By Courtney Brown

Panther’s Tale

Marching band auditions took place this week.

For newcomers, there was a training session on Monday to teach them how to march. The marching audition was on Tuesday and the playing audition will be later.

Usually, marching auditions are held on the football field, but they were moved inside the gym because of the rain. Although the setting was different, the auditions were similar to before.

“It was the same concept,” junior Skyler Sprecker said. “It hasn’t changed too much.”

Students were divided by their grades in the gym. When asked, students from each grade would then volunteer and audition in small groups in the orchestra room.

Students audition for marching band for many reasons.

Eighth grader Miaka Rivera wanted to do a school activity.

“I think it will be fun to do something in high school,” she said.

Although students come with bright expectations for their future in marching band, newcomers can still be nervous about auditioning. Even previous marching band members can still feel stressed.

“(The most challenging part) is not freaking out. Not over-breathing or playing the wrong notes or something and really controlling myself and not doing something wrong,” freshman Jackson Wallace said.

But for other marchers, nerves die down as they grow more experienced.

“I feel confident (about the audition). I made marching band before so I think I’ll make it again,” sophomore Teagan Brown said.

However, students from each grade still encounter challenges, from marching in a straight line with other students to hitting the right notes.

“(The hardest part is) playing and marching at the same time,” Rivera said.

For sophomore Leah Khanu, the playing audition is the most challenging.

“They pick the hardest part for each instrument and then they give you those few bars to try out with,” she said.

Despite all the obstacles, marching band is enjoyable for the students who embrace it.

“It allows me to improve myself as a musician and it also enables me to keep in shape somewhat,” Khanu said, “Marching band is an activity that’s become part of my life that keeps me happy in spite — and maybe because — of how much it demands.”