The Torch
By Jasslyn Lopez
Contributor
A lot of people think the band just plays at football games and such, but we actually do a lot. From football games to rallies, to our own practices, concerts, and competitions.
When people hear the words "marching band" they think "oh you're just walking and playing" which is so not the case. Marching consists of keeping in time, marching with technique, getting to your dot and making sure not to hit anyone on your way there. Marching also consists of making sure you're breathing and playing all the right notes and rhythms in time.
Band is about those hot summer days at band camp running, doing physical training, and teaching the freshman basics. Making sure they know how to use the proper technique. Band is about bad tan lines and trying to fix them only to make them worse, trust me I know. Band is about football games with your best friends, it's about getting dinner in between practice and the game. Band is about sharing sweaters on cold game nights while chanting cheers. Band is about those late night practices where you can’t see a thing but you've memorized the entire show so you don't need to see. Band is about those Saturday practices you dread but love to be at, making memories with your best friends.
Band is about waking up early at the crack of dawn to get ready for competitions. It's about that bus ride there where everyone is nervous, but is too tired acknowledge it. It's about those 20 minute warm ups right before it's our turn. Watching the band before us performing and getting nervous when we realize we're almost up. That minute walking onto the field trying to calm yourself and slow your heartbeat. “PHALANX ATENTUS!” You feel your heart race as you are called to attention. “PROGREDIOR!” You hear everyone silently dutting. "DUT DUT DUT DUT.” And you're off. You complete a 10 minute show and you don't have any recollection of how you did. It was all just a blur but you immediately begin to try criticize everything you just did.
It's crazy when you're sitting on the bleachers watching the rest of the bands, waiting for awards. Every band is so much bigger than ours. When it's finally time for awards we sit, clap when needed and await to hear our name.
"In 3rd place, with a score of 68.4 Leuzinger High School's OLYMPIAN MARCHING BAND"
Yea, third place isn't bad, you just wanna make sure you're in the top 3. That was last years score at Finals, 2 years ago we got second place. Hopefully we can go for first place this year.
Band is more than football games and competitions. It’s friendships, bonds and memories. Regardless, if that Fall chill is in the air, it’s time to strike up the band, it’s Friday night!
By Jasslyn Lopez
Contributor
A lot of people think the band just plays at football games and such, but we actually do a lot. From football games to rallies, to our own practices, concerts, and competitions.
When people hear the words "marching band" they think "oh you're just walking and playing" which is so not the case. Marching consists of keeping in time, marching with technique, getting to your dot and making sure not to hit anyone on your way there. Marching also consists of making sure you're breathing and playing all the right notes and rhythms in time.
Band is about those hot summer days at band camp running, doing physical training, and teaching the freshman basics. Making sure they know how to use the proper technique. Band is about bad tan lines and trying to fix them only to make them worse, trust me I know. Band is about football games with your best friends, it's about getting dinner in between practice and the game. Band is about sharing sweaters on cold game nights while chanting cheers. Band is about those late night practices where you can’t see a thing but you've memorized the entire show so you don't need to see. Band is about those Saturday practices you dread but love to be at, making memories with your best friends.
Band is about waking up early at the crack of dawn to get ready for competitions. It's about that bus ride there where everyone is nervous, but is too tired acknowledge it. It's about those 20 minute warm ups right before it's our turn. Watching the band before us performing and getting nervous when we realize we're almost up. That minute walking onto the field trying to calm yourself and slow your heartbeat. “PHALANX ATENTUS!” You feel your heart race as you are called to attention. “PROGREDIOR!” You hear everyone silently dutting. "DUT DUT DUT DUT.” And you're off. You complete a 10 minute show and you don't have any recollection of how you did. It was all just a blur but you immediately begin to try criticize everything you just did.
It's crazy when you're sitting on the bleachers watching the rest of the bands, waiting for awards. Every band is so much bigger than ours. When it's finally time for awards we sit, clap when needed and await to hear our name.
"In 3rd place, with a score of 68.4 Leuzinger High School's OLYMPIAN MARCHING BAND"
Yea, third place isn't bad, you just wanna make sure you're in the top 3. That was last years score at Finals, 2 years ago we got second place. Hopefully we can go for first place this year.
Band is more than football games and competitions. It’s friendships, bonds and memories. Regardless, if that Fall chill is in the air, it’s time to strike up the band, it’s Friday night!