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photo by Marcus Frazier
Natchez High School tuba players Cedric Gaylor and Tremaine Williams take a break with their heads in their tubas during band practice.
NHS band members try to beat heat
Published Tuesday, October 7, 2008
What do you do when the sun is glaring down on you, there is no shade in sight and the rhythm within just won’t stop?
Some of the members of the Natchez High School band simply use their brass.
Tuba players Cedric Gaylor and Tremaine Williams turned the orifice of their tubas into rest havens, shielding themselves from the sun, as they lounged in the grass with their heads in the mouths of their instruments.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Monterro Bates uses his instrument to hide himself from the bright sun during band practice.
But as the band waited for marching orders from director Curtis Smith, the sun’s glare seemed only to intensify.
And when the orders came, the bulky sousaphones were no longer pedestals for the young musicians to rest their sun drained bodies.
Horn player Monterro Bates however was still able to shield from the sun.
“It’s hot out here,” he said, before placing his instrument on top of his head.
Comments
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on October 7, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the boy with the horn on his head should have been told to pull his pants up before the picture was taken
Posted by seeemeeego (anonymous) on October 7, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article should have been run when they are practicing in August. This weather is nothing compared to nearly 100 degree temps.
And lookingout, you are a bit too sensitive. The boy's pants are just a bit big - and besides, he's wearing a belt. Don't sweat the small stuff.
Posted by nhs08 (anonymous) on October 7, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The conditions that these kids practice in are brutal. They start in mid-July while temps. are sky-rocketing into the 100's. They put in around 16 hours a week outside of school and travel to every football game in support of the NHS bulldogs! Congrats to the "Pride of Natchez" and we are very proud of you!
Posted by pride (anonymous) on October 7, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is Natchez High band getting smaller ? I remember at one time they
had close to 200 members in the program .
Posted by Southernly18 (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They should at least let those kids practice in the Steckler Multi Purpose Building like they allowed us to do before we graduated! That's stupid having those kids out there for hours!
Posted by sophie (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not stupid... If anyone has ever been in a marching band they understand you have to "endure the elements". That means hot weather, rainy weather, and cold weather. it's part of the job! If it's too hard to handle, then that particular individual shouldn't enroll in a marching band class. WOuld you say the same of the football, soccer, baseball, and tennis? Oh wait... They can do everything in the gymnasium. That makes PERFECT sense!
Keep up the hard work NHS band!!! Kudos to your directors: Mr. Buckley and Mr. Smith!!!!!
Posted by nhs08 (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to "prides" comment, the NHS band has gotten a bit smaller in the past year, but only because the directors have gotten rid of the dead weight and thugs. Quality not quantity. And the band has NEVER had 200 members, the largest the band has ever been was '01-'02 and had 130 including dancers and flags.
Posted by EIGHTYBABY (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
actually...nhs08...i do believe that the band was much larger than 120 in '01-'02(if not, it seemed larger)...and it didn't consist of any thugs and dead weight...only dedicacted members...in which whom were willing to perform in rain,sun, or cold weather...and didn't complain...they were like a marching army of brass,woodwinds, and drums...however...i may be wrong, but it seems as if they are at least 1/4 the size that they were in 01-02...and also the marching band was being led by clarence gibson
Posted by EIGHTYBABY (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and in response to "lookingout's" comment, all i see a young man showing his commitment to his band by trying to endure the heat... pants up or shirt down, at least he made the front page for doing something positive with his life...
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on October 9, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice comment eightybaby.....
We are so quick to put down on our youth rather than giving them praise for trying to do something right or positive.
Beside, that is nothing compared to how you see most kids this day in time wearing their clothes.
Posted by nhs08 (anonymous) on October 9, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EIGHTYBABY...I did not say that in 01-02 the band was full of thugs and dead weight....I said that as of last year and the year before the band was full of thugs and dead weight. The GENERAL is one of my best friends so lets don't try to make it something it's not. The band is young and inexperienced, but they are growning musically and emotionaly. We started over 120 at Morgantown this year alone, so the numbers will return, it is just going to take time. As far as everyone talking about the heat...the day these pics were taken the temp was a "blistering" 83 degrees. It is just kids being kids. No more no less.
p.s. the band WAS ONLY 120 members in 01-02.
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