HARLINGEN — “Horn up.” The young musicians raised their horns on the parking lot of Harlingen High School.
“Horn down,” said Camry Gonzalez, 17, speaking to the freshmen with calm authority.
She and other veteran marching band musicians worked with groups of freshmen on the second day of summer band camp.
“It’s going pretty good, they’re pretty swift,” said Camryn, a senior.
“They’re just starting to relax,” she added, a smile of satisfaction sweeping across her face.
The blistering July sun spread across the parking lot yesterday where about 60 incoming freshmen were learning their steps. Groups of students gripped clarinets, glistening saxophones, flutes, clarinets and other instruments, each with its own voice. The students stood ready to move on to the next phase of their band experience.
“We are learning marching fundamentals,” said Head Band Director Maria Coronado.
“It’s the basics of marching,” she said. “We’re teaching the students the right way to hold their instruments. We have upper classmen, they are the leaders, showing them the proper technique.”
She looked around at the freshmen, nervous but eager, gripping their instruments.
“We have a great turnout,” she said.
Drum Major Alexis Pedraza seemed to think so, too.
“It’s going really well,” said Alexis,16. “They are working hard to get everything right.”
Trumpet player Victoria Rivera, 14, smiled quickly as she considered the morning’s work.
“It feels good,” she said. “We’re learning the fundamentals, and we’re surrounded by all these great people.”
After sections of band members had finished practicing, they all gathered in formation.
“Make sure you line up your nose with the neck in front of you,” Coronado commanded.
“Sixty-forty,” she said, referring to the importance of students putting 60 percent of their weight on the front of the foot and 40 percent on the back so they can move forward quickly.
“Make sure you keep your knees slightly bent,” she said. “You look great. You look great.”
She then gave them a strong pep talk about all the practice which lay ahead.
“It’s going to be worth every bit of sweat,” she said. “It will be well worth it.”
And then, “Go Big Red!”
Alto saxophone player Major Valls, 14, seemed to appreciate the morning’s vigorous drills.
“They’re making sure we follow the right steps,” he said. Then, upon further reflection about entering high school marching band, he added, “It’s a little scary.”
Between 150 and 200 band students are participating in this week’s band camp at HHS, including the freshmen. Harlingen High School South’s band camp will take place next week.
