As the brass instruments and the color guard uniforms shine, you are welcomed to a marching band competition. Recent competitions akin to this atmosphere include the Music in the Park Midland Park Competition and the Wayne Hills 24th Annual N.J.M.E.A. State Marching Band Ratings. Both competitions were won by our very own, Pascack Hills Marching Band. The color guard and drumline also won in the Midland Park Showcase. 

On the day of the competition, band members arrive three hours before the competition. Usually, the day lasts from 12:00 P.M. to 8:45 at night. 

Band Director Ryan Dore explained the intense preparation for these competitions, including band camp. 

“Band camp is the week before school starts and it’s 9:00 AM to noon, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM,” he said. 

Color guard and drumline differ significantly. For instance, color guard members perform with flags in sync, while the drumline keeps the tempo for the entire band.

“Color guard is the flash and color on the field. They do choreography, they’re swinging flags, they’re using air blades, stuff like that. It’s really, it’s a great visual aspect…[the drumline] is the heartbeat of the entire ensemble,” he said.

The Midland Park and The Wayne Hills Competitions vary in types of judging. The former is a competition against other bands, while the latter is a rating contest, where bands compete against themselves, earning gold, silver, or bronze. Hills won the former and won silver at the latter. 

Marching band is very different from other music classes at Hills. Dore elaborated on how it is not as technical as other music classes.

“Marching band is energy, marching band is entertainment,” he said. 

For example, marching bands and concert bands have different variations of the same instrument, like the French horn. 

“French horn and the concert band: the big circle. You put your hand in the bell, [and the sound] comes out the back. In marching band, it’s totally different. It’s out front. It looks like a big giant trumpet and it’s just, it’s there to be loud,” he said

With a passion for marching band, he implores more students to join as it is such a kind community and a fiercely competitive and successful team. These successes must also be accredited to Dore, who has been a band director for 10 years and has worked at Hills for seven years. He has always had a passion for music and wanted to be a band director since high school, playing the trumpet since fifth grade. 

Even though the Wayne Hills Competition was the last of this season, stay tuned for more marching band successes next year!