Students attend band camp to prepare for halftime shows, competitions

Clovis High School marching band students work on their marching skills Tuesday during band camp at the high school. The camp, which began Monday and runs through Aug. 10, starts at 8 a.m. with marching practice. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth)

Lounging by the pool and sleeping in are no longer options for more than 150 Clovis High band members.

Not that they are complaining.

“We don’t feel like our summer is being cut short,” said Amanda Flanigen, senior bass clarinet player. “I have been talking to my friends all summer and we have been looking forward to this.”

The camp began Monday and continues through Aug. 10 with 160 students participating.

Clovis starts school Aug. 17.

A typical day at camp begins at 8 a.m. with marching practice, which is used to go over technical aspects and to teach newcomers the basics, according to band members.

The band breaks from the heat for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. before meeting back at the school for instrumental practice from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Instrumental practice takes place in the band hall and gives students a chance to divide up into groups and practice breathing exercises, the school fight song and stand music with their directors, according to band director Bill Allred.

The band concludes with a full group practice from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“The schedule is very intense, but we don’t want to waste a single minute,” Flanigen said.

Allred, entering his fifth season as director, said the band holds a pre-school camp every year to get ready for football and marching competitions.

The band performs all home games plus district and state playoff contests. They also compete in four marching contests during the fall.

“It takes an immense amount of time to get the timing down,” Allred said.

He said during the school year the band practices about 10 hours per week and it’s not enough time to get the show ready.

He said by the time the band finishes camp he’ll have about a quarter to a third of the show done.

Last year, Clovis earned its 40th superior rating at the district marching contest. They also received second in state competition.

“We have a great group of kids,” Allred said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie, especially among the juniors and seniors. They want to be successful. They want to work hard for each other and for the community and the school.”