LA PLATA, Md. – Two Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) marching bands took first place at the USBands Marine Corps Invitational earlier this month.
La Plata and St. Charles high schools competed Oct. 5 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis among 32 marching bands from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.
The St. Charles Spartans placed first in the Regional A — Group I category. The Spartans are directed by music teacher, Kyla Nauman, with junior Cassidy Truesdale serving as drum major. The band’s production was “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
St. Charles’ group is on the smaller side for a marching band with Nauman and the current members hoping to drum up interest among other students. At their first competition held in September at Huntingtown High School, the Spartans earned a score of 76.6 nabbing first place in its group. “It was an incredible experience,” Nauman said, and spurred on the group to continue to improve and grow. “Not only was the Marine Corps Invitational an amazing event to participate in and watch other groups perform, but a better experience to come back with an 80.7 as their score.”
The La Plata Warriors took first place in the A — Group II category for “Immortal,” at the invitational. The band is directed by Wes Harler, Rick Hood, Tiffany Harler, Ashton Gordon and Marcus Cook. Isaiah DeLeonard, a senior, is the drum major.
The invitational was the first time La Plata’s marching band performed the entire 8-minute production, Wes Harler, a La Plata music teacher, said. “I had confidence they would play well,” he said.
“Going into the competition … I was confident that the stage had been set for the band to have a good run through the show,” Hood, a music teacher at La Plata, said. “Getting the win was extremely gratifying and I was very proud of the kids for that level of achievement.”
Stamina, concentration and dedication
arching band — which is made up of musicians and color guard — goes beyond learning music and some choreography. “Marching band takes a good deal of stamina, breath support, concentration and dedication,” Nauman said.
“To be a successful member of a marching band, each of the students has to possess certain skills,” Hood said, agreeing with Nauman that marching band members need to have stamina concentration and dedication to be successful.
“Stamina for the physical element necessary to the hours of learning and rehearsal in all temperatures,” Hood said. “Concentration to fulfill your responsibilities to both your own performance and how it affects the performance of the group and dedication to persevere throughout the schedule.”
Several other skills come into play when a student picks up an instrument. “They have to count and subdivide through various rhythmic patterns, learn and define various terms and symbols, know how much air they need to put through their instrument to make a focused sound quality, listening to other musicians around them to make sure they are matching pitch and intonation and a good deal more,” Nauman said.
There is an element of teamwork in marching band that is often only thought of when it comes to discussing athletics. “Each student is important to the big picture,” Nauman said. “They must work with each other to present the music to its full potential.”
“There is no bench for students to sit out,” Harler said. “Every member of the group participates and contributes.”
And if someone is missing, their absence is felt and noticeable. “If a member is not available for a performance, it is obvious that there is a missing member in the drill — it’s known as a ‘hole,’” Hood said.
Happy campers
La Plata’s marching band regroups two weeks before the start of school for band camp when students begin to learn most of the show’s marching technique and music. “Immortal” tells the story of vampires who take the audience through their world as represented by “rich, dark baritone solos throughout,” according to GPGMusic, the company that retains the show which was composed and arranged by Steve Martin and Zeke David.
La Plata’s marching band continue to rehearse during the evenings and take part in sectionals. The band plays at all home football games for the Warriors, participates in local parades and rehearse two or three times a week. The students have been to four competitions as of Oct. 10 and will attend three more this year.
The Spartans also spend two weeks before school starts in band camp. The students rehearse twice a week, splitting their time inside and outside to get the marching and timing correct. For rehearsal, they use the softball field most of the time but willingly take over the football field when it’s available, Nauman said.
For the invitational, marching bands are divided into groups based on the number of those participating in the ensemble. Bands in Group I have one to 35 members, while Group II has 36 to 49 members. Marching bands are judged on individual music, ensemble music, music effect, percussion, visuals, visual effects and color guard.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).