The campus jazz band’s involvement in various school events not only promotes school spirit, but also encourages campus students to support the athletic teams as well as pumps up the athletes for their home games. Throughout the school year, jazz band practices everyday to perform in important festivals and school events. The band especially tunes in to home basketball games during the basketball season every year. Under the supervision of campus Music Director Michael Ogdon, members of the band provide a variety of live music to the audience during the games.
The band members stay committed, waking up earlier than most campus students almost every morning for zero period jazz band. They strive to improve musical talents and quality for numerous performances to represent the whole campus.
This is the third year in jazz band for junior guitarist Eric Cowin, ’14, and he remains persistent in order to improve and play with the jazz band. He especially enjoys performing in home basketball games.
“I personally enjoy performing for the basketball games because it gives more energy to the crowd and the game itself,” Cowin said. “It is entertaining to see the results of the basketball shots when we count how many times the ball is bounced during free throws.”
Senior basketball player (jersey no. 5) Jordan Boudreau, ’13, also loves the jazz band’s performance. He personally likes the the band’s counting during the free throws of the other teams.
“I really appreciate the band because they often encourage the basketball team to cheer up and play better,” Boudreau said. “I especially enjoy when the band counts to distract opposing team’s players during the free throws.”
For the sake of victories in home basketball games, Ogdon stays passionate to plays as well as the players. He strives for the best to bolster the team as much as he can.
“I love taking the band to the basketball games because the band provides great encouragement for the audience as well as the players,” Ogdon said. “It is a great opportunity for us to represent our band as well as to promote the basketball team.”
Despite a brand new experience as a first year jazz band member, eighth grader Matthew Garza says that he is excited to perform at basketball games because he is able to play music with other people.
“I love playing in the jazz band because I love playing music with others,” Garza said. “Playing music live at the basketball game is surely fun.”
While the jazz band’s main purpose is to support the athletes and to keep the audience enthusiastic throughout the games, it also supports the campus cheerleaders who cheer at every game. According to freshman cheerleader Marissa Jonigan, the band helps intensify the game and helps them with their choreographed dances.
“Jazz band helps make the game more intense and it makes everyone happy,” Jonigan said. “We have certain dances to certain songs that they play. All of the songs definitely get the crowd pumped up and excited for games.”
PODCAST: Jazz band success requires dedication: Jan. 11, 2013–
Along with the band members and athletes, various fans enjoy having the jazz band at home games. For FC parent John Nale, father of sophomore Cole Nale and junior Caleb Nale, the jazz band contributes to the emotional feel of the games.
“It’s wonderful because it brings a fun, hardy type, celebrating feeling to the game, especially if we’re winning,” Nale said. “There’s no question in my mind that they should keep coming to the games. It would be awful if they didn’t show up to the games.”
The jazz band plans to perform at the following home basketball games:
Fri., 2/1 vs Caruthers
Tues., 2/5 vs Minarets
Tues., 2/12 vs Parlier
Fri., 2/15 vs Fowler
In addition to playing at home games, the band will also play in the Heritage Festival, March 14-16, and possibly in a parade, March 2.
For more information, please contact Ogdon by calling (559) 287-4226. For more news articles, read the Jan. 21 article, BRIEF: Community honors King with events.
