As the next season comes along in marching band, auditions have made students anxious for what is to come. Due to time constraints, auditions have never crossed Mr. Groon’s thoughts in the past. Auditions allow the band instructors to see everyone’s talent, but unfortunately, spots are limited. There are more parts than just playing an instrument, however; color guard plays another factor as students spin vibrant flags. With new kids every year, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, which explains why there are no ideal images of the “perfect marching band team.” Strategies such as a balanced instrumentation or positive attitudes help get fine-tune routines and improve performances.
For those involved, marching band provides a variety of meaningful encounters. A passionate junior saxophone, Kiana Sauer, explains this as she shares her favorite experience: “Last year, my favorite part of the season was the Minneapolis trip. It was truly an incredible experience to march on the Vikings' US Bank Stadium.” Mr. Groon, the HHS band director, adds to this by saying, “I am always impressed by the work ethic of marching band members.” Though marching band generates positive learning experiences, those do not come without challenges. Mr. Groon explains, “We have another strong group of seniors graduating this year, so as a staff, we need to make sure we are also preparing younger students to fill those leadership roles in the future.” With a new theme and more people, Mr. Groon and the marching band students look forward to the next season.