With the end of season, members of the SMU reflect on its accomplishments; both in the realm of musical development as a group, and what being part of the band has meant to them.

The Steinert Marching Unit attended states on Saturday, October 28th, an incredibly anticipated day, with suffocating temperatures of almost 90 degrees. They performed regardless and exceptionally well for that matter. The Marching Unit’s performance at states resulted in the highest score of the season, 84.8 and placing in 6th at states out of 13 bands. Discounting placement at states, throughout the season the band has been undefeated and winner of best music at every competition attended this year. Despite the considerable achievements, the SMU is always taught not to value scores so much as to value the quality of the performance, and achieving your own personal best each time you step out onto the field; to value the satisfaction you have with the music you make over all else.

The day of the competition, the weather posed a major challenge. The band’s black full uniforms were a difficulty, and maintaining the comfort of the band was a must if a good performance was to be given. So, Mr.Ketterer, the band’s director, directed the band to take uniform vests off to prevent overheating. The band also kept body temperatures low by drinking iced water and treats which the band parents and directors helped to provide. Which competing band best adjusted itself to the temperature, Mr.Ketterer repeatedly emphasized, would be the ones with the best performance. And so, despite this circumstance, the SMU reached its highest score of the season.

Tyler Gilson, the Marching Unit’s Woodwind Section Leader and repeated soloist of both Marching and Jazz band, gives a consensus on the band’s opinion of their performance, and offers his own perspective on the topic, “It would have been cool [if we had won], but I don’t think it’s about being cool. We made an improvement and I know I’m not going to be here next year, but I’m really happy with how it’s going to be in the next season because I know you guys are going to do even better. It doesn't matter with the scores, we seriously improved, it was fun, it was great, and we made it to states. I’ve never done that, it’s so cool. So, that was the best way the season could have ended and it was our best performance.” The quality of the final performance is an acknowledgement shared by the majority of the marching band. The steadfastness to the principle of personal improvement is largely the reason for this sense of satisfaction, a great amount of change took place from the beginning to the end of the year. Gilson develops this idea further in his account, “Definitely this year alone, we went double at least in terms of just staying together, working. We definitely improved in all aspects; we’re working together, we’re focusing. I can’t believe how fast the freshmen this year have improved. You couldn’t imagine a bigger change from my freshman year to now, it’s just everything. Everyone’s so dedicated.” The change resounds in the band, and it is an expressed shared hope amongst the group that it will continue positively.

The musical and social development which the marching band provided for its members is reflected upon by Keira Elliott, Drum Major of the SMU and soloist in this year’s show. She discusses the effect marching band had on her, “It improved my skill in the flute from marching on the field, having to keep up good posture and having to memorize all my music on the field before playing it. [Because of this] I have better memorization skills.” Elliott emphasizes the skills which can be gained through the repetition and perfectionism of marching band go on to help a musician greatly improve their craft. In reference to the non-musical aspect of her four years in the marching band, she remarks, “I noticed that when we first started marching band, everyone kind of had their own groups and cliques but throughout the year we all started to talk to each other and we all started to merge the groups together; everyone talks to everyone. And over four years, I noticed that the bonds never change throughout. I still talk to the people that I met my first year in marching band and my last year in marching band.” Altogether, throughout the many interviews which have been conducted this year for the marching band, the close bonds one develops in the club is a shared opinion of all, and a point which is held close to the group’s view of their activity.

The States Competition wraps up the Marching Band season this year; the last time you can see the Marching Band is at the West VS Steinert Thanksgiving Game at halftime! Now, as the Jazz competition season soon begins, you can watch the Steinert band performing in December, its spring concert, and the many competitions our Jazz Band attends.