A long series of semi trucks rumbled in and out of Clarkston High School’s parking lot last weekend, interspersed with trailer-toting parents and one busload of musically inclined young people after another.
The high school students’several thousand’arrived ready to march, and took to the turf off Flemmings Lake Road dressed in garb ranging from formal band uniforms to hard-hat-topped construction worker attire.
The event: The 30th annual Clarkston Schools Instrumental Music Association Marching Band Invitational.
The CSIMA’formerly known as the Band Boosters’hosted 30 bands for the daylong competition Saturday.
‘A lot of people think a marching band does the halftime show at football games and it ends at that,? said CHS Band Director Mike Lewis, who’s taught in the district for the past 13 years, working at the high school exclusively since 2003. ‘Most people just don’t realize what the kids put into a whole show like this.?
The band, which has 70 new members this year’including about 40 freshman from Clarkston Junior High’practices about 10 hours each week.
Even with so many young, new faces, Lewis said the 160-member band performed ‘surprisingly well? this season.
‘They’ve been working really hard and picking it up really well,? he said. ‘It’s been a nice group to work with.?
In addition to regular rehearsals, Lewis said, band members often call and run extra practice times for their various sections. Another four-hour practice is typical on show days.
Each of the 30 bands performed a unique program, but only 29 actually competed to place; as the hosting school, Clarkston’s marching band presented ‘Power and Grace: Music of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky? as exhibition only.
The band was eligible, however, to accumulate points in a hopeful march toward the 2007 Michigan Competing Band Association State Championship at Ford Field in Detroit.
Clarkston is currently ranked third in the state within their flight’a rating based on total student enrolment.
In November, the top 10 schools in each flight will attend the state championship. Although determinations are not made until after the final competition Oct. 27, Lewis was optimistic about the prospect of competing at Ford Field.
‘We’ll find out this weekend,? he said. ‘I’m very hopeful at this point.?
During the competitions, bands are judged and awarded out of 100 possible points for the general effect of both music and visual elements of a performance, as well as individual and ensemble music performance, and individual and ensemble visual performance.
Judges can also penalize a band for mistakes such as arriving at the goal line less than 10 minutes before their scheduled performance time, crossing the goal line before signaled, taking an excess of four minutes to set up and warm up on the field, performing outside the allotted 7-11 minute time frame, or taking more than four minutes to vacate the field.
Lewis said he depends ‘tremendously? on CSIMA and other parent volunteers to keep the show running.
‘They do just a ton, from way back in the spring until now,? he said. ‘That show couldn’t have happened (Saturday) without the parents. Not a chance.?
Large groups of parents known as ‘the pit crew? transport, assemble and disassemble band equipment, including large, often complicated and cumbersome props, in the parking lot and move it up to the field on a strict time schedule.
Parents also make sure kids and volunteers are fed’long tables spread with chaffing dishes, crock pots, and deli trays dot the parking lot surrounded by hungry teens.
Volunteers work during event day, and all through the year, on essential tasks such as programs, concessions, schedules and logistics.
And, in addition to serving as a forum for competition, Saturday’s event at the high school is important to the marching band’s financial well-being, as well.
‘This is our largest fundraiser of the year,? said CSIMA President Kathy Tibitoski, noting the group begins planning for the invitational in early spring each year.
‘Our music program is largely supported by this event.?
It takes hundreds of helpful parents, she said, to pull it all off.
But it’s a job none seemed to mind.
‘I just enjoy being around the kids and the other parent volunteers,? said Ken Brown, who was manning an authorized-access-only gate and escorting bands off the field Saturday. ‘I’ve become friends with many of them over the years.?
Both of Brown’s daughters were members of the marching band. The oldest graduated in 2000, the younger in 2003.
But he keeps coming back to lend a hand, anyway.
‘It’s fun,? he said.
The Clarkston High School Marching band performs at the Huron Valley Invitational Sat. Oct. 27 at Lakeland High School in White Lake.
The 2007 Michigan Competing Band Association State Championship takes place Sat., Nov. 3 at Ford Field in Detroit.