Have you ever wondered what Lakes High School band does throughout the school year?
No?
Well, I’m here to give you a little insight on what the band does anyway!
“I think the band just goes to class and practice honestly.” Says Deonte Jones, a senior athlete at Lakes High School. The Lakes High School band has a full schedule of the different things that they do throughout the school year.
This includes general class rehearsals, music-based assignments, and assemblies when needed. “I love when we do sectionals because we get to practice with our section.” Says Abby Lott, a junior trumpet player and Vice President for Lakes High School’s band. She reports this activity being the most helpful when it comes to practicing music for pep band.
What is a pep band? What are sectionals?
Sectionals are when a specific group of instruments diverge from the rest of the band and practice a certain song that they will then come back and put together. Pep band is when the entire band or a chunk of the band attends different school games (such as basketball and football) and plays short and “peppy” songs in the bleachers to give a similar effect as cheerleaders do. To encourage and uplift the players. “The band does sectionals probably a couple times a month” according to the Lakes High School Band director, Tami Johnson. The busiest months for the school’s band are October, November, and December, with some action in March and the end of the year.
A Monthly Timeline of Band
In October, the band has to do various marching practices for the Homecoming halftime show as well as in class rehearsals for their October concert. Yes, the school’s band starts off with a bang in the first two months of the school year. When asked about what challenges the beginning of the school year has, freshman woodwind player, Aiden Quenzer, stated “I gotta say, trying to understand and get used to the different ensemble and personally getting used to the way you guys were used to starting a song; and also learning what it’s like to be in marching band.” In summary, this statement speaks about the challenge for freshman band members transitioning between middle school and high school band classes and the differences between them.
In September, the band plays at home football games in their own section in the bleachers. Their last required game is the same one they perform at the homecoming show. If the team makes it to the playoffs and hosts home games, the band will attend those as well. According to Senior Drumline Captain, Katie Gus, “We have football, and the field show which takes up a lot of the beginning of the year. Then we have basketball which we only have two games a week during the season not including playoffs.” The only break the band gets between football and basketball is the month of November, during which they still have to do scale tests and practice music all throughout. This includes practicing pep music for surprise football games, future basketball games, some assemblies, and the Daffodil parade in the beginning of April. As well as practicing for the Winter concert in December.
After December, the band continues to practice music for their March concert and play music at basketball games and even attend some extra games such as playoffs hosted at Lakes for band students to earn community service hours or letter points. Yes, you can earn a letter in the band! The Month of March is where a little action starts to happen, with a concert and various marching practices to prepare for the annual Daffodil parade in the beginning of April. Katie Gus says “The only month where we don’t really have much going on is during March and early April. We have the District and Regional Band Festivals.”
End of the year preparation
Toward the end of the year, the band starts preparing for their final concert in May, an end of the year band banquet, and playing at graduation. The end of the year is a hassle, with saying goodbye to senior band members by practicing the famous graduation song “Pomp and Circumstance.” After that, remaining band members assist Mrs. Johnson with wrapping up the end of the year. “At the end of the year, we get ready for graduation and cleaning the band room/instrument room.” says Katie Gus.
Overall, the band has a pretty busy schedule throughout the school year with few breaks but has fun as well and shows just how productive the school’s band is!
Thank you for reading this musical deep dive and tune into the ledger for more articles such as this and other interesting topics!
