VESTAL — For hundreds of local high school students, it’s an addiction, a habit you can’t get away from, an all-encompassing, year-round obsession — and it was celebrated Saturday afternoon at Vestal Senior High School.
The Golden Circle of Bands competition, held at Dick Hoover Stadium, showcased seven high school marching bands, including Johnson City, Union-Endicott and host Vestal, in a final tune-up for the next day’s New York State Field Band Conference (NYSFBC) Championships in Syracuse.
But even now, with the 2007 season in the books, the marchers’ love for their craft is sure to stick with them for years to come. Because in a community where so often we hear about teenagers roaming the streets for various reasons, marching band is one addiction that brings nothing but positives to our high schools.
In fact, studies have shown that students with a passion for music and the arts are less likely to get involved with drug dealing, gang violence and the like.
High school marching band is a passion shared by thousands of students around the country, and not just for the weeks of competition throughout September and October.
The end of each competitive season, marked by the annual championship competition held in Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome, represents not only the culmination of a year of hard work, but the first day of the next year’s show. Directors around New York state are already hard at work planning their 2008 show, with Oct. 26, 2008, surely circled on the calendar.
That’s the day of next season’s championship — and for Vestal High School, it’s a date with even more meaning than most.
The Golden Circle of Bands competition, returning to the schedule after a four-year hiatus, is a great way for Vestal High School to show off its show to a home crowd. But by scheduling the show on the season’s final weekend, Vestal gives itself an opportunity to immediately become one of the premier shows of the season.
The reason is twofold:
* Every band is at its performance peak, having made final preparations for the next day’s championships, and
* With Vestal located only an hour or so from Syracuse, many bands may be attracted in the future to this final tune-up opportunity.
Dozens of marching bands from all around the state — including my alma mater, Huntington — make the trip up (or down) to Syracuse for Sunday’s show. So why not stop at beautiful Dick Hoover Stadium the day before, for one last live run-through? Take it from my experience: Students love performing at as many shows as possible, and the convenient juxtaposition of the two shows would make it an easy add to the schedule.
The “Green Machine” of Brentwood saw the opportunity this season, representing the strength of Long Island’s marching bands on Saturday with a remarkable 85.05, finishing second overall on the day to always-impressive Horseheads (87.65).
I suspect that in the future, more downstate bands — including, hopefully, my beloved Blue Devils — will seize this “Golden” opportunity.
Impressive as Saturday’s show was, it was not flawless. I’m still not enamored with the NYSFBC’s policy of having the host band perform during their class’s designated timeslot (which is in a set, predetermined order), rather than last.
Although Horseheads’ performance was the day’s most impressive, surely many fans attend the home show to see the home band.
Also, having marched bass clarinet for three years, I think it would be helpful for Vestal’s small marching contingent, of just 21, to suggest that its pair of bass clarinetists try a more audible brass instrument, such as the trumpet — although Vestal’s lone trumpeter was quite an impressive soloist.
Another suggestion would be to have the marching bands utilize the bleachers opposite the grandstand after their performances.
Those in marching band understand that the day’s competition doesn’t end at the last note. Appearing professional during your entire stay, from the moment you step off the bus until the moment you step back on it, is just as important as the 10 or so minutes that you’re tooting your horn or flipping your flag.
Having the bands sit along those back bleachers allows a bit of respectful, friendly competition to continue throughout the retreat, as members of each band “compete” to see who can be the most professional — and cheer the loudest for their drum majors. This unique atmosphere was missing Saturday, as band members (with the exception of Kingston High School) were generally scattered among the grandstand.
And so when the Golden Circle returns to Dick Hoover Stadium in the future, hopefully with a few more bands in tow, the students’ year-round harmonious professionalism will be showcased once again.
Strub is a senior at Binghamton University and a part-time copy editor at the Press & Sun-Bulletin. His column appears Thursdays.
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