8 a.m. — no doubt considered an early morning for most school-exhausted students during the summer. With the late July sun already high in the sky, rows of eager faces line up, ready to march accordingly to the drum major’s careful beat.
On the newly finished BV Southwest football field, this new Emerald Regiment has stepped out into the sun, beginning the season early with a committed attitude and rigorous practices in hopes of doing well in the upcoming competitions.
With the band at practice is the Southwest drill team—the Glitter Girls. Donning look-alike tie dye shirts, they rehearse with just as much energy and effort, perfecting the precise movements of their routines.
Band camp comes with tremendous sacrifices that normal summer couch-potatoes would find not only a little difficult, but super challenging to overcome.
“Basically, you give up the last month of your summer,” junior flutist Christina Kealey said. “There are times when it gets tiring, but at the end of the day, I love all of it.”
Some major conflicts also make choosing to go with band that much harder.
“I’m giving up my ACT test just to be in band,” senior trumpeter Tyler Pemble said.
Along with academice sacrafices, sports can pose a problem as well. Although sports may be popular with most, some choose to pick up an instrument instead.
“I was going to join cross country with a good buddy,” junior tubist Colin Bennett said. “But practice starts at 6 a.m., which means I’d have to show up to band late everyday. I really wanted to be in the band, so I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my band time.”
Other casual activities may also be in jeopardy due to the long hours of band camp, which are not as easily passed as some may think.
“I’m giving up valuable tanning time and major pool days to be here,” sophomore Color Guard Amanda Broadhurst said. “It’s really hot even in the early mornings, and I’ve also sustained quite a few injuries trying to [attempt] these flags.”
Daily schedules for these sun-burned, usually known as the stereotypical “geek” population are certainly tough. As practice can make perfect, hopefully perfection is just what they will bring BV Southwest after an extensive three weeks.