CAMP TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO TAKE FIRST STEPS IN TEMPO PALMDALE HIGH'S MARCHING BAND GETS INTO THE SPIRIT EARLY.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - The staccato beat of the drum major marked time Tuesday morning as Palmdale High School band members practiced marching in the hot parking lot of Riewer Stadium.

One student wore a huge sombrero to keep the sun off as he mimed holding an instrument and marching.

The 107 band members were into their seventh day of band camp and already they were way ahead of the game. They learned their competition show - called ``Heartbeat'' - and will be able to show it to their parents this evening.

For Palmdale High senior Carol Guerra, the end result of tough practices will be cheers from the crowd when the band performs.

``Basically for me it's performing out there in front of thousands of people at state championships,'' she said. ``You try to have a perfect show - and being in front of all these people and hear them cheering, it just gives you so much energy ... (It's) the feeling that you get when you get off the field and you don't remember what you just did but you know it was great.''

The students learned their skills in record time, in part because of the teamwork they have developed at camp and from years of playing in the band.

``Mainly, it's the fact that the upperclassman are taking the step in helping teach the freshmen and sophomores,'' said Sam Perez, Palmdale High's band co-director.

This was the first time in eight years that the band members finished learning their program before camp ended. On Tuesday morning, every footstep was in the right place as the students marked their individual field positions.

``They started out really, really well,'' director Tom Hixon said.

At camp, bank members arrive at 8 a.m. They work on stretching and aerobic exercises, then spend an hour on philosophy and rules. At 10 a.m. it's off to the parking lot for two hours of marching and learning drill patterns. After lunch they practice music in class, break for dinner and return for a session of putting the marching and music together.

Despite the oppressive heat, only three of the 110 band members missed the voluntary camp.

``They certainly have more dedication and we ask from them far more than (from) any other student on this campus,'' Perez said. ``They have a band camp for two weeks, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No other organization on campus does that. This is not mandatory; it's optional and all these kids are here because they want to be here.''

Camp began Aug. 11 and will end with a performance for parents. The season will begin next month with the Friday night football games.

``I love doing it. When I first joined a marching band, that first time we played in a competition it was great,'' said Ben Cordova, a junior.

``It's not about winning,'' said Cyndy Galbraith, a senior. ``It's about how we feel when we get off the field.''

Peggy Hager, [phone]

peggy.grimm-hager(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Members of Palmdale High School band's banner squad practice with tall flags Tuesday, the seventh day of a two-week band camp.

(2) Band members pretend to hold musical instruments as they march in the stadium parking lot Tuesday at Palmdale High.

(3) Band director Sam Perez gives instruction on the finer points of marching as band members brave the day's heat.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer