Band students from Silver Spring Intermediate School and Templeton Middle School visited the Hamilton High School stadium on Tuesday, October 15 to watch members of the Hamilton High School Marching Band perform on Grove Field. The annual field trip has become a tradition for the Hamilton School District band program, sparking an appreciation of the arts for years to come.
“I was excited to see the marching band because it shows how much precision and coordination it takes to be in a marching band,” explains Silver Spring Intermediate Sixth Grader Lilah King. “It also shows me what I could do when I am older.”
The annual performance is complete with educational explanations about the instruments and music from Hamilton High School Director of Instrumental Music Jon Waite. After performing, several high school students had the opportunity to speak directly to the crowd of intermediate and middle school students.
“Band has changed my life and has given me so many opportunities,” Hamilton High School sophomore Carter Zieger told the crowd. “It has made me so many new friends. I can’t stress enough how important it is that you stick with band.”
Hamilton High School senior Megan Draheim told the younger students that she remembers coming to watch the high school band when she was their age. Draheim now travels to the middle school to assist with band classes there. “As someone who gets to see and work with the middle school band kids every day, it’s important to reflect and share my band experience with the kids I love,” explains Draheim. “I think it’s important for them to see their future selves being passionate, excited and involved with band and the family we create.”
Sixth grade Silver Spring Intermediate School student Thulasee Shri Kalyanaraman was excited to see her older sister perform. “My sister is playing and I want to do band in high school.” Brielle Taylor is also a sixth grader at Silver Spring Intermediate School and was interested in hearing all the notes the HHS band members play. “I hope to be inspired to play in high school,” said Taylor.