Rachel Menke and Luke Sivley, saxophone section leaders in the SMMHS band, practice alto sax.The Signal Mountain High School band is hard at work preparing for its 2016-17 show, for which members have been training for weeks, often 13 hours a day, said Lissa Goeltz, who handles the band’s publicity. The theme for the show is “Casey at the Bat,” and the band is hoping it will help the group to win this year’s Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship Nov. 5.
Band Director Shelby Walker said “Casey at the Bat,” based on a poem written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer, was chosen for the show’s theme because he and the staff were familiar with the poem, as well as the Disney cartoon of the same name, and felt the theme had promising visual and musical possibilities.
They do realize, however, that baseball is an unusual theme for a show that will be presented during halftime at the school’s football games. The band will be rolling out new songs from the show during the each of the team’s games this fall, Goeltz said.
The next game is Sept. 2 against East Ridge at home.
“I believe we have a great show planned for the season, and feel that will allow our students to have fun and be successful,” said Walker. “Myself and my staff have been planning and working on the show since February, and feel we have developed a concept through music and visual effect that will make this show very entertaining and competitive.”
During a three-week camp this summer, students learned the basic concept of the show and trained musically, mentally and physically to handle the challenges it presents, he said. As the season progresses, the band will continue to add layers of visual effects to the performance, added Walker.
“I hope fans will enjoy our show; we seem to have great fan support at home and away,” he said. “I hope our great community understands how hard our students work to provide a very entertaining product, not just for football games, but through representation in competition.”
Walker said band members practice together eight hours a week after school, as well as another three hours a week during school.
“That type of dedication to a craft deserves and demands respect,” he said. “Through music our students learn the importance of respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, diversity, time management, self-esteem, commitment, perseverance, and countless other skills and concepts related to becoming a successful adult.”