High School Band Always in Season
T
he Gainesville High School band consists of many components. The most visible component of the band program is the Redcoat Marching Band. Within the Redcoat Marching Band, there is the Colorguard, the Pit Percussion (side-line), the Battery Percussion (Drum-line), and the Woodwinds and Brass Sections. Let’s March In addition to the ten football games, this fall the Redcoat Marching Band had 20 performances, including the 1st annual Redcoat Showcase, eight pep rallies at three different campuses, 3 parades, and 4 contests, just to name a few. At the Golden Triangle Classic, the Redcoats placed first in Class A, which was a remarkable achievement for the students for several reasons. The contest was preceded by a late return from a football game in Mineral Wells Friday night followed by the Medal of Honor parade on Saturday, which was the same day of the contest. Not only did the band earn first place, but they scored higher than two bands that they have never been able to outscore, including one school that has repeatedly won first place.
The Percussion splits and goes into solos and ensembles from December to February while performing their own concert and being placed into concert bands. Prior to the stage performances, the woodwinds and brass also perform in individual and small group settings during the solo and ensemble season. Concert Season Begins Marching Band trains the band for the concert season due to the rigor and discipline needed through the process of higher learning of artistry and aesthetics in music. During the concert season, the winds and percussion students perform the hardest music that they will ever play, which usually consists of marches from the 19th and 20th centuries, band symphonies, and contemporary music by modern composers. Also during concert season, there are more sectionals, more rehearsals, and more time spent in individual lessons preparing for solos, ensembles, or band music. Each band member is being built to be tough and durable on the field, but we are also building artistic musicians and students who are academically disciplined, who will in time achieve remarkable feats of their own someday. These students will become the leaders they are meant to become and make our world better for tomorrow.
To close out the marching “Band alone is not the only season, the Redcoats earned a Superior Rating at UIL for component that builds leaders. It’s the 6th consecutive year. The Redcoat band has not only about the quality of the person, the been building its membership person that they become, and the but also developing into a band that can handle more difficult band community that keeps these artistry. As a program, they are “As I take a characteristic inventory looking to enhance the level of future leaders on course.” of each student in the band, I see play from each of our members durability, integrity, and a work ethic as they attempt to climb higher that is second to none,” said Tony each year upon the thousands Daniels, Director of Fine Arts and of shoulders of Redcoats who came before. Bands. “Band alone is not the only component that builds leaders. Outside of the marching season, the Colorguard competes as It’s about the quality of the person, the person that they become, a Winterguard group from December to April. For Winterguard, and the band community that keeps these future leaders the routines are the most difficult and challenging because the on course.” shows presented are indoors. Without the variable of changing Daniels says he feels fortunate to know these students. “I work weather, students can spin a rifle or flag and toss it six to seven hard for them as they do for me. I too am a Redcoat, and they are revolutions in the air and catch them, which is the equivalent of worth it.” tossing the equipment 20 feet in the air. 24
• Gainesville SPOT SPOTlight light • Winter 2021
