Band camp mixes military drills and music

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

One day at band camp could seem like an eternity if you're marching back and forth across the field all morning with the hot sun beating down on your back as you check to see that your feet land where they are supposed to, but doing it without really looking down to see that your step is correct.

Band camp isn't just a lesson in learning to play the half-time routine during football games, it's about following instructions, keeping a cadence and learning proper posture. For some area bands, it also means earning recognition at competitions

But how hard can it be to march?

The Southeast Missourian spent a day at band camps at Central High School and Jackson High School to see firsthand what the fuss is all about. Both bands are continuing camps this week in preparation for their upcoming seasons. Both bands will march Sept. 8 in the SEMO Fair Parade.

Here's the schedule:

8 a.m.

Students arrive and are ready for practice. Sitting in the Central orchestra room, students listen as Central High's director Neil Casey reminds them of terminology: standby, fallout, march time.

In Jackson, students unpack their instruments from their cases, or check out those they've been assigned for the year, and begin to look at their music. The half-time program this year centers on the classical sound, with selections from Copeland, the "Saber Dance" and an arrangement of "Jupiter" from Holst's "The Planet Suite."

By 8:25 a.m., the Cape Central band heads to the field and start practicing marching fundamentals.

The Jackson Marching Chiefs divide their day into 50-minute blocks, with the first sessions spent inside practicing music. During the early part of the week, students shuffle in and out of practice as they return from registration sessions.

8:30 a.m.

The field at Central is squishy from the previous evening's rain but the weather is 10 degrees cooler than the day before. Standing at attention, the students know to keep their heads bowed, hands clasped at their back and an interval between their feet.

They point to their file and rank, making sure that they're always in line with those other rows to their front, side and diagonal. The 135 band members stand eight rows across and 15 down.

Instructor Billy Keys shows the students how to march properly, keeping their weight on the balls of their feet as they keep "march time." With the weight on the balls of their feet, the students will keep from bouncing as they step.

8:50 a.m.

Student leaders guide smaller groups as they practice standing at attention, roll step and keeping the beat for their march step. Veteran marchers team up with rookie marchers to teach them the ropes.

Because the older students help the younger ones, it gives them a greater sense of ownership in the band, Casey said. "They lead by example." About 40 percent of the band students are new marchers this year. Last year, about two-thirds of the band were new because of the addition of freshman at the high school.

9:10 a.m.

Central's rows have drifted to the right and Casey says the group looks more like the Cape Central Marching Amoebae. "You must have parallel lines," he says.

9:30 a.m.

Water break. Students head inside for a few minutes to get drinks and rest in the air-conditioning before heading back out for another go at marching.

This time, they're learning drag turns, which is like march time when the legs move but this step allows them to pivot.

Kevin Schenkelberg, a freshman trumpet player, said the hardest thing about learning to march is that it's like learning to walk all over again. "It's a lot harder than I thought it would be," he said. "It's more difficult than just staying in line."

Brianna Egbuka, a member of the color guard, will carry a flag instead of an instrument when the band marches, but she must know how to step properly first. "Learning the step is hard because I have a tendency not to pay attention all the time," she said.

She never even thought about having to learn to march when she first signed up for color guard, she said. "It's a lot more serious than it seems."

10 a.m.

The Chiefs take to the field for marching practice. Standing at attention, they focus on the directions that instructor Tom Broussard calls out over the loudspeaker.

James Starke is one of only three freshman in the high school band and is excited about his first marching season. The marching band at Jackson is primarily sophomores, juniors and seniors but a few outstanding freshmen are asked to participate, said instructor Scott Vangilder.

Starke said it's a little harder to learn marching than he thought it might have been.

Renee Simminger, a junior, said that learning the music was the most difficult part of camp her first year. "But I like playing and marching together. It's a challenge and it lets you know what you can accomplish," she said.

With 180 members in the Jackson band, getting and keeping everyone's attention is crucial, Broussard said. Attitude, discipline and a good work ethic during the week of camp will help the instructors choose squad leaders for the marching season.

10:10 a.m.

Breaking into groups, the Central band again works on their step size -- making sure that the size of their steps match those of the people around them in the line -- and drag turns.

"We want you to look like the Cape Central Marching Band of fame," Casey said.

10:35 a.m.

College student Emily Huber, who is helping the Jackson band during camp week, calls the clarinet section to attention and walks along the rows checking posture.

"Remember there's no talking at attention," she said. "And a good way to make sure your posture is right is to remember that your ears, shoulders and hips all line up."

Across the way, the flute section is having trouble remembering to keep their hands at their sides when they're relaxed and not to slouch.

10:45 a.m.

Broussard, working with a small group, reminds them that how they stand at attention will set the tone for the entire performance. "That is so crucial and it's where a lot of bands don't have the discipline and it shows on the field."

11:05 a.m.

The Jackson band breaks for lunch, but not until they've been called to attention and practiced march time again. Broussard reminds the band that when rehearsals start again at noon, it doesn't mean just showing up then but being ready to play.

11:30 a.m.

The Central band breaks for lunch but must return to campus by 1 p.m. for work in their sections, learning the songs they'll perform during the season.

The first day of practice the group was a little rusty, Casey said, but that's because they've been away from their instruments for the summer.

Noon

Jackson students return to the campus and break into sections to practice their music for another 50-minute session.

1 p.m.

Everyone's back from lunch at Central and heads off to classrooms for practice with their sections. Xylophones line the hallway, the percussionists stay in the orchestra room and the horns take over the dance studio.

Jackson heads back outdoors to the field for another practice at marching.

2:10 p.m.

Central drum majors Amber Propst, Josh Reimann and Nick Uptain, all seniors, work in the band offices making attendance books and certificates. Band members who have worked diligently at marching, attention, leadership and the best rookie improvement will be given awards at the end of the day.

"We're tough on them because we have to be serious," Nick Uptain said. "We don't want them to move or scratch in line and if we let them by with it in practice, they'll do it on the field."

"We're sort of like drill sergeants about not doing that stuff," he said.

2:25 p.m.

The trumpets are playing the "Star Spangled Banner" while the color guard comes in for a break. Sponsor Dina Strickert is explaining to the girls that they must build up their stamina and resistance to the heat because they're going to be marching in it for the majority of the season.

"You have to build up to the heat and sweat because it's not going to be cooler for a long time," she said.

3 p.m.

Jackson band camp dismisses for the day.

3:30 p.m.

Central band heads back to the orchestra room for the final hour of camp and a chance to rehearse together.

4:30 p.m.

Dismissal at Central. Some sections will come back for evening rehearsals.

The Jackson band doesn't hold any evening or after-school rehearsals.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126