WJ football is down a score in the second half. It’s not how any of the WJ players, parents or student section wanted to start the season, especially against rivals B-CC, and it’s evident in the atmosphere; the stands are quiet and motionless.
Until Pep Band readies their instruments during a time-out and begins perhaps the greatest song in all of sports, “Seven Nation Army.”
“Once we were hitting the main chorus of “Seven Nation Army,” the audience suddenly figured out, ‘oh, this is what I’m supposed to do,’ and it got really, really loud after that,” Pep Band sponsor, music teacher Dr. Michael Helgerman said.
Although it may be a moment overlooked by the average student, it is remembered by Pep Band as a highlight of the season so far.
“The student section went from being kind of bored and disinterested to jumping up and down. It felt like there was a wave of sudden interest and a vibrancy in the crowd,” senior captain Cassia Klein said.
There seems to be enthusiasm in the air wherever there’s Pep Band, whether it be football games, pep rallies, a few basketball and lacrosse games or even the preschool graduation. In fact, that’s exactly the job of Pep Band: to provide spirit, pep and energy for the school wherever and whenever necessary.
In contrast to the technical pieces played in band class, Pep Band plays mostly pop songs that are familiar to the student body and parents, some favorites being “Sweet Caroline,” “The Wiggalow” and, of course, “Seven Nation Army.” But, this doesn’t mean that years of training with a band instrument is required to join. Students with any instrument experience can get involved in Pep Band.
“I only played a string instrument, so I talked to Dr. Helgerman, and he set me up with saxophone,” junior captain Alice Bradley said. “I joined in 10th grade, barely knowing how to play the instrument, but I’ve learned a lot from everyone here. Everyone has been really welcoming and good to me.”
Helgerman has been an anchor for the Pep Band since he officially took over as sponsor from music teacher Andrea Morris last year. His ability to connect with and understand the members of Pep Band might have something to do with how his interest and aspirations in music started.
“I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh where football was a big deal, so marching band was a big deal. I marched four years with North Allegheny High School, and frankly, that was what made me want to become a music teacher to begin with,” Helgerman said. “It was just being in a place where people felt like they could have their own voice, could be heard, could find friends and make wonderful music at a really, really high level. So to be able to at least facilitate a group that’s creating those things Walter Johnson is something that I’ve always wanted to be a part of and something that I really enjoy doing.”
As Helgerman says, one of the most important goals of Pep Band is to create a community within the WJ ecosystem that offers care and solidarity to passionate musicians.
“For the members of the Pep Band, especially me, who don’t play sports, this is our team. This is what feeds my soul. This is what I do. These are my people,” Bradley said. “It’s really nice when that’s recognized and supported just as much as a sports team.”
While Pep Band members can rely on each other, their reception by the student section hasn’t always been stellar. The Pep Band captains recognize that there is a lingering stigma around school bands, but they don’t let it bother them.
“The student section are not there for us,” Klein said. “They’re there to see the game and they’re there to hang out with friends. So we’re just happy to make it like more of an atmosphere for the kids who might just be learning an instrument in fourth or fifth grade, or for the parents who haven’t gone to a concert in years. I mean, we are there for the students, but I don’t feel like that’s the reason why we’re playing.”
Although students aren’t always their primary audience, Pep Band is considering expanding their repertoire to appeal to more students. The captains have been working with the idea of adding new songs such as the viral “Hot to Go” by Chappell Roan or Taylor Swift songs, but copyright issues have been a major hurdle.
Even without these new additions, it’s clear at rehearsals that they’ve been refining their classic numbers to make them sharper, louder and more unified. Now, it’s time for the student section to up their game as well. As the football season wanes to a close and playoffs appear on the horizon, WJ supporters need to create an electric game environment more than ever.
“If anything, I would like more connection between the Pep Band and the student section where we’re reacting to each other and building that energy together, rather than separately,” Helgerman said. “The idea is the better the Pep Band is, the more energetic the students are. The more energetic the students are, the better the football team plays. When all these things are happening at a really high level, more people want to be involved. The energy gets bigger, and the experience becomes more interesting for people, which leads to more people wanting to come. There’s a positive cycle.”
No matter the score of the game, rooting for the same team unites Pep Band and all of the students at WJ. If everyone can tap into that hidden passion, WJ can show a unified front to school rivals while building an internal community.
“The football team has lost a bit more than all the students are hoping for and I think we’re taking the wrong approach,” Pep Band captain senior Theo Hansen said. “I know friends that were leaving the B-CC game during the fourth quarter when the game was within one score. I think the idea that the football team has to be winning for us to have fun is really bad. We should just root to win.”
Pep Band is ready to carry the torch of WJ “juice” by growing their numbers and fostering a spirited community, but the question is: are you?
