IM.com - Featured Band - The Machine Within the Warrior Band, by Megan Kuhnhenn

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Latest Featured Band

Whiteland HS (10/15/05)

Previously Featured

Springs Valley HS (9/20/05)

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Website: whitelandband.com

The Machine Within the Warrior Band
by Megan Kuhnhenn - October 15th, 2005

The members of the Whiteland Community High School Warrior Band are proud to present their 2005 program, “The Machine”.

“As a child, most of us loved to take things apart and see what made them work. The motions and inner workings of mechanical devices are fascinating to watch. Over time, man has developed many mechanical devices that make our lives easier and more productive,” said John Morse, Director of Bands at Whiteland Community High School. “Our 2005 production takes us on a journey through several facets of the inner workings of a machine.”

But if it were possible to take apart the Warrior Band to see what makes it work, what would we find? What makes the Warrior Band machine work so well?

The answer lies within its members.

Just as the program has grown to 70 members, up from 41 four years ago, the members themselves have grown as well. The members of the Warrior Band know that the only way to accomplish their goals is to work hard and work together.

“Last year at this time we were realizing how much time we squandered in rehearsals before Regionals. We realized that we still had a lot to fix or make better and a very small amount of time to do it. We tried to kick it into high gear too late,” said Stephani Burgess, Senior Flute Section Leader.

Burgess also added, “This year, Districts are not our goal, nor Regionals, nor State. Our goal is the end of the season – the very last competition and the very last show.”

And just as a well-oiled machine has the ability to run itself, in the hands of a capable staff and hard-working members, a well-written show is destined for success as well. The Warrior Band’s 2005 show is broken down into three movements that illustrate the “lifecycle” of a machine.

The first movement, featuring Sam Hazo’s “Ride”, is titled “Redline.”

“The machine pushes and pulls the band through its gears at a frantic pace and we see how the internal workings of the machine motivate movement,” said Morse. “The machine works faster and faster until its parts cannot stand the strain and it breaks down.”

The second segment is entitled "Rejuvenation”, featuring “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre.

“A gentle and skilled human touch is needed to repair the machine to get it in working order. While the machine is being worked on, it receives some upgrades that lead us to our third movement,” said Morse.

The third movement, “Innovation,” features “Olympiada” by Sam Hazo.

“The machine is not only repaired, it is redesigned to work faster and more efficiently than it has before,” said Morse. “There are elements that bring back the images of the previous machine as we accelerate towards the end of our production.”

These redesigns and upgrades are a ghostly image of the Warrior Band itself. The members and the staff realize that with every subsequent year, the members, and consequently the band as a whole, is growing and maturing.

“Every year our goal is to have a better season than the last one. This year’s band is stronger both visually and musically. We were happy with last year’s group, but this group of students has chosen to take it to the next level,” said Morse, sensing the maturity of his band. “[The students] understand that the only thing they have control of is their own performance and that if they do the things to prepare themselves to have a great performance, all of the other concerns (points, placing, the quality of their performance) will happen.”

The members of the Warrior Band certainly feel a sense of pride and accomplishment with each and every show.

Junior Drum Major, Nancy Campbell, says, “Watching the band perform is so different then being down on the field myself. I am filled with pride every time I conduct it.”

Without the members and the staff, it doesn’t matter how well-designed a show is, it will never be a wonderful, rewarding production without these elements. Similarly, when the inner-workings of a machine fail to mesh correctly and perform their role, there is no hope for the machine to work as it was ultimately designed.

And in the Warrior Band, as in any marching band, the band is family.

“During marching season, you definitely see your band family more than your own family. You have fights with your fellow members just like you fight with your brothers and sisters. The band directors are like your parents. They yell and scream at you to clean up your messes, be quiet, and to go to bed early. They do it because they care,” stated Burgess. “The blood, sweat, tears, laughter, and memories you share with your band, they will stay with you for the rest of your life. No one will hardly remember who won which competition, what captions each band got, who got the highest score, or who had the biggest band. It’s everything else you do preparing each show that you remember the most, so enjoy it. Love it.”

So while this machine is ticking all season long, even the best well-oiled machine is no match for the well-oiled Warrior Band, one group who will surely be ticking long after this season’s end.

Senior Low Brass Section Leader, Maleah Hester leaves her words of wisdom – “Enjoy the season while it’s there because time passes so fast it will be gone before you know it. Good luck and have fun, but don’t lose sight of your pride!”

Best of luck to the Whiteland Community Warrior Band at the ISSMA Regional Contest this Saturday!

--
Megan Kuhnhenn
megan@indianamarching.com

Megan Kuhnhenn is a 2002 graduate of Lawrence Central High School. Megan was drum major for the Spirit of Central for three seasons, including head drum major when Lawrence Central captured the 2001 BOA Grand National Championship. She was also the drum major for Capital Regiment in 2005, where she recently aged out. Megan is currently a student at Ball State University as an elementary education major. This is Megan's third year as a staff member for IndianaMarching.com.

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