Broadneck High's Marching Band Focuses on 'Strength of Steel'

The following article was submitted to Patch by Laura Tayman, who has two children in the Broadneck High marching band.

Though most students are enjoying their last few hours of summer vacation, over 100 students have been hard at work over the past two weeks preparing for the upcoming 2012 marching band season.

“Our show this year is centered around the strength of steel,” explained Director Matt Heist. “We go through the actual making of it in the mill to the power of what it creates. The concept is exciting and the students are enjoying the challenge of the music.”

Assisting Heist are percussion instructor Ron Frederick, front ensemble instructor Andy Guzik, and marching guard instructor Alicia Briggs. A new leader for teaching correct marching fundamentals is Dan Eldred, a tuba player who just ended his summer marching with the Drum Corps International world champion Cadets.

Students worked on critical elements like having good posture, marching forwards and backwards, staying in straight lines, and angling instruments correctly.

Also on hand to help during band camp were alumni visiting before they head off to college, including last year’s drum major Phil Decker.

“This year’s show is a lot different from last year,” said Decker. “Last year’s was more rhythmically focused, but this year there are more melodic lines. They sound great.” 

Drum majors are seniors David Hannon and Matt Schmincke.

“I am really happy with the progress we have made over the past two weeks,” said Hannon. “I can’t wait to see how it turns out at our first competition.” 

Senior clarinet player Braeden McKibben said there is a lot of excitement about the potential of this year’s group.

“There are so many freshmen who are good players and are so enthusiastic,” she said.

Local residents will have the opportunity to hear the band play at home football games and the homecoming parade through the streets of Cape St. Claire on Oct. 20.

The band is participating in numerous marching competitions around the state this fall, including their own tournament on Oct. 13. The Marching Bruins will also take part in the USBands national championships in November at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants.