By Chloe Edmonds – Entertainment Editor

The Jonathan Law Band has been working hard in preparation for its annual Thanksgiving Day performance. Advocate Entertainment Editor Chloe Edmonds interviewed sophomore McKenzie Forte about the Band’s recent work.

Chloe Edmonds: What will this year’s performance be like and how will it differ from last year?

MF: This year, we are taking a more technical and much simpler approach compared to last year. This is because we have so many new students joining our program and want to be more welcoming with our show. With that being said, as the new members adjust, we had some more time to improve our show not just musically, but visually as well. Eli, our drum major, has added some visual effects during our show to be more appealing to the crowd. For example, at a “close” moment where we do not move, our heads will tilt slightly to the right, moving the large plumes on our heads as well to create some variety in our band’s shape. 

CE: How have you been preparing and working towards the Thanksgiving game?

MF: As a band, we have been rehearsing for the Thanksgiving game since Band camp in August. Learning the show, memorizing music, and learning how to march takes lots of time, of course.

CE: What pieces will you playing?

MF: This year, we’ve got lots of stand tunes, including “Not Like Us,” and for our show, we’ve included “La Lambada,” a Latin piece, “Evil Ways,” and “Havana” for some Hispanic representation.

CE: What are your practice hours like?

MF: As a musician who plays many instruments such as the oboe, english horn, and alto saxophone, outside of school I typically spend an hour outside of school practicing for fun. In school, we spend the whole class rehearsing, and sometimes students practice in the band room during their study halls.

CE: How long have you been preparing for the game? 

MF: Personally, I have been preparing to play at this game for months, though some members require more time to prepare than others. It really depends on how quickly the musician can learn, and how they execute their performance.