Up in the sky you see them, those radiant Friday night lights that light up the field. The crowd is electric; the game so far has been exhilarating; everyone is glued to their seats.
We take the field and feel the rush of being out on that green landscape. The moment hits as we line up for the big moment.
The crowd goes silent, and we start to play. Every step paints a picture for the crowd to see from above.
These are our Friday Night lights, too; We are the Stroudsburg High School marching band, and these are our views.
Despite the crowds’ encouraging cheering, the bright lights shining down on us can be slightly intimidating, causing feelings of both stress and excitement.
“My initial feeling going onto the field is excitement, but focused. I know I have to get my head into the zone,” says Tristan Gottardi, ‘27, “there is so much to remember and do right that you can’t get distracted by the crowd and the lights.”
Even during the show, we stay in the zone at all times, “I’m paying close attention to everything going on around me. Thinking about my next note and my next move,” says Tristan, “I drowned everything else out at that moment and am just focused on the Drum Majors and what is happening around me with the band.”
Out on that field, it’s like you are in your own world; all that you know in that moment is the music, the drill, and the people that are on the field with you. It’s a crazy feeling after you finish the show, whether you feel good about it or not.
“If a performance is good, I can’t wait to enjoy the rest of the game, but if a performance is bad, I can’t help but let it affect how I feel for the rest of the night,” says Julia Nowak, ‘26.
But even after a not-so-good performance, the crowd never fails to bring our spirits up. “Hearing the crowd cheering for us after the performance is a real adrenaline boost,” says Tristan.
As the roar of the crowd fades into the background, another sound rises to take its place. The air hums with the band’s chatter; threads of laughter weave through the shiny instruments. The members fade back into their sections and friends as we file back into the stands.
However, it’s not always this easy.
A lot of preparation, practice, and dedication go into getting rewarded by those ever-present magical Friday night lights.
“You can have fun, but you also have to take things seriously and work hard before you can have fun. There is pressure to do your best, and other people rely on you to perform,” says Tristan.
“However, that hard work and dedication pay off,” says Julia, “Arguably, the feeling of community that comes from being in the band is the most rewarding part.”
With each Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Rehearsal, along with the two weeks of dedication before school starts, the band forges bonds that extend beyond the field.
In the end, every ounce of effort finds its meaning beneath the bright light of MetLife Stadium, where our final performance makes it all worthwhile.
“Completing a final performance at MetLife is such an amazing way to end our marching season. When we complete our performance there, I think back to where we started at band camp in August and can’t believe we have made it to this final big moment,” says Tristan.
“The feeling of success that comes from performing at an actual stadium, combined with the support given from everyone watching in the stands, makes every hour spent at rehearsal completely worth it,“ says Julia.
The Friday night lights don’t just belong to the players; they belong to the band, too, carrying our stories, our thoughts, and our emotions in every note.