The South High marching band performs at a football game in early fall.

A great amount of time and dedication goes into the South High band during school, after school and even on the weekends. Students work hard to overcome challenges, learn new things and make great memories every year. The band consists of two seasons: marching band during the fall and concert band during the winter through spring. Concert band includes playing for concerts and solos and focusing more on personal improvement. During marching band, the focus is on playing music and marching on the field according to a certain theme. Both are equally important but offer different experiences.

Senior Cameron Barona, junior David Hernandez and freshman Fredi Chaidez provide insight about band from their own perspectives.

What instruments have you played throughout your school life up until now?

Barona: I have played the French horn, the piano and the mellophone.

Hernandez: I have played the violin, the snare drum, the bass drum, the mallets, the timpani, the guitar and some auxiliary percussion instruments.

Chaidez: I have played the bass drum, the mallets and the snare drum up until now.

What do you think people often misunderstand about band students?

Barona: That they are only about band. They think that because they are in band it is the only thing we do, but it turns out we have a lot of people involved in many different things.

Hernandez: People often think band students are nerds who only care about band and make it their whole personality, but it is not always like that. We of course care about playing instruments, but it is not always about them. Sometimes we focus on learning new things together, like how to solve problems, how to march and many other fun things.

Chaidez: People think band kids are always music nerds, and to be honest, I thought that too. I expected it to be the type of kids you see in movies, but they are just students who share a love for music.

What is the most rewarding part of being a part of band as a student?

Barona: The most rewarding part is coming together and making music because we are all just kids who want to make a pretty sound, and when we do that, it feels awesome.

Hernandez: Honestly, making new friendships, succeeding in different challenges, doing things you did not think you could do and mainly learning new things feels extremely rewarding to me.

Chaidez: The most rewarding part of being a part of band for me is the food we get during competitions at other places. After a performance, you get hungry, and it is just such a good feeling being able to eat with friends and reflect on our performances.

Do you prefer marching band or concert band, and why?

Barona: I like both of them, but personally, I prefer concert band because that is when I get a chance to play my instruments. Marching band, on the other hand, gives me the chance to help lead everyone around the field, so both are great.

Hernandez: I personally prefer marching band because of the atmosphere within the band, but I also like concert band because I can play my favorite instruments, like the timpani, and I can do solos.

Chaidez: I prefer marching band over concert band due to the ability to stay active on the field and stay out late on small trips. The vibes are exciting.

What is your favorite part about going to band competitions or football games?

Barona: My favorite part of going to band competitions has got to be interacting with the other schools because, again, we are just a group of kids trying to play music, so it is nice to see and share that with people you do not see every day.

Hernandez: Honestly, with competitions, I like to see how good I have gotten each year during performances with my playing and my marching. I also like to get a lot of food at concession stands, especially at our state competition, as there is a wide variety. At football games, I love the emotion and spirit the band forms in the stands and during our halftime performances.

Chaidez: My favorite part of band competitions is the food we get from the concession stands and the late drives back to school after a long competition. For football games, I like how the spirit of the band grows as time moves forward. It honestly feels like the movies.

What are a few things band has shown you?

Barona: Band has taught me great leadership, patience, how to have fun, and that it is OK to lose sometimes.

Hernandez: Band has shown me how to play a wide variety of music, how to effectively communicate with others and how to build friendships despite differences. It has also shown me how to play several different instruments I have always wanted to learn, like the guitar.

Chaidez: Band has shown me that I should not judge a book by its cover, as I would not have been here if I did not give it a chance. It has also taught me that it is OK to ask for help sometimes and that there is always someone out there willing to help.

What is the most challenging thing about band?

Barona: The most challenging thing about band is always staying on track with what you need to do because, yes, it is fun to play, but you must also practice. If you do not practice, then you get nowhere.

Hernandez: Being on time. Band is really time-consuming and stressful. Additionally, as a section leader, it is also hard to communicate things that you want to say to your section without sounding too harsh or too light. It is also difficult to communicate with other section leaders because we need to reach an agreement and learn to compromise without being disrespectful.

Chaidez: For me, the most challenging thing about band is having to play outside during the hot, sunny weather in the summer and early fall. Due to learning different positions and music for a performance, we must practice on the football fields from July through October, so it is also really time-consuming and tiring.

What do you do to overcome challenges in band?

Barona: I always like to take a moment to myself and think through whatever is happening, whether it is a hard rhythm I have to master or people I do not get along with. I just stay calm and do my best.

Hernandez: To overcome challenges in band, I try to focus on taking things one step at a time and always talking to my teachers if I need help. Sometimes, if not them, my classmates can also help me. As a leader, I also try to help my classmates overcome their challenges whenever they are struggling.

Chaidez: Something I do to overcome challenges in band is talking to other people who know how to overcome them. People like section leaders or teachers are reliable for me and are always there to help me.

What would you tell someone who isn’t in band if they wanted to join?

Barona: Come check us out. Like I said, we are just a group of kids who like to play music, and if you want to play some too, we are here for you.

Hernandez: It is not only about music; it is about friendships, finding yourself, discovering what you like and what you can challenge yourself with. It is also athletic, it makes you a part of a community of friends and teachers, and it is just somewhere you can grow into yourself.

Chaidez: I would tell someone who is not a part of the band but wants to join not to join band if they do not like the idea of playing instruments, working in teams, spending a lot of their day practicing or being serious about it because it is really time-consuming and graded.

What do you think the theme for the show will be next school year for marching band? What would you like it to be?

Barona: I am a senior, but if it were up to me, I would want a carnival, Rio or even a Caribbean-inspired show. I cannot disclose information about the true theme of the show for next year, as I know what it is, but it will be a lot of fun and I am really excited.

Hernandez: I think the show for next school year is going to be something related to Latin culture fused with jazz, rock and heavy metal. I would personally like to have a rock or even a Star Wars-type theme, but whatever it is, it will be good and we will work hard.

Chaidez: I think the show for next year will be punk- or rock-themed once again. Personally, I would like the show to be pop-themed, as it is groovier and more enjoyable for us and our crowd.

Overall, every practice and performance helps the South High band grow stronger in persistence and dedication as it represents the school.