Seminole’s marching band is getting ready for its annual Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA).  This year’s FBA is on October 24, in the Deland football stadium. Band members are required to attend the FBA and their performance is graded.

The 322 band members have been preparing for the FBA all year long. Even before school starts, band students have to endure a hot summer of band camp. During this time, students learn marching fundamentals and drill charts, which eventually lead to full-on halftime shows.

Currently, band members have learned two out of the three tunes required and they have practiced every day. The songs they will be playing this year are Mr. Roboto by  Styx, a Glee mashup of Anyway You Want It and Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ by Journey,  and Saturday Nights are Alright for Fighting by Elton John.

Sophomore Cathy Broeker of marching band says, “I went to the FBA last year and it was a great experience. This year’s going to be a blast.”

Marching band students are graded on their overall conduct while performing three pieces as a unified group and marching at the same time. Grading takes place during the half-time shows by judges watching from the stands. Marching band students are required to attend the FBA for their respective class.

Band director Andrea Newhouse remarks, “We want to give our students the best music education we can. We want to give them memories they will remember all through high school. We want to reward our students for all their hard work.”

Student grades are based on the normal A-F scale, but the judges grade performance by words such as Poor, Good, Excellent, and Superior. The total ranking of the three pieces determines the whole score of everyone in that category. Seminole has received Superior the past three years.

Senior Nicholas Marin of the symphonic and wind ensemble says, “My experience in band has been a long one and a fun one. I enjoy playing music with everyone. I had so much fun performing at the games. As we say in band, without the band, a football game is just a game.”

SHS marching band plans to keep on striving for excellence in these last few weeks to achieve greatness at the upcoming FBA. With all their hard work and long hours on the field, the band is hoping to score straight Superiors.