Pride of Cove Band marches back in action
Fri, 2016-08-05 05:00
News Staff
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The beginning of the school year is about two weeks away, but members of the Pride of Cove Band are showing up early at the high school and staying for the day as they learn the steps for their fall halftime show and prepare for competition.
This year, Anthony Chapa is the new director of bands and is bringing his own flair to the daylong camps.
Chapa was tapped for the top position’s as CCISD’s director of bands this spring after the passing of former director Andrew Nixon. This is his 23rd year in teaching and his 22nd year at CCISD.
From 8-11:30 a.m. each day, the students march on the blacktop beside Lea Ledger Auditorium, with the pavement covered with numbers and stripes that mimic the stripes on a football field.
Mornings are spent in the parking lot, with the band learning to march and step as one. Afternoons are spent with the music.
This year’s show is called “Out of Darkness” and is based on a dragon theme, Chapa said.
His approach is different than his predecessor’s and focuses more on movement fundamentals, he added. The first day of the camp, the students moved on the blacktop without their instruments, focusing on footwork and movement.
In addition to learning steps and choreography, the band breaks into sections with each section leader taking their group and focusing on footwork and posture, and holding instruments.
Senior section leader Kameron Gasken plays the clarinet and has worked under former directors Randy Kelley, the late Andrew Nixon and now Chapa. All three directors have a similar standard of excellence, but Gasken said Chapa is his favorite.
“He gives his section leaders more responsibility,” Gasken said. He has a future goal of becoming a band director himself and is aiming to attend the University of North Texas.
The band is keeping its show under wraps until Spirit Spectacular in September, Chapa said.
“There are a few games before that, and we’ll probably play some school spirit tunes,” he added. “We want our first public performance of (Out Of Darkness) to be in front of the parents.”
Nancy Norris took over Chapa’s spot as the director of the school’s symphonic band and the color guard. With 18 years under her belt, Norris came to CCISD from the Lampasas Independent School District.
She’s already looking forward to the time when the band gets to step onto the field at Bulldawg Stadium on Sept. 15.
“My favorite part of the show is the opening,” Norris said. She wouldn’t say exactly what the movements involve, but said “there’s lots of gold.”