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As a band member, Kayden
Harrell pushes herself to refine her musical skills and make
new friends. (Photo provided)
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On Jan. 1, 2020, Tribal member and baritone player Kayden Harrell
stood on the corner of Piccadilly Street and St. James's Street
with more than 100 Southmoore High School marching band members
from Moore, Oklahoma. They anxiously awaited the chance to perform
as part of London's New Year's Day Parade, instruments in hand.
"Once we got started, it passed by quite quickly, but it was still
a lot of fun," Harrell said.
More than 10,000 people from around the world put their talents
on display in some of London's most historic neighborhoods that
afternoon. Harrell and the band blasted out marching favorites such
as Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond and Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel.
They finished the 2 and 1/2 mile route with a performance of the
2014 hit Shut up and Dance by Walk the Moon, which was her favorite.
"It just sounds really nice whenever you're actually playing it
with everyone," Harrell said. "It just sounds different to me now
than it did listening to the song beforehand."
They took to the streets as the only marching band from Oklahoma.
The school participated in 2016, and the parade invited them back.
They marched for approximately three hours, entertaining a street
crowd of nearly a half-million people and a television audience
of more than 300 million. Harrell had never played for that many
people before.
"It definitely made me nervous, especially during the big performance
because there was a camera going in front of us, and my group, we
were in the very front," Harrell said. "It stopped like right in
front of me, and that freaked me out a bit."
Her mother, Leeann, took the New Year's trip with Kayden and watched
the band perform its final number from the grandstands. Although
they traveled to Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court, St. Paul's Cathedral
and much more during their eight days in England, the parade remained
Harrell's favorite.
"I think it was the highlight of my trip because I just got to
do kind of whatever," she said.
"We kept it casual because (the organizers) told us to act like
it was relaxed and not be so tense like a normal marching thing
would be. Just because they wanted us to have fun and look relaxed
and carefree."
Music helped Harrell overcome some of her bashfulness since she
began playing the trombone in the seventh grade concert band. Although
Harrell picked music as an alternative to other unappealing classes,
it quickly turned into a highlight of high school.
"It definitely made me a lot more confident in giving me a purpose,"
she said. "Before, I was kind of really shy. I didn't really know
what to do with my time. Once marching band started, I had tons
of stuff that I got to go and do. It just helped me come out a lot."
Most of her friends also participate in marching band, and Harrell
enjoys spending time with them before school at practice. Several
of them went on the trip to London together as well. The sense of
community makes marching band unique.
"All of the grades of band are together, where in concert band,
we're all kind of different classes. So you just feel really connected
with everyone else. You're just together all the time, and you get
to make good friends," Harrell said.
Her appreciation for all kinds of music has grown as well. However,
Harrell had little interest in the art form before she learned to
play.
"I didn't really pay attention much to music until I got into band.
I just didn't really understand it, but now I kind of have a different
look on it," she said.
She listens to jazz and pop as well as different kinds of instrumental
music, and she enjoys breaking it down into parts. One of her favorite
pieces from the most recent marching season was Toxic by Britney
Spears, and she looks forward to learning more.
"I love marching band," she said. "I actually miss it, and I'm
really excited for it to start up again."
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