Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Rigors Of Being A Part Of Marching Band

Photo Credit: CHEYENNE PINO

BY RACHEL CALLAHAN

At 5 pm, the school is mostly deserted, but not the band room. It is full of students quickly putting together instruments. Their giant water jugs slosh as they run from the band room to the football field. They trample onto the field, form a square, and the loud clicking sound of the metronome fills the air. The Sound of Pride Rehearsal has begun.

“I joined marching band because its what I’m good at,” flute captain Erin Gulseth said.

Being a member of the Cooper City High School Sound of Pride takes talent and commitment. All band members must practice, play, and perform, but marching band takes this to the next level. Not only is the music difficult, but it also has to be memorized and performed while marching. To be able to do this takes a lot of work, which is why the Sound of Pride starts working on their October competition show in the beginning of summer. In concert band, members sit and play but in marching band, there is a physical demand. Some of the instruments are very heavy, such as the baritone, sousaphone, mellophone and barri sax, and are difficult to carry while marching. Not only must they march around at a quick tempo, but they must also have a strong set of lungs to get a full sound while doing so. Many members say that after they’ve finished running through the show, they feel as if they’ve just ran a marathon.

“It’s difficult to play and march at the same time because you have to remember a lot of things at once,” freshmen Melanie Smith said. “It can get a little overwhelming.”

There is a lot of time and effort that goes into making a show performance ready. Not only does the marching band work tirelessly over the summer, but also throughout the season they have Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals from 5pm to 8:45pm. The marching band has scheduled rehearsals all together, as well as sectionals, or practices with just their particular section, to improve on technique. On Saturdays, the band rehearses from 7am to 12pm and then come back to the school to get in their uniforms, load the buses and head to competition. The time they get back varies, but it can be as late as midnight. Competitions aren’t the only time they perform. The marching band also performs during halftime at the home football games. They’re the only band in the state to have a halftime show and a competition show.

All members of the Sound of Pride are very committed to being the best they can be, by making practicing and attending rehearsals their first priority. When performing, they don’t stop for anything even if they lose a shoe during the competition, or get hurt during a show. While performing the Cowboy Show during half-time, Sound of Pride member Kiara Sefcheck hit her head with her rifle. The blood had made it down to her neck by the end of the show but she didn’t get off the field, and continued to perform until the song was over. This demonstrates the level of commitment that Sound of Pride members have.

There’s no denying that being in marching band takes a lot of work and time, but all the effort put in is worth it. The members of the Sound of Pride have a strong sense of family and make lifelong friends. Through the program, they learn important life skills, such as teamwork, time management, and the rewards of hard work. They also leave the program with unforgettable experiences such as state competition, which they are planning on going to this year. The band is very exited about the show they have prepared, called Motivation to Masterpiece.

“Just watching everything come together is so cool,” Smith said. “It makes all the time and effort put in worth it.”