Bob Jones band performs halftime show on Friday for fans
(Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON-  It was  the earliest anyone can remember band camp being held. With school starting early Bob Jones moved band camp up two weeks ahead of when it was held the last two years. Some cloudy cooler days helped band members and directors both get their work done and by the time it ended Friday afternoon the band had the full halftime show on the field.

The band ran through a crisp show for a gathering of family and fans at the practice field Friday afternoon to wrap up the two week camp. They now get a week off before school starts.

“This has been a good group of kids, they play their instruments really well and they are a well disciplined group,” said Band Director Doyle Thornton. “They are fun to work with. We have had to tell them a lot of things but there hasn’t been a lot of yelling and no bad behavior that I know about.”

“The ninth graders that came up were well prepared and have been a good group,” Thornton added.

Assistant Band Director Leah Thomas planned the drill on paper then put it on the field. She said all the goals were met and the band is in good shape with still a month to go before the first regular season football game on August 29 at home against Decatur.

The band is marching 250 members, about 30 more than last year.

The first four games of the season counting the jamboree against Muscle Shoals are at Madison City Schools Stadium.

The competition band even has one song on the field.

This year Thomas added a 30 minute physical training session each morning. Led by certified personal trainer Josh Langham, all marching band members ran wind sprints, did up downs, pushups, sit ups, and planks.

“Josh assisted us here at band camp. He plays the French horn and he was in the Million Dollar Band with me,” Thomas said. “We added the PT to get the kids in better shape to prepare them for the season.”

The order of the songs for the football halftime show is Rhythm of the Night, Pokerface, Man with the Golden Arm, and the band closes with a jazz classic Sing, Sing, Sing.

“It’s a lot of pop music, a real crowd pleaser,” Thornton said of the show. “They really like to march and play this type show. It’s a lot of fun.”

The show will feature an amplified saxophone ensemble in Golden Arm.

Thomas thanked all the band camp volunteers who provided water, ice, shade, and popsicles.

“The rest will do the kids and me well,” Thomas said.