field, I was under the bleachers, in a spot reserved for Cherokee Pit Crew. But what I saw there was what made we want to change the focus of this post from the 'behind the scenes' idea to the kids. I was huddled under a tarp under the bleachers, watching a band perform in a torrential downpour. Between songs, the girls in the color guard were standing still, as required. And smiling! While part of their performance is to project a certain air, you could tell the smiles were genuine. For the kids in the band, had they not had instruments in their mouth, you could tell they would be smiling as well.
It is difficult to play in rain that heavy. From my experience, for reed instruments (clarinets and saxophones), even playing in good conditions for any length of time requires occasionally having to suck moisture out of the reed, or else the notes won't sound right (and sometimes cause squeaks). In addition, there are fabric pads on reed instruments (and flutes) that need to seal holes shut that start to malfunction if saturated with water. I can't speak to brass instruments, but I suspect there are similar issues. Watching the drummers from 50 feet away, you would see splashes when they'd hit the cymbals or tomtoms as the water puddled on them. But the band played on!
The Cherokee Marching Band was the last band to perform. It was still raining, but not as hard as it had been.
There are two different styles of marching bands. One, collegiate style, is where the kids just march and play. This is the style I was used to from my time in marching band. The other style, called Drum Core International, is quite a bit more theatrical, which is the group that Cherokee belongs to. Their performance, entitled 'Contagion', tells a story of a virus that is spreading and causing grave illness and death. Much of the time while the kids are marching they are flailing like infected zombies. During practice, I've heard instructors yell 'You look too healthy', because the kids were standing at attention. They needed to slouch and stand a little more haphazardly to display the proper sentiment.
With instruments strewn randomly about a wet field, the children begin the performance crouched on the wet field under tarps. (They aren't under tarps to avoid the rain, this is how the performance always begins)
If you've never worn a wool marching band uniform, it is not the most breathable fabric. Half a dozen children in wet wool, combined with sweat and covered with what is essentially saran wrap must make for a pleasant odor!
The kids performed brilliantly. I have heard and seen the show a few times now, and this was their best performance yet, in spite of the rain. The story their performance tells, while somewhat hampered because they could not use their normal PA announcements due to the weather condition, was readily apparent nevertheless. Each time the music swelled, the crowd cheered their approval. The mellophone solos received thunderous applause and the band finished to a standing ovation from the wet but appreciative crowd.
The Cherokee Band took first place in their division, but that almost seems irrelevant to the story. The pride of performance and professionalism they displayed was inspiring. Indeed the professionalism by all the bands in attendance was something to emulate. I believe some of the bands were given the option to cancel their performance due to the conditions, but they all decided to perform anyway.
Two additional things occurred after the competition to make me realize what marching band means to these kids. After they were dismissed, one of the band's drum majors immediately turned around and ran to the far set of bleachers. They didn't run like sprinters, but like little kids crazily chasing bubbles, giddy with excitement. Their band was in the far set of bleachers screaming raucously, and there was a spirited celebration when the drum majors met the band.
The Cherokee Band stayed on the field long after the other schools were dismissed. I think they spent another 30 minutes cheering, chanting and generally having a good time. They had been at the school since 9:45am, and they weren't dismissed until around 9pm. Somehow, they still remained just as cheerful, excited and full of energy as when the day began. That's what the band brings out in them, and it is wonderful to see.
Some additional pictures are below. The first ones are from the Cherokee Band. The rest of the shots are random shots of other bands and some of the behind the scenes prep work.
A judge walking around with a box on his head to protect from the rain
A bass guitar player with amp, hiding under the drum major's platform to avoid damaging his equipment. The show must go on!
