By Emily Thyrum
Normally, band camp consists of long and difficult work, but this year, The Penn Manor Marching Unit will flow right through it.
According to Mr. Tom Mumma, the band director, the marching band show of the 2013-2014 school year was originally going to be called “H20,” but now the name is “Water.” The music is called New Beginnings.
The show will have many different shades of blue out on the field with the backdrops scattered around the field. These backdrops will be the same as the last year, which will be turned horizontally to create a swirly blue background.
At the end of the band season of the 2012-2013 school year, the band staff met to pick the next year’s show. Everyone in the staff brought different possible shows to the meeting, and the list was then narrowed down. The show was decided on about a month later. Details are worked out a few weeks after that.
“[I am most looking forward to] arranging the music. I really like the music this year,” said Mumma. He is also looking forward to working with the students and performing the music, which he finds fun this year.
According to Mumma, the band will probably be five to 10 students larger than it was in 2012-2013. Some of the smaller sections from the 2012-2013 school year will now have more members, so Mumma expects that the band will move back up to the American division of the Cavalcade of Bands. This division consists of bands of a small-medium size.
“I like the drive and the impact of the music,” Mumma said. He also likes how the music flows, and he thinks the lyrical sections will be effective on the field.
Mumma plans to hand out the music on May 29. The band will try to put the general idea of the show out on the field for the first competition in September.
The music is rather challenging, and there are no pauses in the music, to emphasize the topic of water as the show. These aspects will be a challenge for the band for the upcoming school year.
Another challenge for the staff will be writing the show so some people will go out of view for some moments since there will be no pauses.
Band members are looking forward to next year’s show.
“[I’m excited for] being a positive role model for the younger students and the possibility to lead my section,” said Julia Yoder, a sophomore and flutist.
“I’m looking forward to seeing band members I can’t see anywhere else,” said Ashley Pfister, a freshman who plays the clarinet.