Searcy, Ar. (LP) – The 2019 football season has started and the SHS football team is off to a good start. So far, the SHS Lions are 3-0 as of September 16th, 2019. The football games are nothing but exciting, energetic, and a good time. Everyone comes out to see the game and the stands are full of students and parents. While some parents are there to see their children who play football, some are there to see their children in the band. As it is said over the speaker, the band is the “Star Attraction.” The SHS Band is under direction of Mr. Luzzi, Mrs. Cordell, and Mr. Fudge. The show the band puts on last only a few minutes but hours are spent working on it. The songs used in this years show, which is centered around the jungle, are “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Jungle Boogie,” “George of the Jungle,” and “Jungle Love.” Searcy Lion Press spoke with some students about their band careers and how they’re preparing for the games.
We spoke with Andy Hale, who plays the clarinet. He has been in band for 7 years and this is his final year of band and high school. Andy started out in band in 6th grade, as most students do. In 6th grade, you had to choose between band, orchestra, and another smaller music class. Andy choose band to go with. He wanted to play the saxophone at first but ended up with the clarinet. Andy is now in the first row of clarinets, which is a huge accomplishment. What he did to get to his position was to “practice nonstop and be prepared,” said Andy.
We also spoke with Jackson James, who is 1st chair percussionist and is the leader of pit. The pit doesn’t actually march like the rest of the band, but they are just as important. They’re stationed in front of the band and the field. The instruments the pit plays include the bells, gong, marimba, and xylophone to name a few. We asked Jackson what he does to prepare for the games and he said, “Pretty much nothing, just memorize my music.” Jackson, as Andy also did, started out in 6th. He wanted to play percussion when he joined and he ended up getting what he wanted. Now, 7 years later, Jackson is 1st chair percussionist, which is a huge accomplishment considering how many percussionists there are.
Freshman year is when band members first go to the high school football games. We asked Andy if he liked the games and he said, “Yes, and my favorite part is the game and the concession stands.” The marching show might last a few minutes long, but it takes hours of preparation. Upperclassmen might know what to do when a new year starts, but for the freshmen, they don’t have a clue. It’s the job of the upperclassmen to help the freshman, which can be a challenge. Andy is one to help freshman, he stated “I’m helping the freshman march and play.”
The band practices every morning during 1st period. They go over the same drill over and over so that the students can have it memorized. It can be hard work as it can be hot outside and it drains the energy out of everyone. Some Tuesdays during the season, the band has a stadium rehearsal that lasts from 6-8, where they just go over what they have learned. Sometimes, they stay inside and memorize the music they have previously learned or music they have yet to memorize.
As of September 20th, they are continuing to put down drill for “George of the Jungle.” The band plans on showing what they have learned so far in next weeks football game against Jacksonville. Stay and watch the band as they perform!
