PHOTO BY SARAH ANDREWS

PHOTO BY SARAH ANDREWS

PHOTO BY SARAH ANDREWS

It’s halftime during a football game in Drake Stadium. The football team has left the field and the fans are returning from bathroom breaks. The field is quiet – until a stream of blue, white and gold slowly moves onto the green.

The Drake University marching band takes its positions. Members carefully distribute themselves in predetermined locations. They angle their shining instruments to the crowd as drum major Skye Brown (AS3) lifts her hands and the music begins.

Spectators only see the musicians’ finished routine – this year it’s a compilation of Journey hits. Many fans never understand the hard work and dedication that goes into twirling a flag or playing an impeccable note.

“Once the product is on the field, people realize how cool it is to watch,” color guard member Mari Adams (AS4) said. “The band puts in more work than people realize.”

Band members arrive at the stadium at 11:30 a.m. They often gather in a space behind the football field, where they rehearse their routine for an hour and a half prior to the game. Sometimes their practices involve moving to set beats rather than music, to preserve their musical playing abilities.

The band performs in almost any weather, unless the temperature drops below 32 degrees, when condensation in the instruments could freeze.

A field show differs from a concert, because it involves fitting both music and movements together.

Drake’s marching band normally meets three times a week for an hour and a half of practice. If a game is scheduled, the band practices the Friday before and prior to the game.

While participation in marching band isn’t considered athletic, there is a substantial amount of labor involved. Derek Hessing (AS3), a trumpet player, said the ability to march and play demands physical strength.

Rachel Rotich (AS4) marches with a sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to a tuba. She is no stranger to this physical work.

“It’s harder to play a big instrument,” Rotich said.

She said that a perk of playing a sousaphone was its vivid shine, which often attracts camera flashes.

Roland Hart (AS1), a tenor saxophone player, said marching band does require physical activity, but is not the same as a sport.

“You don’t really break a sweat in marching band,” Hart said.

Hart added that while there is no work involved outside of rehearsals and performances, rehearsals require a lot of focus.

This year, the band’s performance program features the music of the band Journey. Rotich said she was not familiar with Journey’s music prior to the show, but enjoys the sound. Rotich said marching band music is generally fun, upbeat and energetic.

The first song in the performance routine is “Any Way You Want It.” The piece features trumpet soloists Hessing and Bryon Kwilasz (E4). Other musical numbers include “Separate Ways” and “Don’t Stop Believing,” which features Hessing on trumpet and Brad Sparks (AS1) on trombone.

Several people are involved in putting the show together, including Grady McGrannahan, director of the marching band, who sometimes takes a seat high in the stands to coordinate band positions. Jazz professor Andrew Classen writes the drill and formations that the band makes on the field. Jordana Fink (AS2) creates the rifle routine and Kate Dahl (AS3) designs the flag routine.

Adams said she thinks the crowd appreciates the marching band.

“(The crowd) is pretty quiet when we’re performing,” Adams said. “I think people actually enjoy it.”