Amanda Wikoff
The visiting National Guard band, made up of five saxophonists and one drummer, played a modified version of Sia’s Chandelier and Pentatonix’s Daft Punk before introducing themselves and taking questions from the classes.

The band urged students to continue to play their instruments no matter what they do in life.

“Whether you go to college or you drop out or you go into the army, don’t put this instrument down,” Sgt. James Schumacher said.

“I’ve never heard someone say they are glad they dropped out of band,” Sgt. Mark Young said. “I’ve heard people say they wish they would have continued to play their instruments, but I’ve never heard anyone say they wish they’d dropped band.”

Among the upsides the members stated to playing in the National Guard Band is that the army will pay for band members to take music lessons. In addition to their paid lessons, they practice together as much as they can and as much as they need, Sgt. Young said.

Heather Yunek is excited about the possibility of having college and music lessons paid for and is not intimidated by Army aspect of the equation.

Sgt. Young also pointed out that students can do other things. Young is a middle school music teacher, but is part of the federal reserve and plays with the band when called on. 1st Sgt. Jeremy Ostot works in construction engineering as well as playing for the National Guard Band.