This year, the Indoor Percussion show features music from composer Joe Hisaishi and the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. Selections include “The Dragon Boy,” “Day of the River,” and “Yubaba.” Justin Cooperman and TJ Anderson arranged these compositions. 

Their first competition was Feb. 1 at Pasadena memorial High School.

The band came up short but now they are revising for the next competition.

“We did not do as well as we wanted, but it is our first year back in the fields of indoor percussion,” sophomore Reed Stallberg said. “We are making changes, improving ourselves, and it was the first of many competitions we will have, so we should have a good turnaround.”

Post-competition, the band took a team trip to eat at Cane’s. 

“I enjoyed going to Canes after the competition together,” sophomore Scarlett Gibson said. “Compared to the other schools that attended, we did not do as well, but it was the first competition like that in a few years. I am a part of the percussion band because it gives me something to do and is fun.”

There was a shooting that took place shortly after the band had competed.

“We were all excited to be able to perform because we enjoy music, and it is cool to be able to play,” junior Elizabeth Skeen said. “After we left, there was a shooting at the school that we had competed at.”

The competition was a great way for some new band members to express themselves in a new way.

“It was exciting because I had never been to a competition before, and I was interested in seeing how things worked,” sophomore Pierce Lewer said. “I am used to playing with a whole ensemble. This is my first year on the drum line, so I was excited to show my skills in a new environment. We have the music down but lacked certain techniques to win.”

Competitions are a great way to demonstrate the band member’s improvement.

“My senior year has been a good one,” senior Joseph Miller said. “I got to improve as a musician. My favorite part of the competition was getting to play Japanese-style music. For the next competition, we are striving to be better on fundamentals.”