I’m in the band

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, October 29, 2013

In Greenwave country it means something to say, “I’m in band.” 

Known as The Pride of the Greenwave, the Leeds High School (LHS) Marching Band is readying itself for the Atlanta Super Regional competition in the Georgia Dome at the Bands of America Championship this Friday.

When LHS band director Chip Wise started some six or seven years ago he recalls 30 kids attending his first day of band camp. By the end of the week he said that number was up by 10.

Now with 70 total, the band is moving in a direction Wise likes to see.

Choosing to stick with and develop one show per year, Wise says the goal is to get better each time the show is performed. Whether that is adding new elements such as props in, Wise says he’s seen steady improvement in this season’s Sunshine of Your Love themed show.

“We focus on one show a year designed to be competitive as well as entertaining,” Wise said. “The show is designed so that the football audience will enjoy it, and we can take that same show and be competitive on a national level.”

Each year’s show theme is developed through a carefully crafted process of evaluating students’ strengths, music arrangements and their abilities to create the perfect show.

“Our goal is to perfect the show as the season progresses.”

Conditioning and toning themselves to make sure their marching has just the right rhythmic placement and their instruments are perfectly tuned to play the most beautifully generated notes, The Pride of the Greenwave is preparing for competitions that are considered “Marching Music’s Major League.”

Two years ago the LHS Band won their class at the U.S. Bands competition, which is the largest in the world.

“It’s about doing your best and reaching for something,” said Wise. “These competitions are about pushing yourself to do more than you thought you could do. When you earn patches for your band jacket, people pay attention.”

The LHS Band has earned the title as The Pride of the Greenwave because they are true champions.

“I’ve been so amazed and so incredibly impressed that these kids have turned up the heat on themselves,” said Wise. “We have a phenomenal instructional staff too. Jessica Frye and Gretchen Glass are our Auxiliary co-sponsors and Carry Pearce is our Color Guard choreographer. Frank Strength is our consultant. It’s really made a difference.”

After October 25th’s Super Regional, The Pride of the Greenwave Marching Band travels to Chattanooga for the U.S. Bands competition at Finley Stadium on November 2nd. 

“The goal is to make regional finals and move on to compete for the National Championship within the next three to four years.”

Thanking everyone, from the administrative staff to his students’ parents, Wise said none of this would be possible without their support.

“Amanda Crocker is our Band Booster president. She and a lot of involved parents really take care of business,” said Wise. “Mr. Turner, Hall, Briskey, Moore and Wren are also incredibly supportive. Coach Etheredge really understands what we’re doing, so it’s a really good balance of athletic and artistic inclinations.”

Looking forward to their upcoming competitions and proud of the growth the band has seen both in size and through its musical development, Wise says the marching season is shaping up to be spectacular.