Marching Band Boosts Spirit With 2nd Semester Extension

Emma Chen, Staff Writer

Marching band wind players practice their marching formations. “I’m very excited about this change,” Marching Band Head Director Matthew Distante said. “Allowing a second semester of marching bands means that the students that are in this class now are going to come in the fall and be very, very well prepared for what we’re asking them to do.”

The Marching Band’s tunes and cheers that energize the student section at football games can now be heard at spring sports matches. Starting this school year, both current and prospective marching band students have the option to take the once exclusively fall semester course in the spring in order to improve their skills and raise school spirit.

Instrumental music directors made the decision to extend marching band to two semesters due to new state athletic requirements, according to Distante. The additional semester allows students to earn their required physical education credit in the spring semester while improving on their musical technique.

“We hope to increase the amount of pep tunes that we know and increase school spirit on campus by being actively involved in performing at all the available and interested spring athletic events,” Distante said. “The goal is to make [students] better at their instruments and hope that they have a good time while doing it.”

Percussionist and sophomore Peter Liu said that for him, the addition of the spring semester is an opportunity to refine his technique and skills for percussion instruments.

“I wanted to stay because I wanted to do something more exciting to get my PE credits,” Liu said. “Staying has motivated me to continue working my instrument and master the fundamentals while still having fun.”

With fewer students in the class than in the fall due to the course being for students dedicated to refining their skills, students are able to get more individualized feedback from the directors. The smaller class size also helps strengthen friendships within the band, according to mellophone player and sophomore Luna Kim.

“I really love the community [in marching band],” Kim said. “Since mostly underclassmen stayed in marching band during the second semester, we were able to really bond and have a community.”

The second semester is usually demanding for most students due to AP testing, more complex class material and final exams, according to Distante. Due to this, Distante said that he strives to have the second semester operate as an off season for additional practice, with the hopes of providing students with many performance opportunities while not having the stress of preparing for the formal competitions that happen in the fall season.

“We are planning on using the off season as a chance to relieve stress and focus on learning new music and making good memories while playing that music,” Distante said.

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About the Contributors

Emma Chen, Staff Writer

Emma Chen is a staff writer for her first year on the Portola Pilot. She is looking forward to meet more people and experience more of the school’s culture and events, while sharing her creativity and love for writing. When she’s not procrastinating via doomscrolling, you can find her singing along to the newest song stuck in her head, genuinely getting scared by mystery books, or playing piano.

Mason Truong, Staff Writer

Mason Truong is a staff writer for his first year on the Portola Pilot. You can find him on campus in the library reading the newest fantasy book, or walking around trying to decipher the daily Wordle puzzle. Outside of school, he enjoys experimenting with new culinary recipes, riding his bike, and practicing his form at swim practice. He is so excited to start his first year as a writer on the Portola Pilot staff!