From Aug. 5-9, the Lakeview High School marching band was busy at work learning their newest show. Every year, the band takes lodging at Grove City College, sharing the campus with the Howland High School marching band. A typical day goes as follows: the band wakes up around 6 a.m., heads to breakfast, then straight to the field for practice until lunch time.
After lunch, sectionals take place, where each section of instruments and the majorettes work individually; then, it's free time until dinner. After dinner, the band has practice on the field together until nine, free time until eleven, and then lights out at eleven-thirty. Practices consist of learning drills, memorizing music, and, for the majorettes, learning dances. This goes on every day until the band shows their final product to the parents and alumni on the last day. Unfortunately, this year's parents exhibition was cut short due to bad weather conditions.
The band director, Nathan Sensabaugh stated, "Band camp is such a vital part of our band's success. Our time together, whether it be rehearsal on the field, in sectionals, or through our group activities, helps bind us together as a stronger, cleaner, and more effective group. The students worked very hard and constantly were pushed to learn new concepts."
But band camp isn't all work and no play. The marching band's resident seniors aim to make each practice a little more fun than the last, while still maintaining the integrity of the band. A Lakeview band senior, Timothy Hoffman, exclaimed, "To finally be at the top is an honor. The bitter feeling is that I'll never get to come back, but the sweet feeling is that this is the beginning of our new lives."
This year's show is different than previous ones. Celebrating 30 years of the Lakeview Band Night, the show features three separate styles of marching: two from previous band directors, Mr. Core and Mr. Ken Young, and one from current band director, Mr. Sensabaugh.
Songs such as, "Can-Can" and "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," are also from the past. The band's first formal performance was at the Warren G. Harding Band Night on Aug. 16 and went successfully. They will be performing at various other schools' band nights, such as Niles and Jackson, and at all Lakeview High School football games, home and away.
Only at the Lakeview Band Night will alumni band members and majorettes be allowed to perform segments of the show. Mr. Core and Mr. Young will also be conducting songs.
The Lakeview band encourages the community to come see a revolutionary show tonight at the football stadium behind the high school in Cortland. Show time is 7:30 p.m.