About Us

Southern Tioga Marching Band

Chris Medycki, Percussion Instructor

Dawn McLelland, Dance/Color Guard Instructor

WHY MARCHING BAND? - by Mr. Ruth

There are so many reasons why marching band is an integral part of a school music program, and we encourage all instrumentalists to get involved with it and at least try it at some level. Coordination of body movement with playing is a difficult skill, and it produces a more well-rounded musician than one who just sits and plays. Moving while carrying a (sometimes heavy) instrument is a physical workout greater than many sports, but the artistic element of the act of marching music utilizes all parts of the brain in a way that no other activity does. It's truly a mental and a physical exercise.

Another benefit is that marching band is a HUGE community outreach for our school. Each of the 3 "main" towns in our district holds parades, and a parade is incomplete without a marching band! The community is already excited about the re-formation of the marching band, and it will be great to be able to provide this sense of community culture.

All of that aside, though - there is a greater reason why I believe marching music is so important. Throughout a season, we will spend MANY hours together perfecting a short performance of music and movement. By doing this, we'll be able to achieve a level of performance beyond any other ensemble that these students will be involved with. As a TEAM, we will grow as musicians and as humans as together we devote ourselves to making the performance the best it can possibly be. Committment, responsibility, and perseverence are life skills that are developed through this activity. EVERYONE is a part of the ensemble. We have no JV, no backups, no benchwarmers. EVERYONE is able to participate and contribute from the most talented and experienced musician to the student who just started. The only requirement is to TRY your BEST. EVERYONE gets to play in the marching band - if you're willing to give it your best. If you do, you'll have an experience you'll carry with you for the rest of your life.

There are many of them out there, but here's an article I read recently which elaborates further on some of the benefits of marching band...

https://kidzu.co/art/music/7-reasons-marching-band-is-good-for-kids/

We are working hard to design our fall marching band program (August through October) in a way that while it takes a lot of time, it's possible to be in a sport AND in marching band. Talk to your band teacher about it if you're interested. We'll be rehearsing typically once or twice per week, then Fridays from after school until the game. There will be 3 Saturday events throughout the course of the fall, and they'll be posted on the calendar as soon as confirmed. Our winter season (indoor drumline) will be longer and more involved, and is designed for an outlet for our most committed students, it is our "sport of the arts".

If you're thinking about getting involved, or have any questions, feel free to email me at jruth@southerntioga.org .

-Mr. Ruth

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE, A NEW START FOR 2019.

The Southern Tioga Marching Band was started decades ago as a joint venture between the high schools in the Southern Tioga School District. The band received several awards, including Tournament of Bands chapter championships in 2008 through 2012. The group expanded during this time to also include an indoor percussion ensemble and an indoor color guard which was an active member of the Tournament Indoor Association, and attended the mid-atlantic regional competition for WGI (Sport of the Arts) twice. After school closures and consolidation, the combined band program was inactive from 2015 through 2018, but we are working hard on a NEW start for the 2019-2020 school year.

The program is open to any student in the Southern Tioga School District who will be in grades 7-12 for the 2019-2020 school year. Generally, rehearsals will happen at Blossburg Elementary School (in the auditorium and at the field beside the district office.) For more information about band or band front, email Mr. Ruth at jruth@southerntioga.org

Our fall season will begin with a 1 week "camp" held at Blossburg Elementary School from August 12-16 (Monday to Friday) from 9-4 each day. We'll be learning a field show (for the first time in 4 years) and performing at home and away Panthers games, as well as 3 Saturdays where we'll perform at local parades and 3 Tournament of Bands Festivals (tentatively) at Williamsport, Loyalsock, and Shikellamy High Schools.

Our winter season for 2019-2020 will begin in late November, and we'll be putting together a percussion/dance ensemble to compete in TIA. This is a chance for our most committed students to get a feel for true competitive marching arts, and will require the most time of members. We'll rehearse 2 evenings per week, we'll rehearse and then compete 2 Saturdays per month starting in late November. Full details and schedule will be released in the fall. Our plan is to attend regional competitions, and Atlantic Coast Championships in Wildwood NJ in Spring 2020.