09/04/2026
It's Band Season!
Our son-in-law’s sister is a freshman at UNL this year and, after going through the extensive try-out process, she made it into the “Pride of All Nebraska,” the UNL marching band. We were excited to be invited to tag along to see the band’s exhibition performance in Memorial Stadium the evening of August 26.
One of the fun things the band does every year at this exhibition is a “drill down.” It’s a bit like a game of Simon Says. The drum majors call out extemporaneous commands and the band members have to execute them perfectly. If they mess up, they’re tapped out, and this continues until only one band member is left standing.
I have lots of fond band memories—including being in band myself during the ‘80s at Deshler High School. I played the flute but took on the piccolo for marching band and pep band. I’ll never forget trying to master the piccolo part for “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” It was definitely the most challenging thing I’ve had to play—and nerve-wracking too, because everyone knows what it’s supposed to sound like!
Our daughter was quite shy, but she tried out for drum major at Republic County High School, a very competitive position in a band that was large and known for its excellence. She won the coveted position as a freshman, and developed what we now call her “drum major voice,” which has stood her in good stead as a high school teacher and a parent!
A highlight for the band during her tenure was marching in the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day parade in Chicago, which was nationally televised. It was almost unbearably cold, but several miles of marching and adrenaline kept the band members warm enough, and they had an exciting time performing and seeing the sights.
I think marching music (along with polka music) is some of the happiest music around. Music is one of God’s great gifts to his people, and I believe He is pleased when we use our talents in a way that brings joy and lifts up those around us!
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.” -Psalm 100:1
