Llano High School band members in step with each other

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

LLANO — As the Llano High School band ends its daily practice, the three drum majors call out to each of the classes. One student, holding his trumpet, smiles. He’s the only eighth-grader among high school students, but here, he’s just a member of the band.

“We don’t single people out,” said Julie Martin, one of the band’s drum majors. “When you walk through that door, you’re a member of the band.”

That attitude permeates throughout the Yellow Jacket band. In a room adjacent to the main band hall, the percussionists work on their music. Many are junior high students, yet band director Keith Riley pointed out those younger students are among the first to arrive at rehearsal and the last to leave.

“We’re so far ahead this year compared to last year,” Riley said. “And that’s the reason why. These kids are working so hard. They come and just work.”

It’s something Riley attributes not just to himself and assistant band director Kevin Riley, but to the student leadership team. This year marks the second year Keith Riley utilized a leadership training program for the band student leaders. Now he believes he’s seeing the results.

The drum majors — Martin, Logan Simpson and Alex Riley — are leading a group of more than 80 band members. It’s not always easy to keep 80 different people — let alone teenagers — focused on the task at hand, whether it’s working on marching or perfecting their music. But what they’ve seen so far isn’t a bunch of individuals looking out for themselves.

“The mentality this year is so much different than in other years,” Simpson said. “The band members who are here want to be here. The ones who don’t or didn’t want to work, well, they’ve left. So the ones here, it’s not a ‘have to’ be here, it’s a ‘want to’ be here. We choose to come and put the time in.”

The “want to” is a big step in creating a sound and look that will make a big impact on the field when the Llano High School band takes the field during halftime of the opening football game against Wall on Aug. 29. Keith Riley said that desire makes things so much easier.

“It’s been amazing to watch these kids work,” he said. “They come in here, and they want to be the best. So they put the work in. They’re talented, sure, but they also are willing to work at it.”

Alex Riley pointed out that while the band performs in front of crowds during football games, pep rallies and marching competitions, they can’t control the reaction of those audiences. This year, the band is competing in marching competitions with the opportunity to advance to state. But, she added, how far they go depends on judges.

“And you really don’t know how the judges will feel that day,” she said. “So when we go out there, we focus on playing the best we can. Because sure we can go to state, but what makes this band so strong this year is we’re playing to be our best.”

Simpson agreed.

“We don’t play just for the judges,” she added. “We play for ourselves.”

And it’s not just “ourselves” as individuals. Band members see themselves as part of a bigger group.

“In the band, you can go outside yourself because you’re doing this for the band,” Simpson said. “Every time you practice — whether it’s marching or music — you know you’re working to be your best because that helps the band be its best. The band is something bigger than yourself.”

It’s a family, the band majors explained. That’s why regardless if a student is in the eighth grade or a senior, they have a place within the band.

“It’s more than you come here to play. It’s so much more than that,” Simpson said. “As soon as you walk through that door, you’re in a family.”

daniel@thepicayune.com