Carmen Gentilia
PCHS Traditions band prepares to take the field on Step-Off Night
Step Off Night, is an annual night for the high school and eighth grade band to get togetherand play along with each other at a football game. This year’s Step Off Night was last Friday,the fifteenth, starting with Step Off Day, where the high school band goes to visit the middleschools, Platte City and Platte Purchase, giving high schoolers and eighth graders a chance tomeet each other and practice their songs for the night.
Step off night is a time to introduce the eighth graders to how a high school band will run, andmeet students that they will play with once they come to high school. Step Off Night is a nightfor bands to play together as one group, learn and meet one another, and adjust the eighthgrade band members to a new experience. As more Step Off Nights occur we hope to see morepeople join the band and explore the experience.
Finally at the football game, the eighth grade bands get to sit along with the high school bandin the bleachers, waiting for half time. Eventually they step-off onto the field and play theirsongs, this year being “Land of a Thousand Dances”, “Hey Baby”, and “Louie Louie”.
“I think anyone who does Step Off Night, even if you don’t think you’re going to do band foryour whole time in high school you should at least try it your freshman year,” said senior Gage Fulk. “So toany eighth graders who might read this, definitely do it your freshman year to see how you likeit, give it a chance, I promise you it’s worth it.”