Marching Band and Why You Should Join It

By Tess Connor

Intensity and pride were great and focus overrode nerves especially during both marching band finals that occurred at the end of October and into the beginning November.

In every competition, the band and guard must focus on getting the point or message of the show across and making that execution as effective as possible.

At NESBA finals, NESBA standing for the New England Scholastic Band Association, the band was awarded the best color guard award along with a score of 95.2, earning them a platinum medal and first place. At MICCA finals, MICCA standing for the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association, the band earned five stars for music, visual effect, and percussion, and four stars for color guard and overall effect.

Mr. Mange, the band director at Stoughton High School, expressed that while he has a limited view of the performances, being confined to the front sideline, he has seen much improvement over the marching band season.

From band camp to finals, the group went from not having a complete and totally focused band to having almost the entire field show completed. Due to this determination, the group was buffered against the EEE ban and there was more momentum towards the early performances.

Mange said that while “putting the pieces together [is] always a process,” asking band members to be in the zone and demanding excellence led to success at finals. Students have expressed that they have no recollection of their performance, only getting on and off the field, and that is the true mark of being in the zone; “that’s the kind of mindset that should happen at every performance,” said Mange.

Another great moment of the season occurred directly after the performance at NESBA finals where the band was able to come together and realize how great of a performance they had. At football games, “we get to be together in a more low key setting,” said Mange. Those moments not only create the identity of the band but also “help us to be a family.”

Mange said,“whether I’m directing a band or in a band, I’m worried that people will settle for okay.” Regardless, he expresses his happiness in people pushing themselves all the way to the end and not settling for the minimum.

In his own experience, Mange has developed mentor figures which he said have come from the leadership positions students hold. Drum majors and section leaders become almost like older siblings and role models as they “develop a leadership structure” and have less guidance from the faculty working with the band.

“High school is the moment where you make the transition between an old child to a young adult” and having students making decisions on their own helps this maturity grow.

While there are difficulties during this process, without student leaders there would be no learning experience.

 Marching band is “like living a life for four years,” Mange said. “Band is the best thing you can ever do and don’t let anybody tell you differently;” these feelings are unanimous between those involved of any age and new members are always welcome into the band family.

Darlene Irons, a senior and head drum major in the marching band, is exceptionally proud of the work the students put into their show, even early on. She was able to see the big picture before anyone else and even though showing up on time and pulling one’s weight proves to be difficult, enthusiasm and encouragement go a long way.

“The encouragement and help upperclassmen were able to provide really made a difference,” said Irons. “Maintaining enthusiasm as well – after all, how can you have fun doing something you don’t enjoy?”

When asked about the most rewarding moment of the season, Irons said that while victory was sweet, “it’s so much more than just receiving an award and a few medals. We were not a bunch of students who were just at a stadium playing in marching band just because we signed up for it,” said Irons, “we were a family just going out and doing what we loved.”

After being a member of the marching band for five years, Irons said that she not only learned “how to manage your time, to focus when you need to, and to get all of your homework done” but that “you must inspire people, especially people younger than you, to do great things.”

“When you spend so much time working with these great people every week, it really becomes like a second family,” Irons said. “90+ kids working towards the same goal is an absolute journey that I think everyone should want to experience.”

Vanesiah Dos Anjos, an eighth grader at the OMS and trombone player in the marching band, said, “marching band has made me a better person… [and] a better trombone player.” “The support and the encouragement” from her peers helped her strive for success and “the way people treat each other with love and respect” is something she greatly appreciates as well.

She encourages others to join marching band as well, “you will gain a lot of caring, friendly, lovable friends and you will become a better musician and person.”

With the football field empty of flags and instruments yet of a sense of pride still strong in every student, the Stoughton High School Marching Band not only continues to prepare for parades but eagerly awaits practice in August for next year’s season. Anyone is welcome in the band family and we hope to have you join us next year.