To Sport or Not to Sport

The sounds of brass and woodwinds send a smooth stream of strong melodies into the crisp cool breeze. Many hours of practicing before school, after school, and before football games, lead up to a performance under the friday night lights. The field is coated in blue and gold from the color guards flags, drawing the fans attention to the center of the field, where all of the band’s hard work pays off. 

Band and color guard receive two credits—one for P.E. and one for art. Members earn both because they need artistic musical ability as well as physical endurance. The amount of practice done all year round in is done for performances during competitions and football games.

“Band may seem like a lot of work, but we have fun while doing it, and the hard work is worth it in the end,” Zoey Zeef (11) said.

The students have practice every morning from 7:10-8:20 along with practice after school on Tuesdays. The band students practice before football games, so they have the perfect performance.

“We practice for seven to eight hours a week and we have extra practice at home if we need it,” Devin Bosch (10) said.
Color guard is mixed in and associated with band because they add color and effects to the band's performance during the half-time shows. They add more character and act out what the band is playing. 

“Color guard provides our visuals and they make the performances pop out. Without color guard the people in the stands wouldn’t pay attention to the show,” Nick Mack (12) said.

One question is always asked when it comes to band: is band even a sport? Some band students say it is more of a physical activity than an actual sport, but the band directors tell their students all the time that they’re half athletes and half musicians. 
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“Band is not a sport, it is an active activity,” said Gisselle Mireles (12).

~Haley Welker- ​Staff Writer