When the lights hit the field on a Friday night and the first note rings out, the halftime show looks effortless.

Crisp uniforms, coordinated dance moves and bold brass melodies come together in a few short minutes of performance. 

But what most people don’t see is the months of hard work, discipline and community that exist long before the first note is played or a dancer takes a step. 

A high school marching band is more than an after school activity; it’s a second family that spends countless hours perfecting every step and note. 

Band members dedicate their 10th period class during the school day, Wednesday nights and several weeks over the summer to perfect their shows. 

Band camp, held in the heat of July, is the most grueling part of the preparation. HHS band members spend their week at Marietta College and dedicate hours upon hours to rehearsals. 

From morning to evening, students are out on the field rehearsing sets of eight counts at a time. They drill the same few measures of music repeatedly until every trumpet, clarinet and snare drum is perfectly in sync. 

But of course the students do not do all of the work when putting together a performance. 

HHS Band director John Rodesh shares the steps of creating a halftime show. “The planning process for a halftime show starts many months in advance. One of the first steps is music selection. I’m constantly listening to what’s current and trending. It’s not just about picking good songs; I have to consider whether a tune will actually work with a band’s instrumentation and whether it suits the sound and energy of a marching band. Each spring, I also ask students to submit song ideas.”

Selecting music is just the start of putting together a halftime show. Rodesh explains the next steps. “Once the music is finalized, the next major phase is writing the drill–the formations and movements on the field. For our squad-based approach, this is especially detailed. Our four-person squads create constantly evolving shapes. Drill writing also involves planning impact moves–those big musical hits or transitions–and making sure the visual elements amplify those movements. On top of that I have to consider which instruments are in which formations. Placement and orientation can make or break the clarity of the music.” 

Rodesh describes writing drill as, “time consuming and very detail heavy, especially when factoring in spacing, visuals, coordination with the danceline and making sure transitions between songs are smooth. Every move has to be intentional.” 

Throughout the football season, the marching band puts three different shows onto the field, each consisting of four songs and one dance break. 

The band works hard to memorize a total of 12 songs in a limited amount of time. 

Senior trombone player Sam Disney shares the most challenging part of learning so many songs at once.  “The hardest part of committing so many songs to memory is repetition. Finding the time outside of school to play the songs over and over is difficult especially with so many things on your plate like sports and work.”

Memorization is not only a challenge for the musicians, but also the dancers.

Through the tough practices, the dancers are right beside the band, learning and running through choreography over and over until every move is sharp and together.

Dancers often collaborate with the band to enhance the overall performance, making sure their movements match the rhythm and energy of the show.

This teamwork requires trust between musicians and dancers–a partnership the audience may not notice, but one that is crucial for the program’s success.

Sophomore band dancer Calais Chokan explains how new dancers adapt to the fast pace of being on the team saying, “They adapt to the pace by reviewing videos we take during practices to perfect for the next day in order to not fall behind. Doing three shows a season is tricky because many times we learn new choreography while still performing dances we already know and it can get confusing at times.”

Although memorization is a major part of playing an instrument or being a dancer, band is more than memorizing notes or steps, it’s about building endurance, listening closely and working as one. 

Inside the marching band and dance team, leadership is just as important as talent. Head senior squad leaders, section leaders and squad leaders are responsible for keeping their groups motivated, correcting mistakes and setting the standard.

For younger students, this creates a sense of mentorship and belonging.

Head Senior Squad Leader Magnolia Dryden shares what role she plays in the success of the band.  “Our biggest role is to be the band’s motivators. Our success is mainly built on the culture that our band is known for, which is one that is positive, inclusive and overall just a good time. It’s our job to continue to grow and implement this culture, which starts by motivating the band to do their best and by encouraging them to follow in the traditions that members of this band have set before us.” 

Head senior squad leaders not only motivate the band and set the tone for rehearsals, they also work with band directors and other leaders to keep everything running smoothly. 

Head Senior Squad Leader Maia Kurtscheidt Abdala explains, “We try to keep as much open communication as possible between everybody at all times. We have multiple group chats with the other leaders, and often have one on one meetings with the directors to keep updated and think of anything we can improve on.”

This level of support creates a trustworthy community inside the band; the relationships built during long rehearsals often become the foundation of lasting friendships. 

Calais Chokan shares, “Some of my best friends have come from the dance team by bonding throughout practices and having similar interests or experiences.” 

In the end, what makes the hours of hard work worth it isn’t just the applause from the crowd. It’s the pride of being part of something bigger than yourself. 

So the next time the halftime show begins, remember that it’s more than just a quick performance. It’s the result of dedication, discipline and teamwork built behind the scenes.