The Panther Marching Band has debuted its newest halftime show. Since Friday, August 22, the band has performed songs including “Kill This Love,” “Valerie” and “Can’t Hold Us” during weekly football games under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Pignataro.
“As expected, they have been getting better for the past three weeks,” Pignataro said. “They’re starting to get more and more excited.”
Lots of preparation goes into the show from both students and adult leaders.
“A big thing that silks does that we’ve been working on for the past couple of years is counting with the tempo, loud enough so that the person next to you can hear,” silks coach Arya Boris said. “You’re not spinning on the field alone, you are spinning as a team.”
Even announcing the songs requires planning and researching.
“I use music journals to check the history of some of the things and then I try to find a little bit of a witty way to connect the songs,” Pignataro said.
The show is not fully complete, as extra components like an additional dance break during “Can’t Hold Us” need to be added and the current dance break for “Valerie” also needs to be worked on according to Pignataro.
The first half time show can prove intimidating, especially for new members of the band.
“I was nervous that I was going to fall,” flute section member freshman Emma Clouse said. “But I was expecting it to be really fun.”
Such a debut can create high expectations as highlighted by the challenges faced at the beginning of the season.
“I think that the most challenging aspect is always the concern that people have of needing to be perfect and perfection is not expected, and especially new members don’t realize that,” Boris said.
Following the performance, Pignataro received positive reception.
“I hear the comments from adults that the students appear to be having more fun,” said Pignataro.
As initial fears subside, the freshmen are excited to continue the band season.
“I just look forward to every Friday now, because I think this is a lot of fun,” Clouse said.
As the show progresses, it becomes more apparent how much, even at the beginning of the year, the show can change a night.
“I think that the show is instrumental, pun not intended, in bolstering the energy, which absolutely feeds the team,” Boris said. “If the band were not there, the stands would be quiet.”
