To The Beat of Different Drummers

Back when I went to high school, being in the marching band was akin to being given an atomic wedgie in front of the entire student population. Band geeks were the kids most likely to wear a Boston Celtics hat in the locker room. They were the kids who wore Beefeater costumes at the football games, and stumbled around at half-time playing songs your grandmother calls classics. They were the kids whose instruments didn’t plug in. Oh, how the times have changed, thank-goodness.

Today, if you go to Cherry Hill West, your marching band is more likely to play a tribute to Nirvana, than to Irving Berlin. And they’ll more likely be dressed as Prince than the model from a Johnny Walker ad.

Who is responsible for this renaissance in nerd-culture? 2nd year band director Jim Mark, that’s who. Mark, who doubles as West’s music teacher, has done more than assemble 33 student musicians into an award winning ensemble, he’s put life into a dying art.

The band won the United States Scholastic Band Association's Group 1A Championship in Atlantic City for 2001. They beat out more than 50 other bands with a seven and a half minute performance entitled “A Day in the Life of a Trashman”. Their music featured the rock group Queen, and band members dressed in a variety of ‘trashy’ costumes.

During segments where band members weren’t physically playing their instruments, they were busy juggling garbage bags. Their competition never stood a chance.

While the West Band makes it look fun and natural, Mark and the band have had to work hard to become as good as they are. Their competition season started back even before the school year started in a one week ‘Band Camp’. Then they practiced played together constantly(23 days in October). They marched at the football games on Saturday afternoon. Then it was off to competition with other schools Saturday nights, and some Sundays.

However, their season doesn’t end with football either. The rest of the year is spent traveling around to grade and middle schools where they perform before younger students. I guess we’ll call it Recruiting Season.

Hats off to Jim Mark, who has truly brought the marching band into the 21st century.

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Author: Jim McGrath