By Marley Seaman
"We start with marching basics, just how to move in all different directions using proper foot technique," says band director Michael Messina. "Then we add some notes, a little at a time, and little by little, they learn to play the song while moving."
The extra time put in by Messina and these students - some of them incoming freshmen who have not yet set foot in school - have made the Malverne band a champion, and one of the best high school marching bands in New York.
This year's band came together for the first time on Aug. 15. When Messina felt they were comfortable marching and playing, they started learning songs from "West Side Story." Their program featured "One Hand, One Heart," "America," a medley of "Maria" and "Cool." A four-day band camp began Malverne's march to an undefeated season.
The 104-person student band, which includes a color guard, drumline and a dance duet, rehearsed from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays as well as on Saturday afternoons. Then, almost every week from mid-September until late October, they donned their uniforms - white with a broad blue-and-red stripe, topped by black, plumed shako hats, which give marching bands their distinctive look - and competed against other schools in the Small School 3 Division of the New York State Field Band Conference. In a remarkable run, the band won all six contests they entered this year. They also got a strong reception at the Newsday Festival at Hofstra.
Also competing at Hofstra, decked out in gold and black, was the marching band from West Hempstead High, directed by Erik Carlsen. The festival is an enormous, brassy affair. More than 40 bands competed over three days. There are no prizes, but the event provides a powerful send-off for the student musicians. West Hempstead played on the second day, Oct. 19, and Malverne on the third.
A week later, after a quick run-through on the football field, the Malverne High band once again loaded onto buses and traveled to the State Field Band Championships, held Oct. 30 in Syracuse University's Carrier Dome. The event took place the day after Malverne's victory in a competition in nearby Phoenix. As it did in 2004, Malverne earned the silver medal for its performance.
The band has come a long way during Messina's tenure. When he came to Malverne a decade ago, he remembers, "There was only what we call a football band. The band only performed at football games."
Though the band still plays at games, and performed much of its "West Side Story" program at the Mules' Homecoming game on Oct. 22, now, with the competitive events, it has a busier schedule. Messina takes the band competitions seriously, however, and did not schedule a full season with a championship until 2002. The band placed eighth in the Field Band Championships that year, and has steadily improved.
Although the group strives to be the best, Messina has refused to make it an exclusive institution. "Everyone gets into the program," he says. "I don't turn anyone away. When they show up, they're part of the program."
The Field Band Championships marked the end of the season for the marching band. They will not play again for almost a full year, but when spring comes, Messina will start getting in touch with next year's freshman players.
"I give them their music and meet with them starting in about May, after [band] concerts are over," he says. "What we try to do is contact anyone [interested] before band camp, so they make sure they come to band camp. Parents know the date in advance."
The color guard and drumline are the first to return. By the time the band has regrouped at the band camp, members have already learned their moves, so they can be ready for everyone else as the cycle begins anew.
