It’s a well known fact that the band members are out on the field each morning practicing, but how much work and commitment goes into the marching band?
“It’s a huge commitment,” Band Director Patrick Conaton said, “because not only are you giving up a week in the summer plus sectional rehearsal time, you’re also waking up early every day.”
When asked about his place in the band, Conaton said he makes many sacrifices for the band including financial and giving up family time.
Not only does the band play at halftime, they also do all the parades in town, and competitions. Their first competition was on Sept. 21 in Grand Blanc against other Michigan marching bands in the MCBA.
Time is not the only thing that’s been sacrificed to make the band what it is.
“This year alone I’ve already spent around 2,000 dollars of my own money,” Conaton said, adding, “I would love to see my kids get on the bus in the morning but I can’t because of zero hour.”
Conaton is not the only one that is dedicated to the band. The students in band also give up a lot of their time to the program and are very involved.
“It’s a lot of mental work to think everything through,” senior Joshua Webb said. “I sacrifice a lot of my time at home that I usually use for myself to listen through the music or sort things out.”
Webb is the senior drum major in the band this year and is responsible for the leadership of the band as well as conducting.
Some band members are also involved in other activities like clubs and sports. One of these students is sophomore Gage Ogle. Ogle is a part of Fenton’s Ambassadors and is in theater on top of being in the marching band.
“Sometimes everything is hard to balance and find time for,” Ogle said, “but it’s worth it.”
All of the students and teachers involved in band are very active in the program. They all spend many hours in school and out of school practicing and perfecting their craft for football games, competitions and parades. They all agree on the fact that it is all of work but all of the sacrifices are worth it.
