The Colors Of Music: Rome High’s Marching Band Up And Ready

As summer break comes to an end, the Rome High School marching band is preparing to bring color into music with their show, “Chroma.”Every year, the high school marching band prepares a show and Rome High School band director Tab Brown said the show's theme this year is all about colors.“Chroma,” will feature well-known music from bands like Queen, Soundgarden and Led Zeppelin. The marching band will perform the medley at football games and competitions during the first semester of school.“'Chroma' is like the color palette -- music is all written in black and white, but we are here to bring the color to music,” said high school senior and drum major Wesley Van Leuven.Marching band shows are divided into four parts: introduction, opener, ballad, and closer. In “Chroma,” each part will feature a different color: the introduction will be red, the opener will be blue, the ballad will be yellow and the closer will be green.These colors will be displayed in banners along the side of the field, the color guard's flags, and custom-made LED lights on the drums. Brown said that colors will be represented in the music either through the song titles or the music’s intensity.Marching band season started last week, with a student leadership camp on Monday, July 8, and color guard and percussion practice the rest of the week. The rest of the band started practicing this Monday.“We’re real excited about this group,” Brown said. “We’ve had a lot of great attitudes and their work ethic has been fantastic since Day One. That’s something that we’re pretty proud of.”At band camp, high school students -- including upcoming freshmen -- are learning the choreography and music they will be performing in their show. It’s hard work, with students practicing on the band practice field from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brown said that camp takes a lot of discipline.“It takes encouragement and just everybody having a positive attitude about it along the way,” Brown said. “We try to teach them a work ethic and let them know it gets easier every day that you show up. All you have to do is keep showing up and keep trying hard, and that’s all that we ever ask for.”Van Leuven agreed it's hard work, but said it’s worth it for the experience.“We have a great community right here in band,” Van Leuven said. “It's a great place to feel welcomed and wanted here. We are one big family, not just when we’re on the field.”Van Leuven said that this year’s group is putting in the work. By Day Three of camp, the band had already worked through the introduction to their show.“I’ve been real impressed,” Brown said. “I’m real happy with the vibe and real happy with the direction everything is going.”Rome High School’s band camp will end on Friday, July 26. Van Leuven said that by then, they will have up to the opening of their performance ready. After practice Friday, the band will host a preview performance where parents and band supporters can get a sneak peek of the show.The performance will be at Rome High School's main gym and starts at 6 p.m. The band will perform the introduction and opener of their show. Brown said that the event is free and everyone’s welcome to come.