How To Close Out A Season

On Saturday, May 12, the Panther Band had their final competition at the Vallejo Band Festival hosted by Vallejo High School.  However, the quest for trophies was secondary.  Parents and seniors looked forward to the beauty of this day, but were melancholy about the symbolism.  The 48 hours leading up to and then receding from the competition were bittersweet, even for this writer.

There’s something about the rhythm of a band year.  The first few months are full of novelty.  It’s the new band, a September full of 'firsts' and comparisons to the prior year.  There is still sizing in it as everyone wonders how the year will unfold.  Then, from October through March, it’s where we live.  It becomes our home, like a shirt fitting so comfortably we don’t realize we’re wearing it.  For just a few precious months, it feels like it will always be stable like this.  But in April, we start to feel it again, coming back out of the valley as we recognize the signs of the farewell phase.  We start celebrating our 'lasts' and each moment seems fragile and fleeting.  We see change, growing up, The Leaving, which culminates in a weekend like May 12. 

It started with practice on Friday in the BHS parking lot. The seniors stepped out of the final march to view their band performing without them. It was also the first time seeing it as a spectator would.  There were physical and musical gaps, pointing out how deeply embedded a single class can be.  It showcased where the seniors held the band together, but was a visual nod of confidence that the band will continue, carrying the legacy of those who came before them.  

On Saturday, a 7 a.m. call time started the full day which wouldn’t end for many until 2 a.m. the next morning.  The Jazz Band started off by playing three pieces which resembled a soundtrack of their four year journey.  They performed strongly in the cafeteria where poor acoustics were no problem for a jazz band. 

The highlight of the Symphonic Band was their second piece.  It erupted and bubbled over the edge of the stage, with eight percussionists needed just to work their stations in the important back row of the orchestra. 

For the Wind Ensemble, their third piece “Liturgical Dances” had come together the day before at practice.  Liam Robertson, junior, said, “When it was done, we looked at each other and realized we just had ‘a moment.’”  It was duplicated on May 12, where it counted.  The highest compliment was paid by the entire Solano Middle School Band, who attended the performance.  Their band director made it mandatory to watch the BHS Wind Ensemble, saying he wanted his students to see what discipline and practice could accomplish. 

The marching competition, where many aspects are judged, included an inspection.  “Inspection is where we see how all the work of parents ties in with what we do,” said Patrick Martin, Panther Band Director.  Sweepstakes awards can be won or lost by something as simple as an inspection.  Parents were seen polishing shoes, hemming, adjusting, yanking on clothing and straps; their presence and touch as natural as the uniforms themselves. 

“There's nothing like the sound of the Panthers sounding off right before they step off to march; it's a thunder that video cannot capture and it always brings chills,” wrote Don DeCosta on the band Facebook page earlier that morning. 

All the hard work paid off.  The band earned one second place and two first place finishes.  Then, there came six Sweepstakes awards for Parade, Wind Ensemble, Jazz, Color Guard, Music and Percussion.  The top award, Grand Sweepstakes, was earned by the Panther Band as best overall band.  The band is now undefeated for four seasons in a row.  

Despite heat, a long day and busy pace, many said it was the best day they’ve ever had.  Senior corsages were treasured, even as they became limp and tired from the constant transfer from jacket to T-shirt to uniform.  Each event was planned to the minute but there was time to savor and commit to memory.  Every facet of the band competed, and in between, there was closure.  Each hour was a finale; wrapped and sealed in place.  We witnessed pinning of senior corsages, breaking bread together at the potluck, the final toast, farewell speeches by the seniors and Mr. Martin’s parting words.  Smaller groups gathered long into the night.  No one wanted the day to end. 

For many, the farewell speeches were the highlight of the day, intimately set in the band room that evening.  Not one student mentioned the winning of trophies.  Instead, there was a common theme about family, confidence and drive.  The seniors addressed Mr. Martin and their own band members with these statements, to name a few: “This program has a drive that you don’t see anywhere else, and it comes from Mr. Martin”; “No other program can give you a family, friends and confidence like this”; “You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself”; “I am who I am today because of this band program”; “I’ve met my best friends here”; “These were the best four years of my life”; “You made a huge impact on me”; “We all came in with big hair (boys!), and now I’m not the same person I was as a freshman”; “I almost moved away but I didn’t want to because I loved you guys too much”; “Thank you for helping me mature”; “I gained more principles here than anywhere else”; “I wouldn’t be a leader right now if it wasn’t for this program”; “I hope to be as close to you in the future as I am now”; “It feels so good to see 90 people work for one goal.”

My own son, a junior, held my hands as he told me, “It means a lot to me that you care so much about what I do.”

Twenty-six raw, genuine and touching speeches were said in front of Mr. Martin and the booster parents.  The students were at ease with parents present, because so much time is spent together.  Parents are part of the air the kids breathe.  The freshmen took it all in, a bit stunned at what four years can do to a team.  They seemed to realize the band wasn’t about ‘me.’  The band is its own entity, bigger than oneself, greater than the sum of its parts.  Where the comfort of having upper classmen is like a light sweater or shield, the juniors felt the layer lift as they saw themselves on the front line soon.

Mr. Martin said, “This senior class is the largest and strongest.  You will be the class that is talked about for a long time.  You’ve made the band what it is.  Everyone will follow in the footsteps you laid out.”  He gave the students all the credit for their success, his simple wish being they always stay with music in some form. 

Even after the speeches, students approached one another (and parents) to thank them for being in their world.  This went on for more than an hour.

Band programs are unique because they are year ‘round for four straight years.  There is constant activity and bonding, challenges, blows to confidence and sweet moments of success.  What may make the Panther Band unique among band programs, is the use of buddy systems, holiday parties, skits, their student-run band camp, encouragement to ‘hang out’ together during free time, frequent events, time spent on the road together and leadership teams.  At any given time, a student could belong to eight different groups within the band, but at all times, they are a member of The Panther Band.  This creates a cohesive unit because the dividing lines are fluid.

Mr. Phil Doty, a respected veteran of band programs, looked at the line of trophies on the floor in front of the band.  The awards quietly and regally soared over their heads, a testimony to what a strong bond can accomplish.  “You’ve figured it out.  You figured out ‘family.’  You will always remember it.  You will go off into the world, but will have an urge to get back to this, your family.”

In keeping with this, the band will perform a “Just For Fun” concert in the BHS gym at 6:30pm tonight.  The community is welcome to attend.  Congratulations to the class of 2012.

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