Participating in any form of band provides many opportunities. Whether it be traveling on trips, playing in competitions, or getting the chance to perform in front of hundreds of people at the football games.

Pattonville’s middle school 8th graders will have an opportunity to perform with the high school marching band this Friday at the varsity football game against Ritenour.

“We like trying to get them interested in marching band and get the chance to see what it’s really like and to allow them to have some interaction with the high school students,” Ms. Sara Deutschmann said. “We try to make it fun for them.”

The musicians will be performing the Fight Song, Hey Song, Pattonville’s Alma Mater, and the Star Spangled Banner during the pre-game performance.

In order to prepare, the 8th grade students joined the high school marching band at its practice on Tuesday night. The students got the full Friday night experience during their rehearsal.

“They get to be a part of the pregame show and run out onto the field with the high school students and make the PHS,” Ms. Anna White said. “We give them the time to interact with the high schoolers and at the end of the night, we have an ice cream social.”

The band first warmed up together as a group and then headed to the field to practice running through the stadium tunnel as they enter the field. Based on the instrument they play, it determined which of the two entrance lines they would stand in.  The musicians then ran out of the tunnel and onto the field, forming their blocks. After a few counts, the drum line begins to play and the band moves to form the “PHS” letters. After this, the band begins to perform the selected songs and then exits the field.

The 8th graders will be performing on Friday, Oct. 6, before the Pattonville vs Ritenour football game. The game will be shown on Facebook Live. Like PattonvilleTODAY on Facebook in order to watch the pre-game performance and the live stream of the football game.