NATCHEZ &045; Under the sizzling summer sun, Natchez High School band looked more like the movie &uot;Drumline&uot; &045; with students scrambling and whistles blowing &045; than the average high school band. The only people missing were the dancers and &045; of course &045; Hollywood actor Nick Cannon.

More than 140 students participated in the annual band camp, which is held the week before school begins. The students have been reviewing and learning a combination of fundamentals, especially that of field show music and stadium music.

During the camp, each section lined up to review drills and field show procedures, while the others, who were anxiously awaiting their turn, chatted about their expectations for the upcoming school year.

The band directors were the judges throughout the week-long camp. The saxophone section was given this year’s top honor of being the best section.

&uot;It is better than it used to be. It is hot, but it’s fun. We have a new section leader. She is hard on us but it is for the best,&uot; junior saxophonist Shamika Herrington said.

With this year’s show dedicated to Ray Charles, who will be performing in Vicksburg later this month, there is a sense of excitement, anticipation and apprehension among the students.

&uot; The kids appear to be very optimistic. All the glitches have been resolved,&uot; Larry Buckley, Natchez High Band director, said. &uot; They are really getting into the Ray Charles Mood.&uot;

&uot;Georgia on My Mind,&uot; &uot;Hit the Road Jack,&uot; &uot;I Can’t Stop Loving You,&uot; and &uot;What’d I Say&uot; will also be played this year.

Student band instructor Jeremy Dixon was optimistic about this year. Dixon said the students showed a great attitude and the right mindset.

Senior Leonard Jackson, the drum major for the past two years, is anxiously awaiting the band’s first performance.

&uot;It’s going to be very different this year,&uot; said Jackson.

&uot; We have a new band director, and new

things are being taught everyday.&uot;

Unlike that of the upper-classmen, the freshman are slightly apprehensive, being that it is a major transition from junior high band to high school band.

&uot;It is much harder than in the eighth grade because the band directors were in charge,&uot; said Jimmy Farmer, the assistant drum major. &uot;Now, drum majors do everything. I am going to be nervous since this is my first time getting on the field.&uot;

It seems as if the grueling practices would be the most difficult task, but Farmer said the hardest thing is getting the upperclassmen to listen to a freshman.

Freshman Chelsea Hall, who plays the clarinet, said all she could think about was the piercing eyes of the audience as they watch the band.

Buckley, who has been the band director since the early 1990s, uses the camp as a base for the band’s busy schedule.

&uot;We concentrate on intonation, balance, phrasing, and all musical rudiments,&uot; Buckley said.

In October, the band will participate in state marching contests. For the past two years, they have participated in Alcorn State University’s homecoming parade.

&uot;We try to give the kids an opportunity to experience a university campus and their marching band,&uot; Buckley said.

After the marching is over, the band is divided into two different groups. Buckley said the symphonic group is for the more experienced students, and the concert is for the less experienced.

The band has undergone some minor changes in administration as well as the sections.

Zantiel Magee has replaced Clarence Gibson, who opted to take another position, as assistant band director and percussion instructor.

Dale Young and Omar Cavazos are assistant band directors.

William Mitchell is also one of the assistant band directors, as well as assistant percussion instructor.

Usually the clarinets are the largest section, but this year, the percussions are the largest.

With more than 140 students, and at least six sections to orchestrate in one week, one wonders how he understands everything.

&uot;Music is truly the universal language of the world. Everyone speaks different languages, but if you put music in front of them, they can all play it,&uot; Buckley said.