All in the BAND One camp done, one to go

By EMILY DAGG

Enterprise correspondent

Every summer, the Clyde High School Marching Band can be seen practicing music and marching for the upcoming school year.

They practice the most in late July and throughout August out on the practice field or in the parking lot, working on field drills and precision marching. Many people do not know that the band actually has two camps, one during the first week of summer and a longer camp at the end of summer.

Band members attended the first camp of the summer last week on June 9- 11.

According to Craig McKenzie, the Clyde High School Band Director, this first camp is a "parade camp."

"This camp is different from the later camp, because it is a little easier," he said. "Here, band members are not learning the difficult field drills, like they will be during the second camp in August.

"This first week is spent preparing for our show at Cedar Point and easing the new marchers in. Typically, band camp lasts about three hours each day. Marchers spend half the time indoors working on music, and the other half marching and putting together their routine. The intense precision marching seen during the half time shows is a big part of the later camp."

Megan Wasserman, an incoming senior, has been a part of the marching band for three years.

"The first camp is a lot easier," she admitted. "We mostly work on parade marching and go over the first show. It also gives us returning band members the opportunity to become familiar with the new marchers. Camp is a good introduction for them and it's a way for all of us to get acquainted."

After the band practices for a few days, they are ready for their show at Cedar Point. "I like when the band goes to Cedar Point because the parade is fun and then we get to spend the day there. At the performance, not everyone there is paying attention, so there is less pressure. It's also a good experience for the new marchers, because they have the chance to perform in front of a crowd," Wasserman said.

Another returning marcher, Sarah Prunty, agreed.

"This camp is mainly for parade marching," she added. "It's a little easier because we don't have to learn and memorize the drills for field lines and all the different directions. We only have to learn two songs to perform. The band seniors pick all of the fall music, and we've already spent some time working on the first show.

When we go to Cedar Point it sometimes gets nerve-wracking with all of the people staring. We start out marching down the midway and then stop to play a few songs, and then march back. Our performance usually lasts about 15 minutes," she said.

"Although actual band camp is harder, I like it better because the band members have more time to get to know everyone and we can become like a family," Prunty said.

"Band camp is where so many friendships are made. When I first came to the high school I remember being really scared because of all the new people. The seniors were intimidating, but then they came and talked to us new marchers. The beginning of the year can be challenging for freshman because the music is a little harder than what they've done in the past and they have to get used to everything."

McKenzie understands that for the incoming freshman, sometimes the amount of music and level of difficulty are challenging at first.

"It can be a little more than they expected, coming from the middle school," he said. "Mrs. Lisa Rider, the middle school band director, has been really helpful by working with the eighth graders and trying to prepare them for the challenge of being a high school marcher."

Prunty's younger sister, Caitlin, will be a sophomore this year. She remembers being a new marcher.

"Last year was weird at first, because I didn't know everybody," the younger Prunty commented. "Some people were more open than others, which made getting to know the other band members easy. Band camp was fun and learning some of the new fall music made it easier when we started marching."

Being a band member comes with a lot of responsibility. Students devote much of their time learning music, practicing with their instrument, and working together as a band to make their performances successful.

"Everyone is required to come, unless their family is on vacation," McKenzie said. "About 66 of 68 students attend. Members who do not come are missing out on learning new music for the fall and for the first show.

"On Thursday, we go to Cedar Point; this is a great and easy first performance for the incoming freshman," he said about the band's live performance on June 12. "It also gives the other students the option of performing, and then they can spend the day enjoying Cedar Point."