Obama's Alma Mater Marches From Hawaii
The marching band from President-elect Barack Obama's high school will perform in his inaugural parade in January.
Jason Sivill, director of the marching band at Punahou School in Honolulu, says school officials tried not to rely too heavily on Punahou's relationship with Obama, who graduated from the school in 1979. But they didn't forget about it, either.
"We think we were tactful about it, but we definitely included it in the essay portion of the application," Sivill says. "We tried not to make it the most important thing that we were casting our application in favor of."
One serious challenge the Hawaiian students will face when they arrive in Washington is the dramatic temperature change. Sivill says he's preparing the band for the cold weather during practice.
"We let them know how the cold weather that they're going to see, how that is going to impact them," he says. "How that affects the instruments, and how that affects them and their psychology.
"We're taking all necessary steps to facilitate great playing at the parade," Sivill continues. "But until we actually get there and the kids feel it, there won't be a realistic element."
The band will play two marches, including "Men of Punahou" when they pass the presidential reviewing stand. They will also play Brahms' Symphony No. 1.
And, contrary to some reports, they will not play Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours."
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MICHELE NORRIS, host:
Marching bands, mounted horse patrols and other groups across the country are turning their focus to the presidential inaugural parade. Close to 1,400 groups are competing for spots. One group that's gotten the thumbs up already is the marching band from Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Early this morning, practice was under way.
(Soundbite of marching band rehearsal)
NORRIS: Punahou's most famous alum is the president-elect himself. The band's director, Jason Sivill says that was definitely a selling point in the band's pitch to the inaugural committee.
Mr. JASON SIVILL (Band Director, Punahou School Marching Band, Honolulu, Hawaii): We think that we were tactful about it but, yeah, we definitely included that in our essay portion of the application.
NORRIS: Included it in the essay, so you tried to be a bit subtle about that.
Mr. SIVILL: We did, we tried not to make it the most important thing that we were casting our application, you know, in favor of. But it's an interesting point for all who are involved so, of course, we wanted to include that.
NORRIS: So there are some practical concerns as you get ready to head to Washington. Just curious, what's the temperature there today?
Mr. SIVILL: The temperatures here today? We're in the mid '70s.
NORRIS: Well, it's not likely to be that warm when you head to Washington, D.C. in January, so what are you doing to prepare for the cold weather?
Mr. SIVILL: That's a great question. Most of it has to be a mental process where we talk the students through. We're just not able to simulate a very cold environment.
NORRIS: Are you talking about affirmation of some kind? Pretend it's 20 degrees outside.
Mr. SIVILL: Not exactly. More of a situation where we let them know how that cold weather that they're going to see, how that's going to impact them, how that affects the instruments, how it will affect them. We're not able to air condition down to 30 degrees, so we have to prepare the best we can and handle that once we get into Washington.
NORRIS: I understand that you're asking people to actually take their mouthpiece, place it in the refrigerator or even the freezer to get used to it.
Mr. SIVILL: That - actually that came up in a discussion with some students who are brass players, it's a metal mouthpiece inside. I did say to some of my students, if you want to feel what that's going to be like to put that cold mouthpiece up to your lips, go home and put the mouthpiece in the freezer for a little while and then take it out. That's kind of what it's like.
NORRIS: So, what's on your playlist?
Mr. SIVILL: On the playlist will be two annual favorites here. We play them at almost every event. "Men of Punahou" is one march that we'll play and the other is "Aloha Oe." And then we'll have an arrangement of Brahm's Symphony Number One.
NORRIS: And any special song that you might be playing for the president-elect?
Mr. SIVILL: We actually are anticipating playing "Men of Punahou," the march, as we pass the review.
(Soundbite of marching band music)
NORRIS: That was Jason Sivill, director of the Punahou School Marching Band from Honululu. The band has been invited for the inaugural parade on January 20th here in Washington, D.C. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
