The marching band joins in singing as a collection of photos and videos from throughout the season plays before their competition. Through traditions like these, students in various art organizations are brought closer together in friendship.
While the various organizations all practice different traditions, they all influence how their students bond. In the marching band, before competitions, a slideshow is played that displays photos and videos from throughout the season. A song specific to that season plays while the students who are watching sing along as a way to motivate themselves for the competition. The tradition comes full circle for seniors when they sing the song that was chosen for their freshman year at their last rehearsal.
“[The slideshows] build an unspoken bond and allow us to see what we’ve [accomplished],” Instrumental Music Council equipment manager and drum major junior Melanie Lopez said. “It pushes and motivates us to do our best.”
Another tradition occurs when the freshman, sophomore and junior woodwind players write letters to the seniors within the section. Seniors are also given the opportunity to write back to the underclassmen.
“When I get to know [the underclassmen], they mean more to me,” flute and oboe band captain senior Chinar Gajiar said, “[The senior letters] are something we share passion and love over.”
The Instrumental Music Council invites all students who are a part of any instrumental music organization for a movie night each year. At these movie nights, students from various organizations are given the chance to bond.
“[The movie nights] give an opportunity to talk to and hang out with people who you might not really hang out with in class so we can get to know each other more,” Instrumental Music Council president orchestra section leader bassist senior Ava Waggoner said.
