Why Join Marching Band?

The banner was the goal we had dreamed of since we were all freshmen. A piece of vinyl that represented the fact that whoever held it was the best. It hangs forever in the school filled with the hard work, effort, determination, and memories of that year. 1998 was the first year Southington High School ever earned one, and since then it had been the last. In marching band there is no ball to intercept to score the winning touchdown, or a way to shoot the last basket at the buzzer to get the two points you need. In marching band, you give all you have in a ten minute performance, leaving it all on the field. Then, all one can do is hope that what was left on the field was more than what the other bands had to give. There is just the band, the field, and a handful of judges to determine where you place.

I stepped out onto the moist field. The fog was just above the first row of bleachers making the lights haze in the grounded cloud. I stand at ready position as the drum major and color guard captains salute to the judges that we were ready. I think back to the hours upon hours of practice we had given, the four days a week we came together to practice, and the three months we had been working. I remember the one thing my instructor said before we went on the field. "Do you believe? Because I believe." The one thing we had to do, believe. My mind begins to focus as our leader standing on the podium lifts his hands to give the first down beat of the performance. Music flows from instruments into the fall night air reaching high into the press box where judges critique the sounds. The first step off occurs, a slow tempo just to get things going. Pictures are drawn by a hundred musicians and dancing girls with flags to create a show that coincides with the melodies that are performed. Forms come together as the music accelerates in tempo. My heart increases with the beats of the drum getting faster, feeling like it is going to explode from my chest. My breathing becomes harder as my feet try to keep up with the conductor's hands. Pass throughs are perfectly executed, notes sing from instruments, and the crowd is alive with emotion. After ten minutes of giving it all I had, I snap my mellophone down into etiquette position. The band marches off the field with our chins held up, our instruments gripped by our glove covered hands, and our eyes filled with pride.

As we step off the field, the excitement that we had to contain continued to build up. We circle around off to the side field, out of sight from the crowd, judges, and other bands. We halt. All the members of the band look at each other waiting for the final command to come. "Band parade rest and," says the drum major as we respond with, "Hut!" We explode with emotion as people begin to cry, hug each other, and scream with delight for we had just played the best show all year. For the seniors, it was the best show in four years. We were at Connecticut State Championships, the pinnacle of our high school marching band careers, and we had a chance at the ultimate dream, the banner.

A swarm of blue and white, identically dressed people climbed into the visitor's side stands awaiting the awards. After all the bands finished, the drum majors of each band that competed took the field once more. The caption awards were given, and we took two, best music and best visual performance. Other bands collected the remaining honors as we sat in anticipation for the placement awards. The bands that didn't place were announced, and we were not among them. Third place went to Trumbull, and only two spots remained. The announcer paused for a moment, as we all sat in the stands holding tightly to each other. "In second place, with a score of 92.75," the announcer began to stutter and the grasp on my hands became tighter. "Waterford High School!" We all screamed with emotion. We couldn't believe it and waited for a correction of some sort to come over the speakers, but it was real. "In first place, with a score of 93.3, our Connecticut state class four open champions, Southington High School!"

Everyone screamed and got up off the stands. Hands went in the air, people were hugging each other and tears were streaming down everyone's faces. We had won it, the banner was presented to us, and we could say that we were the best. Four years of hard work all paid off to be able to celebrate the fact that we climbed the ladder to be number one. We will hang the prized piece of vinyl in our school. For years to come, as we go on, we will have our accomplishment in the band room for other generations of bands to admire, and aim for the same goal we did. They will see the banner that is filled with our hard work, effort, determination, and memories of that year.

Eyes With Pride!
A Letter by Katie Spinelli
2004 Band Backer Scholarship Recipient
Class of '04

June 2, 2004

Dear Southington High Band Backers,

Thank you very much for selecting me as a recipient of the Band Backer Scholarship. Although it is very sad that after four years I must leave the Blue Knights, I will always carry the memories of marching band with me.

I will never forget the sense of pride I felt when marching on the field as a unified group or saluting to a crowd and spotting the blue and white fans in the stands. I will truly miss leading the band in “Eyes with Pride” before every competition. Most of all, I will miss the closeness of the band: walking down the halls and seeing my band friends everyday, and also having the support of the instructors and the band backers at every rehearsal, competition, and football game.

I have learned so much through my band experience. From my three years in the clarinet section to my experience as drum major, band has taught me how to be an effective leader, how to listen, and how to persevere through tough circumstances. Not only will I use these valuable lessons next year at the College of the Holy Cross, but also throughout my life.