Area high school bands deserve attention

Editorial
Published: August 19, 2008

Let’s show our local high school marching bands some love.

Sure, we’re on the eve of football season, and the results of what happens each Friday night will be plastered all over the sports pages and television highlight shows. But haven’t most bands also been practicing in the heat of August?

These are our children, marching on the fields and playing their hearts out in the stands.

No band score is kept at football games (that’s what band competitions are for), but they give their all regardless what happens between the hash marks.

Learning to play an instrument, whether it is a trombone, trumpet, flute or bass drum, is a difficult task and should be appreciated. Learning to play an instrument, march to the same rhythm as your colleagues and march to a choreographed routine just adds to the challenge.

It isn’t a scored competition, but Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. Band-O-Rama at Duck Samford Stadium is a showcase for area high school bands.

It’s a perfect opportunity for those who appreciate and enjoy bands and tunes to see six area schools, plus the Auburn University Marching Band, perform at the same venue. Bands will perform themed routines, many of which can be seen at halftime shows and competitions.

Football has jamborees. Bands have Band-O-Rama.

High school bands participating include Auburn, Opelika, Beulah, Smiths Station, Valley and Eufaula. The artists — and yes, what they do is an art — will not be in full uniform regalia, but instead shorts and T-shirts. After all, it’s hot, it’s an exhibition of music and we can save the colorful uniforms for next Friday night and those competition Saturdays.

Come and support your local high school bands and get a preview of what we have to look forward to hearing this season. Besides, after weeks of practice, these kids deserve to be shown appreciation for their hard work.