“I think the whole point of marching band is to come together to entertain,” says trumpet section leader, Meagan Milligan. Marching band is entertaining, and with that entertainment comes a range of emotion: joy and sadness, with hopefulness and longing. You can feel the emotion of the music. But, what does it take to be a good band?
”When coming in each morning for early morning band practice, we want our students to bring only two things. A mind that will work hard and their ínstruments,” says Osage band director Jeffery Kile. To learn to march you have to be willing to work hard and learn. The usual marching steps used in band are called 8 to 5 steps, but it’s not just normal walking. Band members have to roll their feet and make it look like they are floating. It takes skill, patience, and a lot of practice.
“The people in the band that I have marched with in years before have made band one of my favorite parts of the day. It is fun and silly. I feel welcomed,” says Milligan. Marching band doesn’t only take hard work but emotion too.
“I think that the emotion a student must play with depends on the music and how the composer has written the piece,” says Osage band co-director Kelsey Whitacre.
The students are so excited for this year’s marching show to be complete.
