August 5, 2021 at 4:59 p.m.
Coming back has been a challenge
Coming back has been a challenge
The challenge is not unique. But it has defined the summer.
After a season canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jay County High School Marching Patriots have been getting back to basics.
It’s not that the group is particularly young — there are about 20 students from each of the four classes, plus six super seniors and eight eighth graders — it’s that the loss of 2020 came with an impact. Only the seniors have more than a single year of experience going through the entirety of a summer marching band season. The freshmen and sophomores are all brand new to the process.
“It’s a different group dynamic,” said JCHS band director Kelly Smeltzer. “You’ve got to start at the very beginning. You’ve got to be very cognizant of pacing. You’ve got to be very cognizant of programming rehearsal. You’ve got to rethink about how you teach things … and being a lot more patient.”
Patience because about half the band had never marched before this summer.
Patience because everything had to take a step back, starting from fundamentals like keeping instruments in the proper position, pointing toes while marching and even simply playing their respective instruments.
Patience because the process is slower than in previous years. Some things that might have previously taken a day or so to learn now might take a full week.
“It’s been difficult,” said senior baritone player Seth Wilson. “It’s really been a challenge to get people back in the swing of things. But I think with the group that we have right now, we’ve really focused on pushing hard. … We’ve just been really successful with that. This group has drive.”
Junior drum major Thomas Charles, who conducts from the 50-yard line for the Marching Patriots flanked by fellow drum majors Breanna Lothridge and Cassandra Guffey, said the group is still maturing as the summer marching season nears its conclusion.
A key, he added, to bringing the group together after a year away was to develop a team atmosphere.
“We’ve gotten them involved,” he said. “When we do our cheers, we make sure they do it with us, get them more energetic, make sure they’re watching us.”
“When we first started they were all quiet,” added Guffey. “Now, you would never know.”
Smeltzer acknowledged that all of the bands headed to Indiana State Fair Band Day on Friday face similar challenges. They all missed their 2020 seasons.
Perhaps that across-the-board inexperience is why this year’s state fair contest is so wide open.
Four different bands — Muncie Central (twice), Jay County, Centerville and Winchester — have posted victories this summer. At the Drums of Winchester contest Saturday, Lebanon and Kokomo joined the Marching Patriots in finishing less that 0.8 points off the lead.
That makes six bands that have shown the ability to be in the mix for the state fair title, with potentially two more — Northeastern and 2019 champion Anderson — knocking on the door.
Senior saxophone player Lilly Hedges said that message — that Jay County has a real chance at victory Friday — was summed up by percussion instructor Mitchell Snyder.
“You have it in the palm of your hand,” she said he told the band. “So why drop it? Run with it.
“We have a chance. It's just a whole different feeling of hope.”
“It’s very nerve-wracking. We’re so close,” added Lothridge, noting that the Marching Patriots placed third in four consecutive state fair contests prior to last year’s cancellation.
Smeltzer said this year marks the first time he can remember JCHS finishing first (at home), second (at Centerville), third (at Muncie Central) and fourth (at Winchester) in the same summer.
“It’s going to come down to clarity and which band has the most emotion,” he said.
But, he added, he’s already happy with what the Marching Patriots have accomplished this summer.
“They’ve reached way past what I thought they would,” said Smeltzer. “We’re dealing with a pretty young group of kids, starting a week later than we normally do … going through COVID. …
“We keep pushing them hard and they don’t complain.
“What else can you ask for?”
After a season canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jay County High School Marching Patriots have been getting back to basics.
It’s not that the group is particularly young — there are about 20 students from each of the four classes, plus six super seniors and eight eighth graders — it’s that the loss of 2020 came with an impact. Only the seniors have more than a single year of experience going through the entirety of a summer marching band season. The freshmen and sophomores are all brand new to the process.
“It’s a different group dynamic,” said JCHS band director Kelly Smeltzer. “You’ve got to start at the very beginning. You’ve got to be very cognizant of pacing. You’ve got to be very cognizant of programming rehearsal. You’ve got to rethink about how you teach things … and being a lot more patient.”
Patience because about half the band had never marched before this summer.
Patience because everything had to take a step back, starting from fundamentals like keeping instruments in the proper position, pointing toes while marching and even simply playing their respective instruments.
Patience because the process is slower than in previous years. Some things that might have previously taken a day or so to learn now might take a full week.
“It’s been difficult,” said senior baritone player Seth Wilson. “It’s really been a challenge to get people back in the swing of things. But I think with the group that we have right now, we’ve really focused on pushing hard. … We’ve just been really successful with that. This group has drive.”
Junior drum major Thomas Charles, who conducts from the 50-yard line for the Marching Patriots flanked by fellow drum majors Breanna Lothridge and Cassandra Guffey, said the group is still maturing as the summer marching season nears its conclusion.
A key, he added, to bringing the group together after a year away was to develop a team atmosphere.
“We’ve gotten them involved,” he said. “When we do our cheers, we make sure they do it with us, get them more energetic, make sure they’re watching us.”
“When we first started they were all quiet,” added Guffey. “Now, you would never know.”
Smeltzer acknowledged that all of the bands headed to Indiana State Fair Band Day on Friday face similar challenges. They all missed their 2020 seasons.
Perhaps that across-the-board inexperience is why this year’s state fair contest is so wide open.
Four different bands — Muncie Central (twice), Jay County, Centerville and Winchester — have posted victories this summer. At the Drums of Winchester contest Saturday, Lebanon and Kokomo joined the Marching Patriots in finishing less that 0.8 points off the lead.
That makes six bands that have shown the ability to be in the mix for the state fair title, with potentially two more — Northeastern and 2019 champion Anderson — knocking on the door.
Senior saxophone player Lilly Hedges said that message — that Jay County has a real chance at victory Friday — was summed up by percussion instructor Mitchell Snyder.
“You have it in the palm of your hand,” she said he told the band. “So why drop it? Run with it.
“We have a chance. It's just a whole different feeling of hope.”
“It’s very nerve-wracking. We’re so close,” added Lothridge, noting that the Marching Patriots placed third in four consecutive state fair contests prior to last year’s cancellation.
Smeltzer said this year marks the first time he can remember JCHS finishing first (at home), second (at Centerville), third (at Muncie Central) and fourth (at Winchester) in the same summer.
“It’s going to come down to clarity and which band has the most emotion,” he said.
But, he added, he’s already happy with what the Marching Patriots have accomplished this summer.
“They’ve reached way past what I thought they would,” said Smeltzer. “We’re dealing with a pretty young group of kids, starting a week later than we normally do … going through COVID. …
“We keep pushing them hard and they don’t complain.
“What else can you ask for?”
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