The Road to Bands of America

On September 28, 2024, the Northwest Royal Brigade will perform their 2024 show “Imagine” at the Bands of America Iowa Regional, but behind the scenes, the Royal Brigade is a found community for many.

Since the beginning of August, the Royal Brigade has been rehearsing most days up into the school year. For students, days were long with consistent repetitions of pieces of music and drills. Marching band is a physically demanding activity that requires technical and musical skills. Band members are expected to memorize three movements of music and be able to march in time while playing. Like many sports, the practices and work behind the competitions and games are what create and put everything together.

Chad Friesleben, Waukee Northwest High School Band Director, stated, “[rehearsals] are everything. In fact, I would say the rehearsals are more important than the competitions. Because ultimately, we want to do well at competitions, but it is not what drives us. What drives us is excellence and the pursuit of excellence.” 

The time, progress, and deviation building up towards competitions is what many students believe is what marching band was made for. Rehearsals are the work behind the scenes and bring shows together. Students often find most of their friendships and community in rehearsals. This year, Royal Brigade members have spent over 60 hours working on perfecting “Imagine”.

Patrick Seidling, Director of the Blue Devils, a world-class competitive junior drum and bugle corps, mentioned, “A band is like any team, but a team with a unique aspect in that all team players play all the time! No one sits on the bench! Everyone plays, and everyone matters! Another great aspect of a band – and one that is my favorite! – is that bands can accept all people, no matter what.”

Everyone across the Royal Brigade is involved in the production of a show on the same level. Teamwork is a universal aspect of marching band, as Seidling tells us. From high school to professional bands, everyone is important. This factor is what makes the Northwest Royal Brigade such an impactful community for many students because everyone has a home and a place to belong in the band.

In regards to Bands of America, Friesleben said, “Bands of America is a national marching band circuit under a national music organization called Music for All. [Bands of America] runs regional and national championships throughout the country. The way the competition works is that there are twelve bands that advance to finals. All 22 bands compete during the day, and the twelve with the highest score advance to finals.” 

Waukee has been a finalist every year they attend. Bands are scored through a combination of how well the band plays and marches, and effects which is how those elements come together to make an impactful show. “Imagine” is based on the childlike development of imagination and inspires audiences to embrace their curiosity and passions. Every student in the band is able to become imaginative and be themselves when with teammates who support them. Many students in the Royal Brigade believe that the reason for competitive success is the work and community behind the band.

Chloe Gilbert, Northwest High School senior and Royal Brigade Drum Major, said, “[I am in band because] [people] accepted me in things, and they brought me to things they were doing, and I made friends that way. It made me want to stay [in band].” 

This year’s show features imagination throughout the media but also the minds of students. As a high school band, many students have other obligations and responsibilities, but when the time comes to put a team of students together, time stops and what matters most is performing and making music in the present.