Lucy Beckham’s marching band has won lots of awards and is always at the football games and pep rallies to bring more school spirit to LBHS. However, many members of the Lucy Beckham marching band feel like they go unnoticed for all their hard work at these events. The marching band usually goes to extra practices, devotes their time during their focus periods, and will come early to prepare for these events. In this month’s issue, the Bengal Beat interviewed different members of the LBHS band and explained some ideas as to how the marching band can create a bigger impact and become more noticed at Lucy Beckham.
The band at LBHS does concerts, pep rallies, extra performances, halftime shows at football games, and performs songs in the stands. The Bengal Beat asked band member, Aubrey Gadsden, about her favorite event the band does, and she helped us understand more about the band. Gadsden says that her favorite band event is performing at the halftime show at football games. She states that she, “loves performing in the [football] stands.” Her favorite song to play in the stands is a fun tune called “Buckjump.” Gadsden plays the clarinet and is in ninth grade. She got the first chair in the clinic region band and has also participated in all the marching band events and concerts. She says that at pep rallies, it seems like people are not interested in hearing the marching band play, and she wishes that the students showed more enthusiasm during their performances.
What happens at the pep rallies that make band kids feel unnoticed? Well, with all the work they put in for the pep songs, usually, there is music playing on the speakers, or the band will be playing as people walk in or out, and the focus is more directed mostly towards the other sports/clubs. Band doesn’t get as much attention even though it is still a very important part of the school.
Some ideas for making the band more important in pep rallies are, adding new songs and playing at different parts of the pep rally (not just beginning and end). There are still many ways to do this, but because the band is an important part of pep rallies and school spirit, it is essential that they feel that way. Students are encouraged to cheer on band members within events and show support during a regular school day!
