Wyomissing marching band gets football ready

The Wyomissing High School marching band performs during an October 2010 football game.
In the first week of August every year, the marching band at Wyomissing High School holds a training camp. The training is very demanding; the hours go from 8:30 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.

The band spends a majority of the time marching on the field.

During the first couple of days of training the band members learn how to march. Marching consists of a step up on the left foot and a movement of the feet along with the beat of the music. Roll step is another technique used in marching. Marching is not an easy skill; it takes a significant amount of practice to master because the band members must be able to play an instrument while they march to the beat of the cadences. Cadences are the percussion music that plays as the band marches on and off the field.

During the last couple of days of band camp, members learn a drill that is set up by their music teacher. The drill consists of setup of different marches and movements that is used during football games in the fall. When I asked band member Erin Benz, a senior and equipment manager, what aspects about band camp that she liked the most she said the lunch breaks are fun because they get to watch movies, including "Chicken Run" and "Lord of the Rings."

Erin said: "Band is a lot of fun because you make lots of friends from many different grades, and we play fun games after practice like Quidditch, a game invented by band member Dylan Bynon."

When I asked Dylan what his overall experience from the camp was, he said: "It was really fun, but a lot of work in the sweltering heat."

Erin also said she was glad that the marching band was getting recognition because the members are usually underrated for their hard work.

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