By Chris Dietrich
VYPE: Many people don’t realize how physically demanding a band can be. How do you train or prepare for performances?
Carly Rogers: Marching band is a very demanding physical activity. The best ways I find to prepare and acclimate to the taxing work are mostly spending time outside and drinking plenty of water.
VYPE: How does marching band compare to traditional sports in intensity and teamwork?
CR: I feel that teamwork is an essential part of a good marching band. While unity is vital in marching band and sports, sports teams do not always play all their players. In a marching band, everyone is a piece of the puzzle, and their place on the field is essential. Everyone contributes to the whole show every step of the way. Even if someone is not marching the field, they still contribute by moving a prop or playing from the sideline to help add to the band’s sound, which are both essential things helping make the show.
VYPE: What’s the most physically or mentally challenging part of performing?
CR: While the physical aspect of performing can take its toll, the mental aspect is far more challenging. It’s very easy to get in your head before a performance, especially if you play a significant role in the show. I know this feeling firsthand after being a soloist in Westmoore’s 2024 show, “Venom.” I felt the pressure very severely at times, knowing that if I made a mistake, everyone, including my peers and instructors, would hear and possibly judge it. However, all my peers and instructors supported me, which helped me push myself to improve each performance.
VYPE: What has been the most intense or high-stakes performance you’ve participated in?
CR: The most intense performance of a show I think I’ve participated in would have to be our performance of “Venom” at the St. Louis (Bands Of America) BOA Super-Regionals competition. We were going against some of the best bands in the country, and we had been preparing for this all season. It was most definitely high stakes. Even though we didn’t make the top ten finals in the end, we still had a great experience. We did, however, reach the top twenty. We learned from our performance and were proud of the good things we had achieved, and our Oklahoma Bandmasters Association (OBA) performance that followed BOA St. Louis was one of our better ones.
VYPE: Can you describe the energy of stepping onto the field before a big competition?
CR: The pre-performance energy is nervous but also exciting. I remember my first few performances as a freshman, being nervous that I would spontaneously forget all of my sets and choreography. However, once we began performing, it was so much fun, and even though I made plenty of mistakes, I still had a great time, which made me even more excited for the next performance. I love performing in marching band, and performances for a large assembly of people have become some of my favorite ones. The applause and standing ovations after a good performance are exhilarating and have always made me look forward to the next opportunity to perform.
