The band's new director Joseph Cino has big visions for the Minutemen band.
The walk from Washington Township High School to Tom Brown Football Field is marked with puddles from the day's rainstorms. Though the clouds hang low, bursting at the seams with water, marching band rehearsal on the field is still scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The beginnings of a long, winding procession of students starts down the asphalt path, each of them lugging backpacks, musical instruments cases and gear. The students, giggling in time with the creaking hinges of their instrument cases, are too preoccupied with reliving day-old memories from earlier in the day to be worried or upset about the approaching rainstorm.
At the 50-yard-line, slowly but surely, the students assemble and quiet down long enough to partake in pre-rehearsal stretches. A young girl stands before them, orchestrating back bends, triceps and shoulder stretches. Her name is Maria Forte. In blue jeans, a blue t-shirt and auburn, wavy hair, she's a junior at Washington Township High. It's her third year with the band and her first as an assistant drum major. It's her job to keep the students that are currently running up and down the field, in line and on point throughout rehearsal. She attempts to line everyone up along the left endzone.
"Go," Forte shouts. To the 50-yard line, back to the end zone, then a 100-yard dash to the end. Band rehearsal has officially started.
The Washington Township Minutemen Marching Band is the group's formal name. But to the students and the community, the term "band" is an understatement. For nearly 50 years, the Minutemen have brought honor and pride to Washington Township, currently recognized as both a regional and national marching band. Since 1973, the band has placed in the top 10 at the Tournament of Bands (TOB) Atlantic Coast Championships 16 times, and was Chapter One Champions for 16 straight years from 1985 to 2000. It won the Group 3 title from 1985 to 1987, and the Group 4 titles for the next 13 years.
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The walls of the indigo-coated room echo a symphony of years of history and success. The back right wall is a shrine to the band's appearance at the 1998 Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, Calif. The band became the first group in history to be decorated in 5,000 live flowers, an idea by then-director Todd Marcocci. Several picture frames depict a mosaic of parades and memories along the wall. Students still stop to review the memorabilia on the way to and from the bathroom.
Class portraits of each band class since 1980 line the walls. Each picture holds more students, as the frames get wider and higher, year-by-year, reaching 225 students by 1997. Some students are able to find their parents amid the relics, unable to comprehend the idea behind their big hair.
Amongst the trophies, the photos, the music stands, the instrument lockers, gear and students, Director Joseph Cino looks and feels right at home. A cursory glance at the 86-member band, and you might confuse him as a student himself. At around 5 feet 10 inches, he sports jeans and a "Washington Township Minutemen" polo, with a Rowan Profs baseball cap. He came from his teaching job in Millville earlier in the day.
Cino is a graduate of Washington Township, and also a former member of the band. His senior year in 2010, the Minutemen won the Cotton Bowl Festival. It's his goal to get the band back to its glory days, to show the students what the band is capable of.
"I'm a little unconventional," Cino says. "I keep practice at a faster pace and am putting a lot of twists on things.
Cino believes that the band's structure and identity are what has made the band and brought it all its success. He wants to take ideas form college bands and create a different approach to the way the band does its typical routines.
"Everything we do is the same, we're just putting a different spin on things," Cino said. "I figure I want to make a loud statement."
This is Cino's first year as a director, though he spent the last several years as a technician for the band, along with his assistant director, William Graff, who also was a technician.
Cino has high expectations for the band. Currently at 86 members, he wants to see the band get back to its glory days as a 225-person band. He also has a mission to get the band back in a winning rhythm. Several weeks ago, the band scored a 74 in performance. Two weeks ago, the band scored 6 points higher, elevating them to fifth place out of 13 bands. The season has only just begun.
Cino says that his fast paced style of practice is allowing the group to add different wrinkles every time they rehearse.
"Most bands are just getting the music down when they first go to competition," Cino said. "I had them learn the music, learn the motions and started visuals before the first competition. A 74 is great for the amount of work we put in."
Cino has his band running like a well-oiled machine. Out on the football field, the rain has held out, allowing practice to continue, uninterrupted. The band has divided itself into three orchestrated groups. Cino's drum majors direct the individual, simultaneous rehearsals, allowing him to observe the progress of each section.
Atop a five-foot ladder, senior Nate Aquino directs the drum group.
"[Cino] is my inspiration for leadership," Acquino said. "He's one of the coolest people I ever met and can balance being friendly and a boss."
"Low brass," Cino interjects, "that's horrendous, and that's not even funny." Cino returns to his drum majors with a smile on his face, seamlessly transitioning from mentor, director and friend.
Practice is intense for the band, which began its season this past summer.
"All the kids think I'm going to slow down with practice and school starting, but we've been going since the summer," Cino said.
Practice is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., with competitions on Saturdays.
"Most of these kids are taking honors and AP classes on the side and making honor roll," Cino says, amazed.
For Forte, an aspiring music teacher like her director, the Minutemen band is about family.
"I love music and I love being able to do this with my friends," Forte said.
For junior assistant drum major Emily Faust, marching band is about rising to the challenge.
"Everything about it is awesome," Faust said. "You have to play, march, do some visuals too. It means a lot to be a drum major and to meet the challenges."
The Minutemen have big plans this year. Continuing their stint of bowl game performances, they will make an appearance at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee on Jan 2. The band makes a trip every two years to play in college bowl games. In 2013, the group traveled to San Antonio, Texas and in 2011, travelled to New Orleans, Louisiana.
The group's show this year will continue Cino's unconventional method of directing. Entitled "Into Darkness," the show will feature new music that will follow a pattern of light-hearted tunes into darker pieces. The colors in the show will also slowly change from white to black, to follow the title. Cino's biggest risk is going to be covering the band in a black sheet.
"So far, my techniques are paying off," Cino said.
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