Fall Observations - Ram Band and Others

The dog days of August gave way to the new school year. Same old, rather dilapidated, school but the influx began.

The class of 2016 arrived in the big house and situated. The vast majority of the 14 and 15 year olds have had the benefit of fall sports.

FOOTNOTE: It is possible to play a fall sport and be in Marching Band but it is sketchy due to scheduling and tacit agreements.

On the day of Music in Motion, before 8 a.m, I saw football players trudging, cross country gals running and gossiping and soccer players wearily running laps.

Arguably the best time of year, and undoubtedly the most picturesque in these parts, is Autumn and dotted across the many acres at Cheshire High are dozens, if not hundreds, of student athletes.

It is a sea of red, white and black uniforms, sweatbands and even those strips players wear to reflect sun. And then there is a Ram Band. Don't get me wrong the band has its finery but it is used only on "show" dates.

The issuer Anita, of the Parents Association guards and issues these uniforms like a gate guard at Fort Knox. All necessary considering the age and one-of-a-kind nature of said suits.

That and given the choice, the slovenly nature of a typical teenager, when it comes to clothes management. Uniforms play a big part in imaging and success of the band. Well, that's show day but on practice days the only thing "uniform" is the human-like forms of 77 or so teenagers.

Festooned, up until recently, with shorts varying in length from barely legal to what was known in my days as clamdiggers (just short of the ankle). Now sweatpants are in style. Eye wear must be a rage in 2012, sunglasses some with cheap plastic frames and panes the size of an iPhone were popular.

Now that the weather has turned t-shirts, tank tops and spaghetti straps have been traded in for  hooded sweatshirts, fleece warm-ups, ski jackets and I thing I may even have sighted Nanook of the North carrying a brass instrument!

So as the appearance changes the music remains itself remains the same. Actually better, fuller and more unified. Twenty hour (estimate) practice weeks will do that. All in addition to the new school year and the burden of school work in a very competitive school.

Not an easy task. There is less than a month to go, twelve practice/show days to be precise,  before thee denouement which will take place at Giants Stadium in early November. Another big competition will be at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport later in October.

Marching band is unique in that it is rather insulated and semi-private. There is no win loss record. The biggest exposure the Ram Band would have is marching in a parade or at halftime.

The satisfaction in playing in Ram Band certainly centers around music but goes beyond. It is about the struggle to improve, the cliques that somehow, someway merge together. It is not about the cheer of the crowd or being B.M.O.C (big man -or woman-on campus) but being part of a sum much larger than its pieces. 

Much, much different than sports the satisfaction is more private and internal. Whereas the Ram Band serves as the living thing it is the alumni, the friends and families that serve as the oxygen. That and the hundreds of wonderful people that go to the shows from other schools and applaud and understand the commitment and skill required.

Music in Motion is done, and a big success by all accounts. It is the entity that keeps the band afloat in these economic times and to all those that attended THANK YOU. The planning for next year is underway. The objective for 2013 is to spark interest in Ram Marching Band. This is a tough sell.

Or maybe on a melodramatic note, Mr. Kuhner could try quoting Nietzsche = that which does not destroy me makes it stronger. No, that would never work these days..perhaps free i-phones, pizzas, and a healthy stipend?No chance, and I thought being a band member could be complicated........