Name of Reporter: Pelinsu Mese
Story: Marching into ‘09!
Section: News/A&E
Deadline:
Name of person being interviewed (CHECK SPELLING!): Joshua Figueroa
Notes and Quotes:
Why did you decide to bring back the Miami Beach Senior High Marching Silver Hi-Tides Band?
“We had a very huge alumni family, and last year when I took over, we only had the jazz band and rock ensemble. I kept telling the kids it’s all about hi-tide pride, hi-tide pride, hi-tide pride, and that’s the best way to bring everyone back.”
“Through Facebook, IM, Email, and text messaging, I was able to contact over 100 alumni, and they were actually able to come back and perform, at teh Homecoming Game last year. The school loved it, and the kids loved and enjoyed it.
“So by the end of last year, it just started as an idea, we started with 10, and at practice on the first day of school we had about 70, and here it is.”
What was the reason that the MBSH Marching Band was discontinued 4 years ago?
“My band director that was here lft in 2004, which is also when I graduated. In the past 5 years we got new faculty, new staff, new teachers, and the music programs ended.”
“I feel good thinking that I was an ex-Hi-Tide and now I direct their band!”
“It’s all about being one whole Hi-Tide family!”
“It’s the revival of the Miami Beach Senior High Marching Band!”
What do you hope to accomplish with the Marching Band this years, and the years to come?
“It’s crazy because I’m a perfectionist and I push these kids the way I push myself to the limit.”
“It’s only our first year, these kids have been for only 2 months, and look how well we’re already doing.”
“The goal is for the number the numbers to grow, because we started wityh 10 kids that didnt’ know any songs, and we have about 75 students that now know 20 songs. We’re trying to fit them into our fun-fairs, practices, routines, which will lead us to next year being in the field, alongside the football team, performing marching shows.”
I heard you held a summer band camp, how did that go?
“It was long, and it was tough, it’s hard getting kids who live on South Beach to instead of being on the beach hanging out, to coming to practice for 3 hours, going to lunch, then practicing for another 3 hours. Its tiresome, but after a week or two the definetly grabbed onto the whole Hi-Tide Spirit and the numbers started to grow. 10 led to 15 which led to 35; by the en of the summer kids would just come up to me saying ‘I’m sore, but I love it!’ It felt good to now that we were doing something right!”
“But it’s a lot more than music. It’s hardwork, dedication, how to work with people, people skills, it’s basically everything. You’re gonna learn about life here, we’re about a lot more than just marching.”
Why do you recommend students to be in the marching band over other clubs and extra-curricular activities?
“High school is a very special time and you definetly should be a part of something extra curricular.”
“For me it’s different. I was in band, theatre, scholars academy, national honor socitey.., I mean, I never got home at 2:50, never! There was always a rehearsal or a meeting or a performance, or a game.”
“I’m trying to get these kids into college, I live in the same places you guys live, ride the same buses, the H, K, L. By being here, you learn how to have skills here, lifewise and worldwise.”
“My seniors tell me they’re gonna come back in 5 years, and do the same thing I did. It definetly opens up new doors!”
“When I went to school here, the saludatorian/ valedictorian was always a music student.”