Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Band gets ready for exciting year

Gurdon Senior High School band students number 28 for the upcoming school year, with attitude and dedication at a premium.

Fine tuning was the name of the game during morning practice this week, as members heard some advice about leading with your toe, not your knee  while marching across a football field.

The students were practicing on Wednesday, Aug. 10, and the advice came from Bruce Burson, the co-band director.

Allen Wimberly, the other co-band director, told them to keep their eyes forward instead of looking down for a line to hit while marching.

"If you miss the line, I wont get on to you, but I will be upset if you are looking down trying to find it," Wimberly told the group.

The first school year performance of the 2005-2006 GHS band will be on Friday, Sept. 2, when Gurdon will host the Prescott Curley Wolves in the seasons opening football game.

Wimberly said this years halftime shows will include such selections as, "Atomic Dog," "Jungle Boogie," "Funky Town," "Blue Swede Shoes," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Run Though The Jungle."

Wimberly praised the band members for their hard work this summer and said attendance was nearly perfect. He said they had never had more than two students absent during summer band.

"It is almost 100 percent dedication to the band program," Wimberly said. "The attitudes have been wonderful. As to knowing the material, I believe we are ahead of schedule."

Wimberly said the band program and its supporters are looking forward to a very exciting year.

He gave a special thanks to the Band Boosters and parents for their continued support.

"I believe we will have a great marching season, more excitement during concert season and also for all-region tryouts," he said. "Weve had some changes, but things are really shaping up."

As to changes, Wimberly said Sarah Byrd, a junior, is now the drum major; the color guard captain is Lacey McNabb; and the co-captain is Victoria Allen. Both are seniors.

The feature twirler is Christian Hopson, a junior. Wimberly and Burson both agreed that music students will usually go to college; especially those in band.

"There have been numerous band students from Gurdon to receive academic or music scholarships," Wimberly said.

Although band membership in high school is down from 32 to 28, Wimberly said those signing up for beginning band are on the increase "so we expect bigger numbers for GHS in the future."

It is Wimberlys 19th year as a band, with 10 years in Gurdon. Burson has spent 21 years teaching, with 12 in Gurdon.