This year our middle school band played at the varsity football game on Friday, Oct. 13. There was a practice on Thursday, Oct.12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The students were led by Emily Rickard, the band teacher. All of the students get an experience to play with the high school marching band to see if they might be interested in joining the marching band in high school.
The practice on Thursday taught the students where to walk and stand, and also rehearsed the music with high school. That Friday night the band had to arrive at 5:00 p.m. They practiced marching and playing their instruments, flags waving, baton throwing, and dancing. There were also some fifth and sixth graders doing the flags and dancing. Around 6:00 the band marched down to the football field as the drums were playing. Pregame started around 6:30.
Pregame started and everyone marched out on the field and played songs like “Bulldogs” and the Alma Mater. Seventh and eighth grade did not do halftime, but they played songs in the stands with high school the rest of the night. After halftime, the whole band got a snack and after pizza. On the way back up to the high school they screamed the school chant and got louder the closer they got to the high school.
“I am so excited for band night. It is going to be great. This year is our third year of doing middle school band night. The reason why we have seventh and eighth grade band nights is to give the opportunity for the seventh and eighth grade students to see and play in the high school marching band. This is beneficial because it gives the students a challenge since they play high school pieces,” Ms. Emily Rickard, band director, said.
“I loved doing middle school band night. My favorite part is playing in the stand with all my friends. It is a good experience because it gets you ready for the high school marching band, and shows you what the high school band is. This is my first year of doing middle school. I will probably do it next year if I am not busy,” Madison Capehart, seventh grade student, said.
That is how middle school band night went. We are all so excited for the years of marching band ahead.
