CCHS’ Sound of Pride Marching Band and Color Guard is one unit which works together at the beginning of the school year and apart after November. Then, the band shifts from outdoor, athletic activities to indoor, non-athletic activities, while the color guard shifts from outdoor, athletic activities to indoor, athletic activities.
Despite the color guard’s year-round strenuous athletics, the CCHS class is not considered a P.E. credit. This means that despite the extreme exercise from color guard, members of the class must fulfill the P.E. requirement with a class on top of that. Working just as hard as the marching band, year-round rather than one season, the color guard should be able to fulfill their P.E. requirement by being a part of this demanding organization.
Color guard is essential to the functioning of the marching band; by adding a visual effect to the music, the audience is told a story from the football field. Color guard also runs independent of the marching band, during their winter guard season.
Essentially, winter guard is a highly-competitive season where color guards from different schools perform a show indoors that represent a theme. There is music, but no band members are present, so the focus is on the visual performance the entire time.
Color guard is a difficult and physically demanding activity. Members are constantly spinning and tossing rifles, sabres, and flags while simultaneously dancing and acting in order to effectively carry emotion throughout their show.
The Sound of Pride’s color guard rehearses long hours to perfect their show, whether it be for marching band or for winter guard. This past winter guard season, the CCHS winter guard placed third at the South Florida Winter Guard Association (SFWGA) championships. Freshman Sabrina Wong competed on the varsity winter guard this year, after an exceptional first marching season.
“We are constantly moving around, whether it be on rifle, flag, sabre, or if we’re just dancing,” Wong said. “When the team is working on weapon, not only are our hands being used, but there is also body associated.”
Members in color guard train to have better flexibility, balance, endurance and strength. They need all of these attributes to effectively display emotions and fluid movement throughout their show, as well as provide visuals that contribute to their theme. Color guard should be considered physical education by itself, as members learn safely stretch and exercise with various techniques.
“Dancing is incorporated into everything we do,” Wong said. “For example, sometimes we have to plié or add in a sauté underneath our work.”
Spending over ten hours every week rehearsing and competing, the color guard dedicates their hours to their show, whether it is for marching season or winter guard season. They work endlessly at rehearsal, staying dedicated the entire time, providing for clean performances.
“The instructors go over the same set repeatedly,” Wong said. “The members and I have to continuously work until they’re satisfied with the way things look.”
It is unfair that half of the Sound of Pride can use the countless hours they spend for a P.E. credit, and the other half does not. This is especially true because all members of the Sound of Pride rehearse the same amount. Color guard also puts in the same amount of, if not more, athletic effort as the band. These members strive for nothing but the best, and their athletic achievements should be accounted for.
The Sound of Pride color guard is essential to the band during marching season, and is a singular functional unit during the winter that is widely successful. After physically pushing themselves for countless hours, those involved should get the physical education credit they deserve.
Featured photo by Colin Camblin
