MARCHING CHIEFS PUT IN EFFORT; GET RESULTS

The Oak Ridge High School Marching Band was also in step at the band festival.

Halfway through the fall marching band season, Jackson High School Band Director Pat Schwent has been pleased with what she has seen from the Marching Chiefs.

The Chiefs have three more home football game performances, plus the annual Veterans' Day and Jackson Christmas parades, before breaking down into two concert bands for the winter.

"I think the kids seem to try real hard for me," Schwent said, following the 55th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival. "I try to instill a sense of pride in the students to do their best at all times and to act their best. With 165 students, this is not always the case. We will always go back and discuss things and try to do better the next time."

Tremendous dedication is required of marching band members.

"We go outside and are standing in position every morning at 8:05. Sometimes it's damp outside, sometimes the football field is not very marchable because of bad weather or windy conditions," Schwent said. "They have to stand out there and be disciplined enough to go through all the maneuvers to try to get as many people understanding and doing the best they can by Friday night."

Schwent pointed out that marching band is a voluntary activity. While it is a demanding one, she feels it allows students to take something substantial with them after their final note has been played.

"They do not have to do this," she said. "Any students who do this throughout their high school career have learned to discipline themselves.

"I feel that they can do just about anything they want in life because, it seems to me, the secret to having a good life is having high standards for oneself. That takes structure and a certain amount of discipline. I hold nothing but the highest praise for my band students -- on the good days and the bad days."