Woodside’s marching band has officially started preparing to compete in two marching band competitions this winter. 

As of August, the marching band has been practicing every Thursday for not only Friday night football games but also their routine for the upcoming competitions in November. 

“[To learn a new routine] we have to get our drill and we have to learn the music first and then we’ll spend probably a month rehearsing everything on the field, making sure everyone knows their spots,” senior Lucas Farrell-Straight said. “By the start of our first competition probably I’ve put like 60 hours into learning [the routine].” 

The competition scores are scored based on the quality of the written music, how well it is played and the field visuals. According to music director Nicolas Gaydos, Woodside scored 64 out of 100 at the end of their season. This year, their goal is to break 70.

“We’ve got a lot of talented musicians in the group and that being our second year competing,” Gaydos said. “We’re still learning and evolving and getting better.”

Many members of the marching band recall football games as the most memorable part of being in the group. For senior Tyler Yuen, playing during the football games offered him the opportunity to share his talents and increase school spirit.

“[My most memorable moment was] beating Sequoia,” senior Tyler Yuen said. “We’re also a pep band so that was pretty fun. The atmosphere was lit.”

The marching band’s competition dates are Nov. 9 in Napa Valley and Nov. 16 at Fairfield Rodriguez High School. People can support the marching band at these competitions by going to fundraising events, volunteering and cheering for them at football games.

“Our first competition at Del Mar was pretty fun just being on the field [for the] first time,” Yuen said. “Obviously we had a lot of mistakes, being the first-time marching band at Woodside, but it was still fun just to be out there, just [to] get our feet wet.”