The Jonathan Alder Marching band has been high-stepping through the season, competing in three band shows, three parades, and participating in a band competition. While it may look like nothing has changed this year, the band has had a few struggles and changes this year that they’ve had to overcome. 

Senior and band president Adrianna Sivillo has seen many differences throughout her time with the band. This year, she’s specifically seen a change as a whole in the groups’ attitude. “We’ve always been a positive group, anyone who knows the band well can’t disagree with that,” she says. “But, it’s been really great to see how we’ve just improved so much with our positivity,” 

Sophia McCabe, a sophomore band student, agrees. 

“It feels like it’s become more of a family,” McCabe says. “Honestly, we are around each other all the time so we treat each other just like a family.”

Sivillo has also noticed physical changes, like the size of the group this year. 

“I’ve also seen our numbers change,” she says. “It’s gotten a little smaller this year, but I feel like it’s honestly made us better and helped us grow stronger as people, individually and together, as a group.”

While Sivillo appreciates the change in size, she has noticed that others have struggled because of it. 

“With how small we are this year, some people feel negative about that and are like ‘oh we won’t be as powerful this year’ when I know that’s not true,” Sivillo says. “Some people just lose their confidence on certain things occasionally… and they can be sad or whatever, but it always gets better, it always goes upwards.” 

Junior Andrew Honigford has also noticed the size difference. “We definitely could always use more people, but I feel like with the smaller numbers, we can focus more on the smaller details of everything.”

A different size isn’t the only thing new for the band this year, though. They also participated in the Pickerington North Band Festival, which is a competition.

Band Director Justin Henning says “our band high steps, and that means we, like, pick our foot fully off the ground, [we] march like Ohio State does. [So] we are not allowed to compete within the state of Ohio.”

Although the band did get to take part and perform their show as an exhibition, it did not count towards the competition.

“[Not getting to compete] didn’t really affect us,” Honingford says of the Pickerington North festival. “Although, I do like that they did treat us like we were competing though.”

The band actually won the Esprit de Corps Award during the festival. According to a press release from the high school, this award is “for the performance with the most pride, spirit, and energy out of the 17 Bands.”

Other than the step style, one of the differences between competition and show bands is that show bands change their music and show more often.  “I think it demands a different level of musicianship to turn over things quickly and be able to rise to that occasion,” says Hennig.  

This style of marching band requires a lot of the performers. 

McCabe says, “Confidence is important in marching band. If you don’t feel confident then it makes it harder to perform well. Yes, skill is involved in it but if you aren’t confident in your skills then you won’t perform as well.”

The confidence and music of the band can also impact the football teams’ confidence, when they play during the games on Friday night. 

Senior football running back and linebacker Mason Curtis says, “[support] from the band is really important, it’s almost like they’re a part of the team. It helps us, and gives us energy and makes us more confident.”

The hard work shown on football Friday night, and other performances, is possible due to the goals the band prepares every week. Although not distinct goals, they try to work on something to help improve their performance.

“[Our goals] are not very specific,” Sivillo says, “they’re usually just like ‘okay, let’s try to play louder this week’ or ‘try to put more power into our playing’—that’s the kind of goals we work on.”

For a long term goal, Henning has his mind on trying new things. “A five year plan for the school is maybe looking at other marching opportunities, potentially submitting an application to march in the Macy’s Day Parade… I would love to apply for us to do that, because I think that’s where we are currently.”