THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409140065
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 140 lines
THE MARCHING BAND.
For hundreds of high schoolers, those three words conjure images of crisscrossing football fields, endless after-school practices and pep rallies that would lack pep without their presence.
High school marching bands across South Hampton Roads spent the precious last weeks of summer sweating it out on football fields preparing for the season, just like their pigskin counterparts. And now, with the season under way, they are giving fans a reason to save that trip to the bathroom until the third quarter.
``We're basically trying to put the show together,'' said Meredith Hannon of the Great Bridge Marching Wildcats at a summer practice. She was taking a break from the statue-like stance she must maintain as drum major. ``Band camp can be difficult, from 8:30 to 6. . . in the sun and the heat.''
Summer band practice starts early in the morning at some schools, including Nansemond River in Suffolk. Others, such as Princess Anne in Virginia Beach, hold evening rehearsals. Practice ranges from two times a week to five.
At practice, T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are de rigueur, as are towels and water bottles. The aroma is sweat mixed with sunscreen.
In addition to learning pre-game and halftime shows, members perfect pep music - the school fight song and short, upbeat tunes to accompany the cheerleaders. They also undergo physical conditioning - running, stretching, sit-ups and even aerobics.
Meredith, a senior, said nonmembers don't realize what band members endure. ``It's really grueling,'' she said.
Fighting the nerd image
During a late August practice, the Great Bridge band lines up facing the evening sun, awaiting orders from director Rob Carroll. Horn players stand at attention until he tells them to relax. Then their arms drop, they catch a breath and scratch at that irksome itch.
Carroll, who's leading the band through selections from ``Dances With Wolves,'' said his band's size changes each year.
``Ours is getting bigger,'' Carroll said. ``It's due more to growth in the community rather than growth in popularity.''
But Meredith thinks it's often hard to get students to join because of the ``band nerd'' image. Georgina Bruer, a senior and one of the color guard captains at First Colonial in Virginia Beach, agrees.
``The band always has nerd stereotypes. . . but the school is extremely supportive,'' she said.
At First Colonial, the band room is abuzz during a recent rehearsal. Musicians are donning blue, black and white uniforms - complete with tuxedo ruffle - for pictures. Band parents adjust hem lines and look for pins. Director Michael J. King depends on parental and school support to help build his band program.
``I see less people in high school bands because of AP classes, honors classes. . . . Scheduling is a disaster,'' said King, who hopes to have 46 members this year. ``It's a special kid that does this. When they finish, they feel like they've done something.''
Elston Fitzgerald, who has been director at Lake Taylor for 21 years, has witnessed the decline. At one time, the school's band had nearly 250 members. This year, he hopes for 150.
``We're trying to rebuild the band to how it was,'' he said. ``Bands don't carry the same credibility. There's other things the kids want to do.''
But that didn't stop senior Demetria Jackson, a Lake Taylor flag twirler, from joining. ``I wanted to be part of it, part of the action,'' Demetria said during an August band camp. Demetria said she likes the unity and the discipline of students who sacrifice their time to make the band look good.
``A lot of times the band makes the school,'' Demetria said. ``What you see from the band is the school.''
Hard work pays off
The Kempsville High Marching Chiefs have made a local and national name for themselves. Practicing on a mercifully cool August night in the school's parking lot, the Chiefs show how they have become one of the area's top bands.
``It's all hard work, and it pays off in the end,'' said drum major Kristain Livernois. ``The harder the work, the better the results.
The Chiefs' difficult arrangements, combined with powerful horn lines and marching patterns, won them national recognition. Last month, the group played during halftime at a preseason Washington Redskins game.
At practice, Kristain, a six-year band veteran, works alongside director William Pease to rehearse the show. This year, the 125-piece band is marching to opera music from ``Cabraina Birana,'' and Pease makes them repeat sections over and over. And over.
Pease, who is in his fourth year at Kempsville, is tireless. Once the show is learned, band members will work on ironing out the little mistakes. ``We'll correct and perfect all the way to November,'' Pease said.
Given 'em what they like
Directors and musicians agree that football games would lack excitement without the bands.
At Norview High in Norfolk, the band tailors the performance to the audience. On a sunny, 80-degree afternoon in August, members shout ``N-H-S'' and then march onto the field to begin their show. An opening tune is followed by a number for the majorettes and topped off by a dance routine, using an arrangement of ``Tootsie Roll'' by the 69 Boyz.
Director Frank Gracia, in his seventh year with the band, said the most popular halftime show segment is the dance routine. Norview uses a high-step marching style similar to black college bands such as Norfolk State University.
Area schools use both high-step and corps-style, a glide-like march. Both styles are difficult to learn. While high-steppers must adjust to an intense, fast-paced workout, corps-style bands must constantly turn their horns to face the bleachers and adjust the size of their steps for formations.
Woodrow Wilson High School and I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth are both high-step bands. Wilson sophomore Antonio Hardy, said students like that style, which is also popular among black college bands.
``We play a different style of music (than corps-style bands),'' said Antonio, who plays trumpet. ``We like playing hip-hop like Janet Jackson.''
Wilson band director James Carver said high-step is well-accepted in the area, but the marching style depends on what fits the image of the school.
``Corps-style doesn't generate as much interest in this school,'' Carver said, as he watched his band march in parade formation. ``This school has been high-stepping since (the band's) conception.''
The high-stepping Norcom Marching Greyhound Band, under the direction of Kevin Davenport, is considered one of the top high school bands in the area.
Norcom's style is similar to college bands, and that takes hard work. Almost constantly during a recent practice, one or two band members run laps around the room - punishment for mistakes.
Drum major Louis Williams, a senior, said discipline equals success. ``Being in a large band, you have to have a lot of control,'' Louis said. ``If you're not disciplined, you're not going to get anywhere.''
Marchers throughout the region agree with Louis.
So take note at the fall games. As the athletes face each other on the field, band members are doing the same. But as Meredith, the Great Bridge drum major said, there's more to being in band than competition.
``It's not a matter of beating other bands,'' she said. ``We're enjoying what we're doing, and it's going to show.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
PETER D. SUNDBERG
Great Bridge High School
MORT FRYMAN/Staff
Princess Anne High School
Woodrow Wilson High School
L. TODD SPENCER
by CNB