The 2014-2015 pep band season has come to an end. This year was a little bit different than past years. There were plenty more basketball games to play for, and some new songs were added.
Students taking band at NHHS are required to play in the pep band, which plays right before the varsity game at each conference home game. They perform for 15 minutes before playing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
As a pep band, that is their one and most important goal, get the crowd pumped, or “pepped” up! During the 15 minutes, the band plays modern selections that a lot of people know and also some older songs, like “ You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Smoke On The Water.” These are a couple of the band members’ favorites. Keven McDowell, baritone saxophone player, stated, “Smoke On The Water” is my favorite because I like my part.” Josh Lindley, drummer, also said his favorite song to play was “Smoke On The Water,” for the same reason.
This season, there were quite a few new songs. “This year, our pep band was able to incorporate some new tunes into our song list. Some songs that we found were crowd pleasers were "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic, and "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes,” Mrs. Koch, band director, stated.
However, the band wasn’t able to perform on the stage as much as in previous years. It’s becoming more frequent that the band has to perform in the bleachers instead of the stage, due to the stage being used for other needs. It’s wasn’t until the last four conference games that the band was able to use the stage.
Each year, the band always tries to improve. This year, the element that has improved the most is, “Excitement! In the past, we have always had the same list of songs; this year we were able to play a lot more modern selections, which is both stimulating for our players and audience,” Mrs. Koch proclaimed. Next year, Mrs. Koch would like to improve on, “building our group strength in sound and accuracy.”
The next time there’s a conference home game, the pep band will be there to perform, and “pep” up the crowd! Tim Prussener, trumpet player, exclaimed his favorite part about pep band is, “We get to play energetic music. The energetic music just makes everyone pumped!”
During the next pep band season, there may not be too many changes. “Next year, I don't foresee any big changes. However, we will continue to work a few new songs into our repertoire every year,” Mrs. Koch remarked. In the upcoming year, if you attend a conference home game, you can expect to hear an improved sound and new songs.
-by Abby Perdue
As a pep band, that is their one and most important goal, get the crowd pumped, or “pepped” up! During the 15 minutes, the band plays modern selections that a lot of people know and also some older songs, like “ You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Smoke On The Water.” These are a couple of the band members’ favorites. Keven McDowell, baritone saxophone player, stated, “Smoke On The Water” is my favorite because I like my part.” Josh Lindley, drummer, also said his favorite song to play was “Smoke On The Water,” for the same reason.
This season, there were quite a few new songs. “This year, our pep band was able to incorporate some new tunes into our song list. Some songs that we found were crowd pleasers were "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic, and "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes,” Mrs. Koch, band director, stated.
However, the band wasn’t able to perform on the stage as much as in previous years. It’s becoming more frequent that the band has to perform in the bleachers instead of the stage, due to the stage being used for other needs. It’s wasn’t until the last four conference games that the band was able to use the stage.
Each year, the band always tries to improve. This year, the element that has improved the most is, “Excitement! In the past, we have always had the same list of songs; this year we were able to play a lot more modern selections, which is both stimulating for our players and audience,” Mrs. Koch proclaimed. Next year, Mrs. Koch would like to improve on, “building our group strength in sound and accuracy.”
The next time there’s a conference home game, the pep band will be there to perform, and “pep” up the crowd! Tim Prussener, trumpet player, exclaimed his favorite part about pep band is, “We get to play energetic music. The energetic music just makes everyone pumped!”
During the next pep band season, there may not be too many changes. “Next year, I don't foresee any big changes. However, we will continue to work a few new songs into our repertoire every year,” Mrs. Koch remarked. In the upcoming year, if you attend a conference home game, you can expect to hear an improved sound and new songs.
-by Abby Perdue
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