Band tradition is able to adapt to modern culture
Band is the backbone of dear old Bowling Green High’s sporting events. Whether we are beating a team 50-0 or losing just as badly, the band is always there playing “Crazy in Love” and keeping the crowd cheerful and bright. The band is very underappreciated, and they deserve recognition for the hard work and passion they pour into the music on display at games.
They do their best to stay relevant despite the new wave of trap music that high schoolers tend to favor over live music. It may seem appealing to just play “Mo Bamba” over the loudspeakers, but trap music simply cannot replicate or compete with the experience of live music. The band is incorporating hip, popular songs in their repertoire such as “24K Magic” and “Shut Up and Dance” that the audience can connect to.
The Band continues to keep old traditions such as playing the Alma Mater alive, but now, they also add new elements and customs such as playing “Talkin’ Out the Side of Your Neck” before the Alma Mater at the end of football games. Drum Major Egan Copeland appreciates the old traditions but wants to continue to break barriers to elevate the experience at sporting events. He said, “We are starting to incorporate new things to keep the crowd and football team hyped up.”
People presume that the band is unnecessary and outdated without thinking about the hard work and talent that goes into performing. Band camp starts three weeks before school, and during football season, they spend almost every day practicing arrangements outside. For people to just shake off the commitment and time that fellow students put into band is just sad. “A lot of people just don't know about all the work we put in,” Copeland said.
The main point of football games is to watch football, but without the band, it would feel as if something is missing. Even if music still played over the speakers, the absence of the band would leave a gaping hole in the atmosphere of football games. While people can assume that band is “outdated,” BGHS football games wouldn’t be the same without the drumline and halftime performances.
Band tradition can't keep up with teenage culture
Although band has been a long lasting tradition for years, it is time to retire the band at most sporting games. It might be entertaining to few, but it is too outdated in today’s high school culture. Many can agree band performances should be held at only a few sporting events, like big championship games, homecoming, and other important occasions.
When at sporting events like basketball and football games, the band is very loud, and some people find it annoying. Students want to talk with their friends and enjoy the moment, but the blaring of instruments can render this impossible.
A frequent sporting event attendee who wished to remain anonymous said, “The band can be obnoxious and loud with no effect to the outcome of the match, and they get on old peoples’ nerves.”
Part of my issue is that band members receive letters and letterman jackets. Band is not a sport; therefore, letters should not be granted to members. There is no doubt that band participants put many hours into practicing, playing their instruments, and sometimes practice more than sports teams themselves, but letters should be exclusive to sports. Band and organizations like it require a lot of time, effort, and practice, but they don’t have that letterman importance to them. Schools should agree that letterman jackets need to stay exclusive for varsity sports, and everything else should be able to get special hoodies or something other than varsity jackets.
For students who go to high school sporting events, band is viewed as outdated and should not be at every event. Band performances should be kept exclusive to only a few important sporting games per year, and with those few events, they can put on a wonderful, entertaining performance like what was done at the fall homecoming football game. Although this article may seem very against band, it shouldn’t be taken that way. It is just the honest truth of how many high schoolers feel. No matter what, band members and other clubs or organizations still need to be recognized by the school, maybe not with letterman jackets or constant attention at games.
By Daniel Gazaryan
Band is the backbone of dear old Bowling Green High’s sporting events. Whether we are beating a team 50-0 or losing just as badly, the band is always there playing “Crazy in Love” and keeping the crowd cheerful and bright. The band is very underappreciated, and they deserve recognition for the hard work and passion they pour into the music on display at games.
They do their best to stay relevant despite the new wave of trap music that high schoolers tend to favor over live music. It may seem appealing to just play “Mo Bamba” over the loudspeakers, but trap music simply cannot replicate or compete with the experience of live music. The band is incorporating hip, popular songs in their repertoire such as “24K Magic” and “Shut Up and Dance” that the audience can connect to.
The Band continues to keep old traditions such as playing the Alma Mater alive, but now, they also add new elements and customs such as playing “Talkin’ Out the Side of Your Neck” before the Alma Mater at the end of football games. Drum Major Egan Copeland appreciates the old traditions but wants to continue to break barriers to elevate the experience at sporting events. He said, “We are starting to incorporate new things to keep the crowd and football team hyped up.”
People presume that the band is unnecessary and outdated without thinking about the hard work and talent that goes into performing. Band camp starts three weeks before school, and during football season, they spend almost every day practicing arrangements outside. For people to just shake off the commitment and time that fellow students put into band is just sad. “A lot of people just don't know about all the work we put in,” Copeland said.
The main point of football games is to watch football, but without the band, it would feel as if something is missing. Even if music still played over the speakers, the absence of the band would leave a gaping hole in the atmosphere of football games. While people can assume that band is “outdated,” BGHS football games wouldn’t be the same without the drumline and halftime performances.
By Maggie Pollard
Although band has been a long lasting tradition for years, it is time to retire the band at most sporting games. It might be entertaining to few, but it is too outdated in today’s high school culture. Many can agree band performances should be held at only a few sporting events, like big championship games, homecoming, and other important occasions.
When at sporting events like basketball and football games, the band is very loud, and some people find it annoying. Students want to talk with their friends and enjoy the moment, but the blaring of instruments can render this impossible.
A frequent sporting event attendee who wished to remain anonymous said, “The band can be obnoxious and loud with no effect to the outcome of the match, and they get on old peoples’ nerves.”
Part of my issue is that band members receive letters and letterman jackets. Band is not a sport; therefore, letters should not be granted to members. There is no doubt that band participants put many hours into practicing, playing their instruments, and sometimes practice more than sports teams themselves, but letters should be exclusive to sports. Band and organizations like it require a lot of time, effort, and practice, but they don’t have that letterman importance to them. Schools should agree that letterman jackets need to stay exclusive for varsity sports, and everything else should be able to get special hoodies or something other than varsity jackets.
For students who go to high school sporting events, band is viewed as outdated and should not be at every event. Band performances should be kept exclusive to only a few important sporting games per year, and with those few events, they can put on a wonderful, entertaining performance like what was done at the fall homecoming football game. Although this article may seem very against band, it shouldn’t be taken that way. It is just the honest truth of how many high schoolers feel. No matter what, band members and other clubs or organizations still need to be recognized by the school, maybe not with letterman jackets or constant attention at games.