Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Area Bands Give ‘Superior’ Marching Performances
SPRINGDALE — Prairie Grove, Farmington and Lincoln high school bands came away with top scores last week during their regional assessment program sponsored by Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association.
The highest score a band can achieve, based on evaluations from three separate judges, is a superior rating or a “1.”
Both Prairie Grove and Farmington bands earned a superior rating from all three judges at the assessment held at Springdale High School football stadium Oct. 20. Lincoln earned an excellent or “2” rating from one judge and superior awards from the two other judges.
This gave Lincoln an overall “1” score.
The three schools are in Region 7, which includes Springdale and Har-Ber high schools, Fayetteville, Shiloh Christian, Huntsville and Greenland.
Lincoln’s superior rating was a major accomplishment, according to Billy Mere, band director.
Mere said a local band director told him that Lincoln had not received a superior rating in 29-30 years.
“My assistant, Jackson Jones, and I were very excited about the outcome produced by hard work and a lot of strong-willed students with determination. They are great kids. I like to think of the band as small but mighty,” Mere said by email Sunday.
For the past 10 years, Lincoln’s scoring has usually been a “3” or good, Mere said.
Gerry Nichols, Prairie Grove band director, said Prairie Grove participates in the assessment because judges’ evaluations are based on what the band is doing on the field.
“It’s impartial because it is not comparing us with the other bands,” Nichols said. “We are not competing against a standard of perfection but you are judged on what you do, not what you could do and should do.”
Nichols was pleased with his band’s performance, noting his students begin practicing before school starts and then practice every Monday and Wednesday after school and sometimes on Fridays.
“We put in about 10 hours a week,” Nichols said.
Farmington Band Director Jim Spillars said he could talk hours about the benefits of a band program. The assessment each year “legitimizes what we do,” Spillars said. “We’re scored on a rubric like any other academic class and we are judged by outsiders.”
Farmington last received a Superior rating for marching assessment about 10 years ago, Spillars said.
He noted that research has proven that participation in music performance builds connections in the brain. Students have to work on coordination, breathing techniques, counting, moving their feet at the same time and playing an instrument.
A 1 1/2-hour rehearsal after school is equivalent to three miles of walking, he said.
“It builds teamwork and a sense of family and discipline, both physical and mental. They are working together for a common goal.”
Being part of a marching band is a challenge that most people cannot understand unless they have been a part of it, Spillars added.
Lincoln’s competition show this year was called “Modern Mythologies Video Games.” Mere said he is a “big videogame nerd” and thought the kids would enjoy learning the show. Videogames featured in the show included Mario, Pokemon, Tetaris, World of Warcraft and Zelda.
One of his students, Kelby Biswell, agreed.
“Our show is unique and relates to today’s culture,” said Kelby, a junior and one of the band’s drum majors.
Kelby said being in the band has taught her leadership skills and how to be a member of a team. She also said she believes it has benefited her education by learning how to read music and how to march.
Monica Ness, a senior band student from Farmington, said she enjoys band because of the people and the competitions.
Farmington’s show was the music from the band Chicago and Monica said she was not familiar with that music until this year. Band has helped her focus, how to move in tempo and helped her with memorizing music, she added.
The bands will continue to perform at football games but their attention now will turn to concert season and tryouts for regional bands and orchestras.
Mere has been at Lincoln for three years. Nichols is in his 11th year at Prairie Grove and Spillars has led band at Farmington for 28 years.