by Shawn Goretsky (8th)
If you’ve been watching one of the many TVs around our school, you may have seen the announcement that the PW marching band season is starting, with meetings scheduled in May and June. Why should this matter to us? Because current 7th and 8th graders are eligible to join. Take it from someone who has been in marching band—it’s a really fun and rewarding experience.
What You Can Do
In marching band, you can play a wide variety of instruments, including most brass and woodwinds. These include trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, piccolo, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, melophone (a marching version of the French horn), and tuba.
There is also a percussion section. In the marching percussion group, called the battery, you can play bass drum, tenor drums (my personal favorite), or snare drum. Another option is the pit, which includes instruments that do not march, such as keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, and the rack (which includes smaller instruments like suspended cymbal, cowbell, wind chimes, tambourine, and triangle).
You can also join the Color Guard. While you don’t play an instrument, you perform visual routines using your body and props like flags.
If you are not in the pit, you will march—and it’s actually a lot of fun. During performances, you move across the field in formations based on the music while also incorporating choreographed body movements.
When You Perform
Marching band performances are typically about 10 minutes long and consist of around three movements. You’ll need to memorize your music, your positions on the field (called drill), and any visual elements.
Rehearsals are held every Tuesday and Thursday to help everyone learn the music and drill. One of the best parts is that you get to attend all PW football games—home and away—for free because you perform there. The band plays both the main show and stand tunes, which are short, high-energy pieces to hype up the crowd and team. We also play the fight song after touchdowns.
In addition to football games, there are competitions on Saturdays where bands perform their shows and receive scores out of 100. By the end of last season, we were scoring in the 90s, which is a great achievement.
Our Record
At most competitions, we compete in a division of about four schools, while championships include 10 or more. Last season, we placed first at every regular competition and finished second out of 12 bands at championships. The season before that, we placed first at every competition, including championships—so yes, we’re a winning marching band.
Final Message
Overall, marching band is an incredibly fun and worthwhile experience. You’ll build skills, perform exciting shows, and make a lot of new friends along the way.
If you’re currently in 7th or 8th grade and interested in joining, there will be four meetings at the high school on May 5, May 19, June 2, and June 11.