WEST MIFFLIN — From marching in parades to halftime performances, competitions, and more, the West Mifflin Titan Band keeps busy during the fall with fun performances for musicians and fans alike.
This year’s marching band — 88 members strong among musicians, silks, and the Starlettes — began its busy fall with the Kennywood Fall Fantasy Parade.
Next, football season kicks off, and the band will perform at both home and away games for West Mifflin. There’s also a Sept. 21 visit to the South Allegheny Band Festival and a trip to the McKeesport Tournament of Bands on Oct. 12, among other appearances.
Other parades this year include the Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade, the Steel Valley Parade, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittsburgh.
“There’s something special about the band atmosphere, especially with marching bands at the high school level,” said first-year director Jayson Monroe, who served as an assistant last year. “The camaraderie that goes into this and the level friendly competition we have with each other, it’s something that’s special.”
This year’s halftime show, “All in Good Time,” will feature something for fans of all ages, Monroe noted. Each song has “Time” in the title, and the lineup includes songs from across the decades. Among the selections are “Nothing but a Good Time” by Poison; “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel; the feature song “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen; “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show; “Closing Time” by Semisonic; and then a reprise of “Nothing but a Good Time.”
Monroe also had the show commissioned, meaning it will be the first time this exact arrangement of songs will be performed.
“When I was designing it, I thought, ‘What would be something that the kids can get involved in, that they’re going to know and really latch onto the music?’ I also thought, ‘What’s our audience really going to enjoy?’” Monroe explained.
The band also continues to find new stand tunes to play outside of the halftime shows. The arrangement and variety of shows and tunes are aimed at keeping things fresh for band students and finding ways to maximize their talents while also challenging them to continue growing.
“The idea was to give everybody something that’s either tough for them or amusing for them. It’s finding that nice ebb and flow,” Monroe said. “I think in that way, we make sure that everybody can find something that they do really well during the show.”
So far, in his first year, Monroe says the band is truly enjoying things while continuing to prepare for a busy fall. Students are coming together, working hard, and enjoying the friendships and memories they’re making.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the work that these kids have put in. … We’ve been excelling, and it’s a testament to how hard these kids work and how much they want to be a great band,” Monroe said. “And then the memories that come from this — we’ve been making memories for the past two weeks.”
He added, “We’re enjoying being around each other. We’re getting stuff done. That’s what it’s about.”
Monroe also notes that playing in the band develops life skills, especially a work ethic and desire to get things right.
“(It) demands perfection,” Monroe said. “It demands that sense of tradition, that sense of excellence, and that sense of opportunities to grow. … We instill those values of discipline and self-control, and then there are memories that come from it.”