Blazers march to a different tune

With their miniature music stands securely attached to their instruments, 35 musically talented Blazers clad in red and white uniforms march into near-perfect formation. After an almost decade-long hiatus, the Blair marching band makes an exciting comeback to the school football field at the season opener.

Led by the vivacious junior drum major Vincent "Drew” Thomas, the Blair marching band divides into two parallel lines and begins to play the upbeat, adrenaline-pumping number "Fight!” as the football players, cheered on by the energetic poms squad, run in between the formation.

Many high school marching bands consist of nearly hundreds of musicians, making Blair's 35-member crew unique in its smaller-than-average size.

Just the beginning

When music teacher Kurt Lucas came to teach at Blair, he felt that something was missing in the school's music department.

After receiving approval from the school, Lucas organized a summer workshop for prospective marching band members during which they learned the basic skills needed to perform in a marching band: left foot first, eyes on the conductor, keep up with the beat.

The musicians have varying years of musical experience says Lucas, who has taught music in Montgomery County for 27 years. "Others have just started,” he says.

Senior flutist An Nguyen-Gia recalls the group's first practices. "I remember how we were very uncoordinated and how we used to bump into each other,” she says, laughing. "We couldn't even march straight or start at the same time. Positions would switch a lot, causing confusion. But now I think we do a decent job, considering it's our first year,” she says.

The marching band performs for ten minutes before each game. Their typical routine begins as the band marches into formation and plays songs like "Fight!,” "YMCA” and the dynamic "Brick House.” Later they form two lines and play the "Star-Spangled Banner.”

According to Thomas, the marching band plans to dedicate its next pre-game show to the victims of the tragic Sept 11 incident. He says that the nationwide tragedy has brought new meaning to the marching band's role at the games. "There is a sense of new feeling and emotion in the music,” says Thomas. "We can express our freedom through the songs we play.”

Junior Eva Paspalis, a clarinet player, believes that compared to past games, the presence of a marching band in the home bleachers has motivated the audience and the athletes at this year's events. "I think we inspire the football team to go that extra yard,” she says. "We also see people in the bleachers dancing to our music. It's a wonderful feeling.”

A sound like no other

As a student conductor, or "drum major,” Thomas is responsible for leading the band on the field, coming up with new ideas, inspiring creativity and, of course, pepping up the musicians. "The strength lies in the band's charisma. We put emotion, feeling and energy into the music. They enjoy doing what they do and you can tell from how they play,” says Thomas.

But, Thomas adds, "having too much fun” can at times hinder the band from perfecting its music.

Freshman percussionist Brent Thomas, Drew Thomas' brother, emphasizes the significance of the band's percussion. "Drums keep the time and the beat. If we don't do our part, the entire band can get lost,” he says.

Step in time

Lucas foresees the marching band improving even more in the future by getting bigger in size, and he encourages more students to join. "What the band needs is more members,” he says. Lucas looks forward to recruiting new members as the band becomes more stabilized.

Paspalis agrees that the band's sound would improve with more trumpets, trombones and tubas. "We definitely need more brass instruments to emphasize the melody in such a huge football [stadium],” she says.

Brent Thomas maintains high hopes for the marching band. "A lot more people will join the band because as we get better, [students] will see how much fun it can be,” he predicts.

Lucas says he also plans to add a few more positions to the marching band, including flag holders and a majorette, if interest continues.

So far, the marching band has made only two official performances at Blair's football games, but it will continue to entertain fans in future home games.

Drew Thomas has high expectations for the marching band's future at Blair. "I see the band going a long way, playing at all the games, traveling and competing,” Thomas aspires. "This is just the beginning.”