Last year, the Salida High School Band added a new section to their curriculum: fall marching band! The marching band directors are SHS band teacher and Music Department Head Andre Wilkins and Salida Middle School band teacher Katie Oglesby. Wilkins and Oglesby said that they have improved a lot compared to last year. This year, there has also been a lot of help from band officers: Co-presidents Rachel Anderson and Clara Streeter, Vice President Catalina Manrique, Jazz Band President/concert band Student Representative Ben Smith, Secretary Peyton Bowers, Treasurer Olive Ritchie, Social Media Director Dyer, ninth grade observer Cadence Sewolt and various section leaders.
Since there are a lot more students this year there has been a lot of progress with how Wilkins teaches and how the program works. Last, around 22 students marched regularly and this year, 28 students marched regularly. Wilkins is very happy that there are more students this year, and everyone in the marching band is happy about how much students are wanting to learn.
“The freshmen have stepped up tremendously and have greatly helped the marching band,” Anderson said.
The marching band has an annual pre-school band camp for students to attend. At this camp, students learn proper marching form, and they learn tricks and tips for successful marching. This camp is especially important for students who have never been in marching band before because it allows them to truly absorb proper techniques.
“Before school each year we have a band camp and this year we did a camp at the arcade,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins explained that the marching band went to the arcade and ate tacos, painted marching rocks and of course played the games at the arcade. Anderson added that they all watch movies together, laugh and joke around. They both love the traditions and relationships that they have made over the two years of the marching band.
“You will definitely regret it if you don’t do it!” Everyone I have talked to would very highly recommend joining a marching band. It’s a very fun experience and could be useful in the future,” Anderson said.
One piece of advice for incoming band students is to listen to upperclassmen and Wilkins. Everyone has both the student’s and the band’s best interest at heart, and all the students are extremely willing to help and give advice. Wilkins says that while marching band is a challenge, it is all worth it in the end.
