The Greer High School Marching Band has spoken and band director Jeff Norman has heard them loud and clear. They are now officially the G Force Marching Band.
Norman, after much campaigning from his band members, told them that during one competition, at Boiling Springs last year, they would be allowed to be called the G Force. If there were enough support he would consider the name official.
Well, the band really did a number on Norman. The crowd took up the chant “G Force” during the competition and other schools acknowledged the band by the name.
“Never did I know it would catch on the way it did,” Norman said with a smile. “We are officially the Greer High School G Force Marching Band. We have it on T-shirts, ‘It’s All About The G’, a takeoff on the G in Greer.”
The G Force captains were cleaning the band room and storage areas this week in preparation for band members to report for Band Week on Monday. The G Force will practice from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The band will march in the morning and play in the afternoon. “Usually we will go as long as they can go in the morning,” Norman said. Her said the band is held to the same heat standards as athletic teams. When the heat index hits certain temperatures practice is adjusted. “We tell them to stay hydrated and drink plenty of Gatorade and water, more water than Gatorade,” Norman said.
The second week, Band Camp, Norman says, will provide a band member an opportunity to decide if this extracurricular activity is what the musician wants to participate. “It’s not Band Camp unless it’s hot,” Norman said. The first week the band will bring their lunches; the second week area restaurants will feed the campers.
Norman has a process that develops the G Force to peak at the year-end conference and state championships. “Every week last year you could see the improvement. We had an incredible year. When we participated in the state championships the band was unbelievable. They received a standing ovation.”
Greer graduated a strong senior class but will see its membership grow from 68 to about 95-104 during the first week of practice. “This is a big jump,” Norman said. “We have an increase in the guard size and there are a lot of 9th graders coming in.”
Greer has been working on a feeder system that encourages young musicians to get involved with the marching band. “Next week will probably be the biggest thing the middle schoolers will have ever done,” Norman said.
Norman has Matthew Gill, band director for Northwood Middle School, assisting the G Force. Eight captains have been chosen to provide leadership for their peers. “I believe that leadership takes ownership,” Norman said. “The captains are given a lot of responsibility.”
The G Force will participate in every football game, home and away. “We’re one of the few schools in the district to have a band that travels,” Norman said.