To many a marching band is half-time entertainment. However, to campus band students, this is an important time of the year to showcase their talents.

?Band reviews help us improve,? Paul McEntee, band director, said. ?We?re critiqued by other music professionals, so we get opinions.?

McEntee encourages students to participate in band.

?I think everyone benefits from learning how to play a musical instrument,? McEntee said.

While the review may benefit some, the idea of giving up a Saturday afternoon does not sit well with others.

?I don?t really like band reviews,? Wolfgang Dunn, ?08, said. ?They take time out of my valuable weekends.?

McEntee, however, has a bit of a different view.

?They?re giving up part of their weekend,? McEntee said, ?but the work is done quickly, and a lot of the students still have fun.?

For many students, getting together for band on the weekends helps them bond with their friends.

?I enjoy the band reviews,? Chris Tharpe, ?08, said. ?It gives me something fun to do with my friends on the weekends.?

Andrew King, ?06, has participated in band since the sixth grade.

?I?m not sure why I did band through middle school,? King said, ?but in high school, it?s a lot of fun.?

King says that band can help students not only academically, but socially as well.

?Band gives you a great opportunity to make a lot of friends with similar interests,? King said. ?I know I?ve made a lot of friends through band.?

?The trips are definitely a great way to bond with your friends, as well as have fun,? King said. ?Some of the most fun memories I have were when we all went to Canada for my sophomore year trip.?

Band class exposes its participants to music and encourages students’ musical appreciation in addition to out of town trips.

?When I was younger, I started playing trumpet pretty much because I was simply interested in music,? King said. ?I think my skills have improved over my years in band and I?m glad I?ve participated in it all this time.?

While the band only has 24 members and competes against schools with over 4,000 students, the Eagle band has fared well in past reviews.

The band placed first in the small school’s division at the 27th annual Visalia Lions Band Review and Field Show on Oct. 15 and 3rd overall with 474 points. The Visalia review had 17 schools participating.

Kingsburg won the review with 481 points and Tulare Union placed 2nd with 478 points. Some of the schools the band beat included Farmersville, Orosi, Sierra, Exeter, Edison, Mt Whitney, Central, El Diamante, Monache, Golden West, Redwood and Madera.

The campus marching band?s next review will be held Oct. 29, in Selma. The Selma Band Review is the biggest band review campus band participates in. Band members should be ready to the board bus at 7:15 A.M. The parade starts at 9 A.M. with the awards presentation beginning at 6 P.M. Students will be back on campus by 7:45 P.M.

Interested students and parents can watch the band perform at the upcoming reviews: Pismo Beach band Review on Nov. 12, Friends of the Band concert/dinner on Nov. 17, and the Christmas concert at Community Bible Church on Dec. 12.

For more information on marching band, contact McEntee at [email protected].