Friday, Aug. 06, 2010

Band camp a prelude to start of school year

Performers bond, get to ease into a routine of regular practicing

Though school doesn't start for more than a week, the junior high's marching and concert band kicked off its annual, weeklong band camp Monday.

Sixty-two of the 89 students registered for the Los Banos Junior High School class took up their instrument of choice -- clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, saxophones and a tuba -- Tuesday in preparation for the school year.

Anthony Parreira, in his 34th year as band director, said the first day of band camp started off much like it always does.

Some of the students come in not having touched their instrument since the last school year ended, while others are still learning how to put their instruments together, Parreira said.

"They're just really coming here totally green," Parreira said. "They're where they usually are [at this point]. A month from now, it will be a totally different band, a totally different sound."

The band's first performance, Parreira said, will be the Santa Cruz Band Review, a marching band competition in October.

Parreira said the band focuses on the marching -- it's now marching season -- aspect until mid-November when it will focus on concert performances.

The junior high band will participate in competitions in Santa Cruz, Selma, Merced and San Ramon, among others, according to Parreira.

"So, we're kind of all over California," Parreira said.

The band camp also serves as a smoother transition for the incoming seventh-graders, according to Parreira.

Moving from an elementary school to a junior high can be difficult for some students. Parreira said the camp helps to keep the seventh-graders from feeling overwhelmed by all of the changes.

"When they come to band camp, they have an opportunity to get to know another 50 or 60 kids that they'll know on campus," Parreira said. "So, it's kind of easing them into the school year."

Parreira said the eighth-graders enjoy playing a big-brother role, and the whole process allows the group to bond.

Tim Nguyen, an eighth-grader, plays tenor saxophone for the band. The 13-year-old said this will be his fourth year as a band member. He spent his last two years at Los Banos Elementary School in the band.

Nguyen said he's studied under Parreira all four years. Along with teaching at the junior high, Parreira teaches music at some of the city's elementary schools.

Nguyen said he enjoys being part of the band.

"It's fun," Nguyen said. "We get to be with our friends, and we get to play music."

Enterprise staff writer Thaddeus Miller can be reached at 388-6562 or by e-mail at tmiller@

losbanosenterprise.com.