The Seward High band marches onto the field in formation, following drum majors Kayla Albright, Maya Hubach and Marisa Schmeckpeper.
The musicians reach their spots and stop as the drum majors continue on to their stands. Suddenly, the band drops to the ground.
Not to worry. It’s the beginning pose for the 2024 marching show, “In the Heights,” featuring music from the Broadway show by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“All the music is fun,” Albright said.
Hubach said the music is more difficult, but the band learned it well.
The three drum majors are in their first years in the position. Albright is a junior, and Hubach and Schmeckpeper are seniors.
Tryouts took about a week, they said. During that time, they learned how to direct, interact with the band members and display themselves during the show.
They learned one song, focusing on the cues and cutoffs, Albright said.
“Our main job is keeping time,” Albright said.
All three played in the band in the past – Schmeckpeper on flute, Albright on trumpet and Hubach on alto saxophone. Hubach’s two sisters were in the band so she has been around marching band for quite awhile, watching how things are done.
The band got the music in mid-March, and the drum majors got the overall score to review. Schmeckpeper said she had heard of “In the Heights,” the story of Dominican immigrants in the Washington Heights section of New York City. The music has a more Latin feel, they said. The three parts of the show don’t have names, as such. They’re called Part One, which is the beginning of a day, The Club and Part Three.
“It’s Latin jazz party music,” Albright said of the second section.
“I can tell the band enjoys it,” Hubach said.
Parts one and three are medleys of songs from the Broadway show, they said. Schmeckpeper said it’s fun to listen to the band’s show.
The band worked on the drill – the marching formations – and music during band camp last summer. As they developed the 10-15-minute show, the drum majors added their own flair.
“We yawn at the beginning,” Schmeckpeper said.
That goes along with the band lying on the ground as though asleep ad waking up.
Hubach said her favorite part of the show is the end of the third song, in which the band’s formation looks like the George Washington Bridge.
The competition season ran through October and ended with the state contest in Lincoln Oct. 26.
While they enjoy being drum majors, the three said they did miss being in the band and learning the sets. However, there are benefits to being a drum major.
“It’s fun to move around and talk to everyone,” Albright said.
“To hear the band – it’s nice to see what it sounds like,” Hubach said.
“To form connections,” Schmeckpeper said.
