LEADING SERVING ENCOURAGING By Raneisha Stassin Harding's Thundering Herd marchin band gave students the opportunity to gro\\· not only in their music, but also in their faith. Student. began the semester with band camp where they set the tone for the semester through practice and prayer. Students al o welcomed new members and got a head start on learning music for fall shows. Assistalll profe sor of music \Vesley Parker, the director of the band, used his passion for music to build practice that "·ere not only fun, but also goal-oriented. "I think it's paramount to have fun with the music," Parker aid. Parker said he made sure to choose music that studems were familiar with and enjoyed, because they practiced three time per week to prepare for shows. Rather than being labor intensi\'e, the practices were focused on achieYing a goal, according to freshman Caitlin Pepple. "\\'e're really goal-oriented so once we reach a goal, we're done for the clay," Pepple said. This trategy worked "·ell, as the marching band led wonderful halftime shows during football season, but their talent did not stop their nen-es from going into overdrive. Before big shows like halftime, students encouraged each other and often prayed for each other, according to Pepple. "I wa very nervous, being that it wa the first how I've e\'er clone," Pepple said. "Talking to ome of the eniors and upperclassmen and asking them for ad\'ice, and really having fun [helped calm my nervesl I chose to let myself have fun and get into the game, and by the time I got out there it was like a huge adrenaline ru h." Students not only encouraged each other before shows, but also after. Senior Aris Ortiz, former band pre ident, suffered injurie at the start of the chool year clue to a car accident. The band poured out support and prayer for him as he recovered, and they even prepared a care package, which Parker personally delivered. This was not the first time the band came together to pray and support each other. Prayer and piritual growth were often encouraged among band members. The band had a Facebook page set up solely for the purpo e of prayer reque ts, and they ended each rehear al with a prayer. Senior Samantha Schroy said the spiritual support played a huge role in her spiritual journey at Harding. "\ \'c are always encouraging each other piritually and emotionally," Schroy said. 1Iany of the band members thought of the band as an extended family - one that provided them a space to grow. "\Ve are around each other so much, it becomes a family atmosphere," Parker said. "I am very impressed with how spiritually mature they all are, and it's neat to see them grow in their faith." T he T hundering H erd performs on the lawn of the Ganus A thletic Com plex during the tailga te befo re the home football ga me on Se pt. 3 . /\!embers of the band played fig ht songs at the tailgate to excited students for the foo tb all game. I Photo by Ka;:_u Fujisawa Sophomore Emily Carrell marches with the piccolo during the halftime show al the Harding football game against Oklahoma Baptis t University al First Security Stadium on Sept. 3. Th e Thundering Herd perfor med duri,ig every home football game when the Bison's scored a touchdown, made a crowd-pleasing play and al halftime. I Photo by Ka{u Fujisawa Freshma n R apza D eJoung plaJ'S the sa\ophone during the Bisons · halftime show. The T hu ndering Herd played a selectio n of pop music and figh t so ngs, including music from the 80s and 90s, during the halftime shou• on Sept. 3 . I Photo by Ka;:_u Fujisawa )'1'1 ), OHG \\II. \"110\ \
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