After a 2020 marching band season that saw students solely performing for their schools’ football games, the chance to compete once again against other bands throughout Indiana brought the best out of the performers this year.
The marching bands from Indian Creek and Franklin schools achieved their best marching band results in school history, placing in fourth and eighth place respectively in the Indiana State School Music Association, or ISSMA, Marching Band Scholastic Class Finals.
Since Franklin and Indian Creek schools have smaller marching bands than other schools their size, they compete in the scholastic class, which had its state finals at Franklin Central High School. This year, both marching bands had their best state finishes in school history.
Indian Creek’s marching band performed two early American songs — “Amazing Grace” and “Simple Gifts,” a Shaker tune, said Amy Heavilin, band director.
“We didn’t want to do a show that was really busy with a lot of props. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money because we didn’t know if we would have a season,” Heavilin said. “We tried to pick a show that would try and focus on students’ musicianship. We have a young group this year. Last year they only (performed at) football games. Between that and students graduating, over half our band had never been in competition.”
One of those students was Rhyan Parker, the marching band’s flag captain who joined the band in seventh grade. While she had experience in percussion band going to competitions, the marching band state finals was a new experience, Parker said.
“To most people watching us it might seem like we’re just spinning flags, but when you’re on the field learning, the work is very difficult,” Parker said. “We do a lot of multitasking and remembering what we’re doing with our work, listening to the band and knowing what’s happening with people around you. We deal with wind, when you throw things the wind is difficult to handle.”
Despite a less experienced band, Indian Creek was able to earn its best state finals finish in school history. Aiyanna Witham, a junior and a drum major in the marching band, said she felt a sense of pride as one of the older members of the band.
“This year, I didn’t feel so self-centered. When they read our name out, ‘Indian Creek-fourth place,’ I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m so proud of them.’ I felt like a parent almost. I can’t even describe that feeling. It was euphoria,” she said.
For Franklin schools, the show centered around a vocalist who moves to New York City to try and make it on Broadway. During the show, the band performed the songs “Birdland,” “New York, New York” and the Alicia Keys-only rendition of “Empire State of Mind,” said Jason Hammond-Wood, band director.
“This year we had more time to plan because there was not a show last year. Having a better designed show helps you,” Hammond-Wood said.
The last time Franklin schools reached the state finals was 2017, meaning students who competed this year didn’t have that experience going into the competition, he said.
“If anything, it’s frustrating, because I forget they haven’t done all this,” Hammond-Wood said. “There’s a lot of unexpected learning curves we take for granted as directors because we’ve done it so many times. You just remember it’s their first time doing this and take a second to slow down and teach them. Once they have the basic concept, their skills and ability would take over and it would be just fine.”
Hammond-Wood created a leadership team of seniors who could help the younger and less experienced marching band members get comfortable with the performance and express any concerns. That, and starting preparation in May instead of June, contributed to an eighth place finish at the state level, he said.
“I think we’re off to a good start,” Hammond-Wood said. “It’s just the beginning. I’m excited to continue the growth we have.”
Meanwhile, Greenwood and Center Grove schools are looking forward to continuing a tradition of successful school marching band seasons Saturday, as they compete in the open class state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Center Grove schools has made the marching band state finals 37 of the past 38 years that competitions were held, only failing to qualify in 2004, said Kevin Schuessler, band director.
“I think we have a good vision for what we want to put in art form,” Schuessler said. “It’s not just an activity to engage the audience, it’s to engage students. Our product is something we’re always excited to see. If we work on something for five to six months we want it to be engaging until the end, not just midseason. We were still adding stuff (this week), all the way up to the final show.”
Center Grove’s show has a theme of the Amazon region in Brazil. The visual aspects of the show include a tarp that represents a river and a flower that floats down the river. Costuming also holds true to what you would see in that region, he said.
“We do our research, what it’s going to be and then we hone it in. We talked about the impact it would have on the audience,” Schuessler said. “We always try and do it very tastefully whether it’s a musicologist or a grandma enjoying the show.”
After spending his entire childhood in music, sophomore Cameron Skirvin, a rookie on the marching band, is getting his first taste of the state competition.
“I almost want to say music is my first language,” Skrivin said. “I was messing around with instruments before I said my first word. It’s always been a very pertinent part of my life and when I got the opportunity to go into band in middle school I was very happy.”
Ella Taylor, a senior, is closing out her high school career with another state finals trip to Lucas Oil Stadium after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled competition last year. She wants to pursue further opportunities such as Drum Corps International in the future, Taylor said.
“I feel honored to go places and be with the band,” Taylor said. “Honestly, I feel like it’s a bragging right. I tell my friends, ‘I just got to perform at Lucas Oil on the field.’”
