ENDING ON A BITTERSWEET NOTE

As we transition from marching band with the “Roll off two, roll off two, three, four, buhhh…” to concert band, there are many harsh realities that we all must face, one being that this is the last high school marching band show seniors will be a part of. But a marching band show does not just appear out of thin air. The whole Clear Creek Amana marching band started to prepare for their show all the way back in early August, before school even started! During the summer, they provide multiple camps, including “Percussion & Color Guard Camp,” which was held July 21st through July 25th, and “Band Camp,” which was held August 5th through August 9th. Both camps start at 11 am, and depending on the camp, end at 4 pm or 5 pm, at the very least, that is 5 hours of hard work that students are putting in. While the camps do help the band prepare for their show, they provide another important component: connections. On the outside, the band just looks like a group of people who play music with each other, but that could be further from the truth. The band is more than just a group of people; they are a family. “Band Camp” provides the perfect place for people to get to know each other and to start forming a real connection. Some traditions held during “Band Camp” that cultivate a good environment are the short games played before and after camp, the various dress-up days, the awards at the end of camp, and, best of all, the cup challenge. The cup challenge is a competitive activity with the goal to not letting the red Solo cup filled with water fall off your head. It consists of marching in various ways across the football field, becoming quicker with pace in time. As people’s cups fall to the ground, the cheering from the sideline becomes louder and louder until 3 winners are left. But just like the cup on your head, the marching band season does not stay around forever. As time flies by, the last competition is just around the corner.

MARCHING BAND SENIORS POSING FOR A PHOTO BEFORE THE COMPETITION; PHOTO BY CHRIS COPELAND

All feels fine till the very last performance…a day filled with copious amounts of tears and emotions because seniors are leaving. This year, there were 26 seniors who took part in the marching band, which is a lot of seniors! While it will be sad to let the seniors go, it is something that has to be done. The band, being almost like a family, is continually growing, but with growth comes sacrifices. The seniors, while no longer part of the marching band, will never be forgotten for the legacy they left.