BROOKINGS Students in Brookings wont report to class for a couple more weeks but the high school marching band has already been practicing; and theyll showcase their skills with a free show tonight at the high school track.
The month of June we take mostly off We meet a couple of times, just to get to know each other and get a couple fundamentals, Isaac McMahon, director of bands at Brookings High School said. Then after that, like in July we do like two times a week we do sectionals. The goal is pretty much get to know each other and start building the community that kids like about marching band so much.
Sectionals are small group rehearsals based on the instrument students play. In early August, the band started meeting as a full 120-member group for two weeks of drill camp.
Thats where we start putting music on the field and have them start marching, McMahon said. Sectionals are like three or four hours tops, but band camp days are long. Theyre eight hour days.
Long past is the era when 76 trombones led the big parade. Todays marching bands focus on not just music but also choreography, props, and elaborate storytelling. Starting this fall, its an extracurricular activity in Brookings. Students sign up for band, get placed into one of three concert band classes, and then have the choice to opt into marching band.
Marching band will be mostly the same other than we no longer rehearse at all during the school day. Everything will be outside of the school day, McMahon said. But, we will be able to be in three separate concert bands right away in the school year. Which means the top players will be playing top level music right away. The ninth graders will be getting what they need from fundamentals right away from class time. I think, if anything, its going to make the band experience feel better in every regard.
Participating in concert band is free; but like many extracurriculars, theres a cost for marching band. The fees pay for things like props, design, travel, and student teachers.
Right now were charging $325 for band fees for the season which hasnt gone up now in a year or two, McMahon said. I will say this, too like money should never be the reason someone doesnt do marching band. And we always find ways to get scholarships or funding for students who cant afford it. Weve never turned a student away for money reasons.
To help control costs, the Band Boosters became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit last year a legal transition that lets them accept corporate sponsorships. McMahon says its become commonplace.
A lot of bands our size or on the larger side around here will start doing some corporate sponsorships finding money through corporate sponsorships and partnering with businesses in the area, McMahon said. The long term goal would be that marching band can be as close to free as possible.
Donor and sponsor information is available at https://www.brookingsband.org. Students also engage in various fundraising activities throughout the year. All the rehearsals and fundraisers pay off when they perform in judged contests against other schools.
Last year was probably the most competitive success since Ive been here, McMahon said. We won Big Sioux Review we were the outright winner of the whole shebang. At Festival of Bands, we won our class in prelims and then got fifth overall in finals. And then at Youth in Music, we were second in our class barely and made finals for the first time in six years.
This seasons first competition is Sept. 14 in Rosemount, Minn. The band also marches at an informal event at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls on Aug. 24, and they perform at the Bobcat home football game Aug. 30.
The biggest thing is are we improving every year? And if were improving every year, were doing good things, McMahon said. I cant think of another like harder working group of students, but they also have a great time doing it.
More than awards earned or musical excellence demonstrated, McMahon said hes impressed by the character, cooperation and positive attitudes the students display.
Theyve seen a lot of payoff in the last couple years in that attitude. And its only gotten stronger, McMahon said. If the world treated each other as well my band students do, wed have a whole different state of the nation.
The public is invited to see that on display tonight. A pulled pork sandwich fundraiser meal begins at 6 p.m. at the high school, costing $10.50 with all proceeds going to the band. The preview show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the high school track and is free to attend.
Email Jay Roe at[email protected].
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