At SHS, there are many different types of afterschool activities, such as our sports department, which has football, basketball, volleyball, and more. However, one activity that is rarely talked about, even though it is a huge part of sports games, is the SHS marching band. They play at every football game, but also practice and compete just like any other sport. The marching band program is an extracurricular activity that goes along with the regular concert band, one of the fine arts class at SHS.
Philip Tobin, Marian Rose, and Kristen Schutte are three seniors who have been a part of marching band since they were freshmen. They are all very passionate about their activity and give us an inside look at what marching band is all about.
Q: Why did you join marching band?
Philip: “My brother was in the marching band and he said that I should try it.”
Marian: “I met a couple of people before joining and kept doing it to show my love for it.”
Kristen: “I found a sense of community while also doing physical activity.”
Q: Do you plan on doing marching band in the future?
Marian: “Depends on what college I get into.”
Kristen: “I am undecided if I will keep doing marching band, depending on the college I go to I might sign up for band.”
Q: What has marching band done for you?
Marian: “Band as a whole has really shaped me.”
Philip: “Yes, like Marian said, I think it shapes your work ethic.”
Q: How difficult is marching band?
Philip: “Not many people understand marching band, people give us a hard time because they do not know what marching band is, and what we do.”
Kristen: “People think that we are trying to be a sport but we’re not, also people think it is very easy.”
Philip: “Yes, we actually get a PE waiver, just like any other sport, because it is so much physical activity.
Q: Not counting the instrument you play, which is your favorite?
Kristen: Definitely saxophone: it sounds the most like the french horn.
Philip: Drums, I think the percussion section is the most recognizable.
Marian: Saxophone, I love the sound of bass instruments.
So what is next for the marching band? While marching band season is over, there will be more shows done by smaller subsections of marching band. Winter drumline season happens during the winter and consists of only the percussion section playing music and competing. Next time you go to a football game, make sure to appreciate all the time and effort the band has put into their show!
