ALL THE RIGHT MOVES BANDS BATTLE FOR FIRST AT RAMPAGE.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Some high school students look forward to the prom, while others get excited about the big homecoming game and dance. But for the teens who play musical instruments, the school year is all about Rampage.

Dubbed by some as the ``Battle of the Bands,'' the 21st annual Rampage Marching Band and Pageantry Competition drew marching bands from 28 high schools Saturday at College of the Canyons, where tubas glistened in the sun and drumbeats kept time above the din of the cheering crowd.

Displaying their musical talent at Cougar Stadium on the college campus was an all-day event and, unlike the bands' usual gigs at Friday-night football games, Rampage 2004 offered a twist for the nearly 3,000 musicians.

``This is definitely competitive - there's more adrenalin,'' said Bobby Martinez, 16, a trumpet player from Hart High. ``It's really fun every year.''

In addition to the competition, there were food vendors hawking Texas- style barbecue, caramel popcorn and frozen lemonade, as well as booths where visitors could buy stylized pairs of drumsticks and buttons with such messages as ``Tubas rule'' and ``Drummers stick to it.''

Schools from the Santa Clarita Valley participated, as did marching bands from schools as far away as Santa Barbara and San Pedro.

Russell Ramos, a senior from Hart High, went through what he called intense training and workshops to earn the title of drum major - the person who conducts the the band as it marches in unison.

``I've played the saxophone for almost 10 years; I've always liked the look of the sax,'' the 17-year-old said. ``It's really fun to play (at Rampage), but we're very competitive. We shoot for the stars.''

The winners of the event will advance to the state competition held in Long Beach next month.

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Band members from JFK High march during the Rampage competition Saturday at the College of the Canyons.

(2 -- color) Mellophone player Patty Siegel satisfies the ``Pirates of the Caribbean'' theme of Rampage with her JFK bandmates.

(3) Snare drummer Charles Smith, right, ponders his performance while fellow bandmates from Canoga Park High celebrate finishing their routine.

(4) A trumpeter for the San Fernando High School band disassembles his instrument after performing at Rampage.

(5 -- 6) Flag team members from San Fernando High, left, watch other bands perform on Saturday. Above, Buena Ventura High's band rehearses a formation before taking the field.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News