Listen closely and you just might hear it.
You might hear the deep pounding of a bass drum, maybe the sharp blast of brass and the low hum of woodwind.
There will be pauses in the rhythmic sounds filled with determined voices shouting out in cadence, some of it amplified by microphone.
The start of school is still three weeks away, but some Killeen ISD high school students are getting into the rhythm already.
The district’s five high school bands opened annual marching camps Monday. While most began inside the band halls, the Ellison Screaming Eagle Band made an early start on the marching pad outside the school.
Band Director Erik Reynolds, an Ellison graduate and band alum, told this year’s students they enter a 47-year-old tradition that is as much a closeknit family as it is a band that makes music and performs drill.
“It’s establishing the culture of the program,” Reynolds said of the season-beginning camp. “We want to play well and march well, but we really want great kids learning life lessons as well. The music and marching are establishing culture.”
Ellison’s show is called A Night in New York. Music, set pieces and field formations will take audiences on a melodious cab ride from Times Square to the Met (Philharmonic Orchestra), Radio City Music Hall (The Rockettes), Broadway and finally to Central Park.
Marching camps end the week of the start of school. The first day of class is Aug. 14. Two weeks later (Aug. 28-29) are the start of football season and halftime shows.
Just before the marching band contest season, on Sept. 20, the bands will combine for the 47th annual Spirit Spectacular with all five high school bands and 12 middle school bands sharing the Leo Buckley Stadium field. The show begins at 8 p.m.
For now, though, there’s the matter of learning to walk.
For Ellison, the drum majors are junior Jewel Reese and seniors Trip Potvin and Shawniece Grimes.
“It’s teaching freshmen the fundamentals and making sure everyone is on track and preparing for the season,” said Reese. “It’s super exciting to get to show off everything we work on and to get recognition for the hard work.”
“When I came as a freshman, it changed my perspective and gave me motivation,” said Grimes. “My mission is to get us together as a family and to create a bond with each other and to get our love of music together,” said Grimes.
“This is about getting the freshmen in band engaged. Band is a strenuous activity and it takes a lot of time to learn a full show. We get out here early and start to learn fundamentals,” said Potvin.
Get feeling of performing beneath the stadium lights is a powerful one. “It’s very exciting. We have a goal to have our full show ready for Spirit Spectacular. The first time we do it, it feels good,” he said.
“Marching band is less about the individual knowing your stuff and more about being about communicating non-verbally to people around you. That’s a skill you have to learn.”
“I definitely like it,” said Potvin of directing the band. “I miss marching a little bit. I feel like it’s my band and I’m excited to help lead them and help everyone else.”
The Harker Heights High School Red Brigade Band is under the field leadership this year of four drum majors – seniors Joshua Duemas, Gage Cardenes and Benjamin Saban Contreras and junior Ottavia Denton.
This year’s show, called Neon Knights, is set to be a milestone celebrating the school’s 25th anniversary.
“This is all about building relationships and building the fundamentals of this band so we can succeed later in the season,” said Duemas, entering his second year as a drum major.
“Our show this year is called Neon Knights. It is the 25th anniversary of this band and our school. It is about the journey of a knight to slay a dragon. It is set in the year 3000.
“The show - the music, the source material, everything the writers did is really great. I appreciate all the work that has gone into this show.”
Without giving away the details, Band Director Eric Skinner acknowledged this year’s show is going to be a visual spectacle to experience – for the band and for its audience.
Killeen High School junior mellophone player Chamiyu Duenas is a field commander in this year’s Roo Band. That is a new student leadership position working alongside the drum major.
“Coming back is fun. It’s good to learn the fundamentals. I’m excited about my new position,” he said.
“Being (on the field) is fun. We all know each other. On the field and in the stands, we have fun together. Connecting makes band a lot more fun.”
Band members get excited to get on the marching pad, dive into the drills and learn together, he said.
“I love music. I love playing my instruments. I love the experience. You meet new people, and you get to watch other bands, which I really like.”
After beginning the week indoors, the Shoemaker High School Greywolf Band ended the first week of summer camp on the outdoor marching pad where drum majors and other student leaders directed younger peers.
Senior Flavio Gabriel, this year’s head drum major, expressed excitement to get the season going.
“It’s great. It’s sentimental because it’s the last time I’ll be out here starting band camp. I’m ready to pass on that passion and drive to that next generation of freshmen,” he said.
“I want to instill in them that even if they think they might fail they always have the tools for success and they always have people around them to help.”
Even as new band members were learning the language of marching and literally laboring to put one foot in front of the other, Gabriel knew the first halftime show was just a month away.
“It’s a rush. That first game and spirit spectacular, it’s great to see the shows coming together. The first football game is a blast, seeing how freshmen get brought into the culture of how we behave in the stands and just have a good time,” Gabriel said.
“Getting started is very exciting,” said senior drum major Matthew Birdwell. “I have a lot of hope for this band. Some start out shy, but once we get to games and competitions it will come together.”
The sounds of the audience and bright splash of stadium lights bring an adrenaline rush that band students embrace. “When we start playing, it brings such a joy. You see yourself as a main character.”
Shoemaker’s show, called Blue Skies presents the journey of life from periods of stormy darkness to sunny celebration.
It’s a big year at Chaparral High School with this year’s seniors the first to spend all four years at KISD’s newest high school.
Bobcat Band drum major, senior Anthony Johnson takes pride in his four years at the school.
“I am very excited,” he said. “I’m a pioneer since this school was built. I’ve been around this school since it was under construction, the meet the staff and all the pep rallies,” he said.
This year, he gets to lead the marching band on the field for a fun, maybe creepy and definitely entertaining show called Whispering in the Woods that includes music from “Wicked” and “Agatha All Along.”
“It’s so exciting seeing all the new people. I say I’m a maximizer. I’m going to get your skill and build it up more,” said Johnson.
Now in his senior year, the drum major said he enjoys the progression of the band through marching season and through the years. “It’s so cool to hear all the different stories and make a show together.”
“I love the Friday Night Lights. All the hard work you put in. Band can be overlooked. We’re here all week putting in the work. Texas is into music. It’s a good thing to see.”
Continue to check this space to see photos and reports on the progression of KISD’s five high school bands the rest of the summer and into marching competition.
Summer marching band camp photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720327709124