CBHS - We Got the Beat!!
The Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High band plays while a Chinese Dragon, composed of color guard members, dances on the field. The band chose a Chinese theme, “Awaken the Dragon,” to reflect the recent Olympic Games in Beijing. (Chris Montoya, for The Verge)
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HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS PREPARE FOR FOOTBALL HALFTIME SHOWS
Among the blare of trumpets, trombones and saxophones, drum major and senior Justin Mousseau conducts the Eau Gallie High marching band during evening practice. Like many other bands across Brevard County, the Eau Gallie band has been preparing for the fall football halftime shows at after-school practices throughout the week.
Band captain Shane Mckibben, also a senior at Eau Gallie High, said the band is stronger than ever this year.
“During practices, we usually have great effort from all our band members,” he said. “I’m enthusiastic about this season.”
Justin said band practices typically last a couple of hours.
“It is very important that we perfect the image we are trying to make during the show,” he said.
To do so, marching bands host a band camp during the end of summer to instruct incoming freshman in the basics of marching and to begin practicing their show.
“During band camp, our freshmen learned the basics quickly,” said Kelly Cox, drum major and senior at Titusville High. “Overall, we had a very productive camp this year.”
It is during band camp that bands are also able to explore ideas concerning their show theme for the year. The Titusville High band chose to use the “Cowboys and Indians” theme for their show. The Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High band chose a Chinese theme to reflect the Olympic games in Beijing, China. The show is titled, “Awaken the Dragon.”
Matt Henson, a senior and drum major at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High, said one of the highlights of the show is a dragon “that our color guard brings to life on the field.”
“This year, our marchers also perform Tai chi chuan, one of the Chinese martial arts,” he said.
The color guard also employed other props, such as fans during the show.
Eau Gallie High’s band has chosen to focus the theme of its show on a composer.
“This year, our show is called Celebration,” Justin said. “We are playing music from American composer Samuel Hazo. It is an opportunity to use a choral element during the show as well.”
What bands are playing
Oct. 25 is the big band festival show at Palm Bay High. Here are hot band themes for the 2008-09 season: Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High: “Awaken the Dragon”
Cocoa High: “Moulin Rouge”
Eau Gallie High: “Celebration 2008,” featuring music by composer Samuel Hazo
Merritt Island High: A swing show featuring jazz music
Palm Bay High: “A Trip Around the World”
Rockledge High: “River Dance”
Space Coast Jr./Sr. High: The music of Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson
Titusville High: “Cowboys and Indians”