Camp gets marching band ready for competitive season.
By: Eileen Oldfield
You may hear the drums and trumpets as the marchers parade down Main Street on Memorial Day, or you may see the swish of the color guard’s flags as it struts onto the field for a football game’s halftime show.
Despite the seemingly effortless movements, precision marching, and rousing music, putting together a show for the award-winning Manville High School Marching Unit isn’t easy work. Just ask any musician or color guard member who attended band camp last week.
"Just by the first day we made lots of improvement," said drum major Alex Holland. "I think we’re going to do very well."
Band camp, a weeklong event where the musicians and the color guard learn their show, started Aug. 20 and ended on Friday. The day’s practices start with marching and marching formation practice, which band members call drill, from 8 a.m. until noon, lunch from until 1 p.m., and music practice from 1 until 3 p.m.
According to many band members, cool temperatures and experienced members made this year’s camp go quickly.
"It’s been great," said first-year member Megan Gizzi, a baritone player. "I know one song, it’s great."
Though the band began learning the music in June, planning for the show begins months before. Band Director Shaun Lindner begins choosing music as early as February, playing recordings of the shows for his students, and picking the show based on the student’s input.
Mr. Lindner also purchases plans for drills the steps the band members follow in the shows from Marching Show Concepts, a music and drill design company from Fort Wayne, Ind., then spends hours rewriting it to fit the band’s size and instrumentation.
Luckily, Mr. Lindner isn’t alone in running band camp or running the band’s three-times-a-week practices. Assistant Band Director John Lindner, drum instructor David Rossi, and color guard instructor Amanda Hugelmeyer run the practices as well.
Despite eight to 10 hours practice time per week, football games, and competitions, the marching band students do manage to do their regular schoolwork, even if it means starting an assignment during lunch, or completing it after practice. Though it can be a delicate balance, the students work hard to maintain it.
"We do get it done," said Bonnie Burris, an alto saxophonist. "We make sure everyone passes."
This year, the band will perform Chuck Mangione’s music in a show titled "Mangione Magic." The show features the songs "Mangione Opener," "Land of Make Believe," "Echano," and "El Gato Triste," and runs approximately 10 minutes.
The band’s performance schedule begins early, at the Manville High School Central High School football game Sept. 7.
In addition to football games and pep rallies, the band has five competitions this year, at Somerville High School on Sept. 29, at Hillsborough High School on Oct. 13, a regional competition at the College of New Jersey on Oct. 21, the New Jersey State Championships on Oct. 27, and the Northern States Championships on Nov. 4.
The camp should help the band extend its recent winning streak. During the 2006 to 2007 season, the band placed fourth out of 21 bands at their championship competition, after receiving three first-place finishes and a third-place finish in the four competitions leading up to championships.
With 40 members, the band will compete in the United States Scholastic Band Association’s (USSBA) Group 1A division.
Though the students are undoubtedly the stars of their show, the band gets behind-the-scenes support from the Manville Music Organization, which their parents run. In addition to helping run band camp, and helping the band at competitions, games, and parades, the parents also help the band financially.
This year, the organization provided new equipment carts for the band, and is raising money to buy an equipment trailer.
"They’re more than willing to help make everything run very smoothly," said Mr. Lindner.
With all the practices and preparation, Mr. Lindner admitted that new members sometimes get nervous before performances. Returning members weren’t as jittery about performing, however.
"Bring it on," said drummer Timothy Santoro.

