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by Olivia Finer
To kick off the school year, football games are popular social activities that people take part in, whether it is playing to win or watching from the sidelines. People get food, socialize with friends, or watch the game. However, one of the main events that come with the football game is the marching band half-time show.
The shows the marching band performs every year take months of preparation to create the atmosphere and the story behind every show. The marching band is one of the ways the school shows our town’s music program. It shows the art of playing completed rhymes while marching in time to the drum major to create a picture on the field that can be viewed from the stands. All the shows have different themes that allow the students to show different emotions while they play, adding in choreography and expressions to help create the image they are trying to portray to the audience. This year, the show is called BachStar which is a musical take on classical music meets rock and roll. Other than their half-time show, the marching band also plays sideline tunes that hype up the crowd for the game, creating the perfect atmosphere for a fun time.
Although it can look very simple from an outside view, marching is a demanding sport for the mind and body. Thus, the marching band starts practicing in March, continuing through November, which is when they are performing for competitions in front of other bands and judges. During the summer training, they have band week and pre-band week which is an all-week event where they practice music, drills, and marching. Through the repetition of the movements, it helps strengthen the mind's ability to be able to do multiple things at a time, which can also be helpful during school in other subjects. Even with all the practicing and perfection that it requires, the marching band has the nicest students who welcome anyone who wants to join. They are always willing to help and make friends with anyone who joins. Regina Ciampoli, who has been marching for four years and on her second year of being drum major says, ”my favorite thing about marching band is my fellow band members. We are always together and support each other through everything. This is the place to make your lifelong friends, and I believe I have made my lifelong friends in band over the past four years. Also, the leadership within the band this year is truly inspiring. Although we may be just a bunch of band kids, we are a family.” There are many benefits in marching band and good experiences coming out of doing it. Mr. Freeman, the band director, says, “aside from it being a lot of fun, [there are] very few activities that involve performing music with complex maneuvers while also acting and dancing. It's the epitome of performance because it requires so many different types of performance. There's no better feeling than being able to perform with your closest friends.” Marching is a fantastic way to make lasting memories and create new skills that can be learned throughout someone's life.
Though this season is coming to an end with less than two months left, the next season will start before anyone knows it. The next season will be starting up around March if there is any interest in joining the color guard, percussion, or the band, please feel free to contact Mr. Freeman for more information. Although there are conflicting times with other sports, Mr. Freeman explains, “ while it seems like the schedule is a lot, we actually practice the same as most other sports in our school. We also have students who are athletes that participate in marching band so even though it sometimes conflicts with sports we are able to work around it.”
For now, there are many ways to come see the band. The marching performs every football game that is scheduled every Friday. Along with the games, competitions took place in October and continue through November.
The schedule for the competitions are as follows:
Saturday, Oct. 9th -North Warren High School- Blairstown, NJ
Saturday, Oct. 16th -North Warren High School - Blairstown, NJ
Sunday, Oct. 17th - Passaic Valley HS - Little Falls, NJ
Saturday, Oct. 30 - NJ State Championships- Union HS, Union, NJ
Saturday, Nov 6 - USBands Nationals - J Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, PA
Please feel free to come and watch a performance. One of the main characteristics Regina wishes people knew more is how "the marching band works as hard as any other sports team here at the high school. For the most part, the band stays after school for one to three hours every day, we travel with the football team and cheerleaders for games, and the marching band competes in competitions. Not to mention, in the summer, the band endures eight or more hours of band camp days to learn our music and drill because it is that complicated.
I encourage everyone to stay for one half-time performance at a football game this year to really see how diligently the band has worked for the show, “BachStar,” on the field. If you are interested in supporting the band, you can buy a shirt or go check out the marching band’s Instagram (@hhs_tiger_band) for information on any new or upcoming events for the band. The Hackettstown Tiger Marching Band is a fantastic place to make friends, how the shows are performed, and the amount of effort that goes into it and having a good time.
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