Band Camp In A Nutshell

It’s 104 degrees outside and the heat radiating off the pavement seems to multiply that number by 10. Fogger trucks roam the streets of Ardmore, making a valiant attempt to hold back the population of crop-duster-sized mosquitoes. And at the high school, the air is saturated by the scent of sunscreen and insect repellent. Yep, must be time for Tiger Band Camp.

For those who have never experienced it, allow me to explain the concept of band camp: kids are given one week to master the art of marching, complete with proper body posture, instrument carriage, foot rolling, and stride width, all the while remaining in perfect step with 100 or so of their closest friends. They must then transfer this newfound marching ability to a practice field where they will learn to move as one seamless unit into dozens of intricate drill formations and then memorize these formations to the point that they can be completed in their sleep. And all this will be done by kids who are also simultaneously performing complete musical works from memory. Band camp is not for the weak.

This year’s Tiger Band is made up of 105 students in grades 8 through 12. Twenty-five of these students will be taking the field for the very first time. Sophomore Emily Welling is returning to the podium as drum major for the second year in a row. This year’s half time show will feature hits from the rock group Chicago, including “Saturday in the Park”, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry”, and “25 or 6 to 4”.

As a reward for all this hard work, the members have an exciting trip to look forward to in the month of April. The band will be marching at the Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. While there, they will have the opportunity to visit Sea World as well as Universal Studios’ new World of Harry Potter.

So this football season, as you are waiting on your nachos at the concession stand during half time, take a moment to appreciate the time and effort that went in to what the band is doing down there on the field. It might just be a little harder than it looks.