High school band hitting the field

When it comes to the Bobcat games through the season, an element that brings some additional flair and helps generate some momentum in the stands is the Hot Springs County High School Band.

Prior to the regular practices during the school year, Director Drew Brown said there were a couple days in mid-August where the students did some music rehearsal, and Aug, 19 and 20 they had a “mini camp” on marching technique to prepare.

“We’re really young this year,” Brown said, “but we have really solid leadership from our older students. This is a good year for our senior class as well as another good year to just build the program. The kids that we got in it are dedicated and work their tails off, which is always appreciated.”

There are 25 total students in the marching program this year, up six from the 2018-19 school year. Last year was the first that Brown took them to the state marching competition, and it was the first time in 13 years Hot Springs County High had competed at that level. This year’s state marching is in Casper on Oct. 19.

The leadership has also helped the younger students make strides faster than they typically would, and they seem motivated and willing to put in the time and effort to make improvement over the scores from last year. Of five judges, the band received four Excellent ratings and one Superior. Brown noted there are two music judges, two marching and a percussion judge.

Brown plans to have a small show at the first football game, and add to it as the season goes on. He noted anyone from the public who has an instrument is welcome to sit in and play with them in the stands.

As for the music selection, Brown said it’s really “pop heavy,” but also “pop through the decades.” The first song, The Horse by Jesse James, charted at No. 3 in 1963, the second, Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe, charted at No. 2 in 1988, and the third, Attention by Charlie Puth, charted at No. 1 in 2017.

Though there are 25 students performing together, they are in two separate classes. As for setting them up on the field, Brown said, “I’ve grouped them into two groups, and designed the show around that, so we aren’t, technically, missing anyone during practice.” The two groups are able to perform together on Fridays during enrichment blocks.

Though 25 students might seem small, the instrumentation is very good. There are four flutes, a clarinet, five alto saxophones, a tenor sax, a baritone sax, two trumpets, three trombones, a baritone, a tuba, four in the drum line and a bass player. Brown said there are couple people playing on different instruments, “so I’ve got a senior who’s never played trombone, playing trombone. I’ve got another senior playing tenor sax instead of alto sax. I’ve got a guitar player playing snare drum. One of my clarinet players is playing the bari sax.”

Those taking on two instruments, he said, is huge and takes a big commitment to learn a whole new set of rules when playing.

Even if you can’t see the band in action at a game, Brown plans to have them at the Homecoming parade as well.

“Keep your eye on this group,” Brown said. “It’s a good, hard-working group of kids. It’ll be fun to watch the different classes go through the program, but as a whole I think this program is on the rise.”