String of wins has Bordentown Regional band beaming

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Don’t focus on numbers, unless you’re going to focus on being No.1.
    Although the Bordentown Regional High School’s Marching Unit, which has 32 members — color guard included — may be one of the smallest in its division, it has proved that great things come in small packages.
    Gathered together in BRHS music teacher and band director Frank Planas’ office, several members of the band hum with excitement about what the assistant drum major, junior Abbie Shain, described as “a really huge victory.”
    The band is fresh off a winning streak that has most recently included taking first place at the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) Competition, in South Brunswick Oct. 4, when the band also won “Best Overall Effect.”
    Before that, the band competed at the USSBA Burlington City Marching Band Competition on Sept. 27, when they won first place, as well as “Best Music,” and “Best Visual.”
    Shortly before those accolades the band was busy performing at Hamilton High West in Hamilton, where they placed first, and took “Best Music,” as well as “Best Visual.”
    “Typically the smaller the band, the lesser the score,” said Mr. Planas. However, his marching band has been disproving that theory at nearly every competition they have performed in this season.
    While winning the various accolades has been no doubt satisfying, he said, it has been first and foremost hard work and a big commitment on behalf of the students who participate.
    Throughout the season, students spend nearly 400 hours between the months of August and November in after-school practices, football games, exhibitions, and competitions.
    With 14 musicians — four alto saxophones, two clarinets, one piccolo, three trumpets, two baritones, and 10 members in the percussion “pit” — along with two drum majors and seven color guard members, the band makes sure that it utilizes the entire field for the show it puts on.
    Make no mistake, Mr. Planas added, that band has received nods of recognition in the visual front as well.
    “The approach we’re taking here is quality over quantity,” he said.
    The momentum wasn’t always this strong, he noted, adding that a few years ago, the marching band was a requirement that students had to take. Although the band’s enrollment was higher (closer to 65 students) the desire from every member wasn’t as strong as it is today, he added.
    “Last year was definitely building up to this year,” he said, adding that many of the band members are juniors and seniors this year.
    Add to that a desire to perform the show’s music, which features the popular rock band Foo Fighters’ songs “Monkey Wrench,” “Learn to Fly,” and “DOA,” audiences see a show that senior color guard member Nicole Lington describes as “definitely something you want to rock-out to.”
    “What other marching band do you know that rocks aviators and Chuck Taylors,” interjects this season’s drum major senior Alex Pak, on the otherwise quirky props the band uses for entertainment.
    Getting to the show’s very best has been an evolution, he added, noting the determination to put forth their best show comes from the work ethic and the military like-precision that each and every band and color guard member possess.
    That, and the eight-minute show that packs 77 sets, or 77 “pictures” (how many different shapes the band forms while on the field) is not for the light of heart, explained Abbie.
    The band begins every practice with a block run around the football field. Students get into a block formation and run for as long as the show is so they can keep up physically with the show’s athletic demands. The color guard also has an unofficial rule; although not implemented by school officials, the seven members do push-ups if they accidentally drop their flag or prop.
    “It’s just a mental thing, to erase that lapse if you mess up the routine,” said senior color guard member Dana Lamothe.
    While some may deem dropping to the ground to do a dozen push-ups as a bit extreme, the payoff comes at showtime, insisted junior Sam Shain, and is without a doubt worth it.
    “We want to keep going in our practices to be the best we can be. If Mr. Planas gets frustrated with us, and takes a moment, we want to get back and do it until it’s right,” she explained.
    With approximately three weeks left in the season, the band is setting its sights on a final competition, which will take place in Hershey, Pa., on Nov. 2.
    The name of the game is accumulating points, which are awarded for participation in every competition throughout the season, explained Mr. Planas. The higher the band’s final point score, the later the band performs in the final competition. And the later the performance, the better chance of winning the N.J. State Championships.
    If the band is victorious in the November competition, there is no doubt, said Mr. Planas, that they will have to get a bigger trophy case.
    The case that is outside of the band room now, a modest half-unit just over 5 feet tall, was not large enough to house a recent trophy that had to be cut down by a few feet to fit in.
    Some members have different views on storing the trophies they’ve won.
    “I think we should just have an entire room dedicated to our trophies like South Brunswick,” piped Sam.
    Either way, Mr. Planas said he believes that each and every award earned is worthy of being showed off in front of the room.
    “They’ve just worked incredibly hard to get to that status,” he said.
    Locally, the band will be leading the Bordentown Halloween Parade on Sunday, Oct. 26.