Dallastown’s band program is getting a makeover next year with new uniforms for marching band and ditching the requirement of marching band.  

Dallastown marching band students have been donning the same uniform since 2008. Now it’s finally time for an upgrade.  

“Mr. Buer has been trying since he got the position of band director to get us new uniforms.It was just now officially approved by the board,” senior drum major Ashley Kenney explained. 

Because it is such a large purchase, the band had to go through a long process to achieve their goal. 

“We had to set up the design, and then the design had to be sent to the school board for approval. Our first design was approved, so now it’s in the process of being made,” Kenney explained.   

After getting the okay from the school the entire band had an input on the design that was picked. 

“I’m 100% on board with the design that was created,” Band Director Mr. Buer said. 

The new uniforms are an improvement for sure, but an expensive improvement! 

Each uniform cost $650, and with a total of 140 uniforms that will be $91 thousand. 

The expenses are worth it though, because the uniforms are unique to only Dallastown’s band. 

“Each part has a touch of someone’s input, including but not limited to my opinion,” Buer explained.

Everyone is excited about the new uniforms after wearing the same uniform for 14 years. Some things about the old uniform just missed the target. 

“The pants that we wore, which are called bibbers, they had weird padding. They were so weird to fit to your height. I felt like they were always way too big for me,” Kenney describes. 

Although the old uniforms have nostalgia stitched into them, which almost makes it hard to let go. 

“ I wore them all four years and my sister wore them when she was in highschool, and the memories in them,” Kenney reminisced. 

The new uniforms will be a big shift from the old ones.

“It is a big difference compared to the last design and I appreciate every little difference,” Buer said. 

The band decided on a design that has a completely different color scheme.

“ The new uniforms have less white, while our old uniforms were blue and white. 

We are transitioning to more of a black and royal blue with silver accents,” Kenney described. 

Even with the big changes made, sometimes the little things make the show. 

“There are very little details about it that make it look more sharp and clean, compared to our old uniforms,” Kenney explained.

After the long process the only thing left to worry about is the uniforms arriving. 

“It may turn out that receiving the uniforms on time may end up being the hardest part,” Buer speculated. 

Once the new uniforms arrive there is talk,but not certain yet, that the old uniforms will be transformed into pillows and sold. 

Next year Dallastown’s marching band will be serenading in style with their brand new uniforms. 

With band camp, football games, and parades marching band at Dallastown can be a blast.

But it’s not for everyone.

For years if a Dallastown student wished to join a concert band, that student also had to participate in the marching band, but starting next season this will change. 

“When it comes to a reason for doing something I’ve never been a fan of ‘ well it’s always been done that way’,” Band director Mr. Buer said. 

Marching bands main season occurs in the fall, and this causes conflicts with fall sport student athletes.

 “A lot of students had conflicts with sports and fall sports so they decided they couldn’t do both marching band with their sport. They wanted to do a concert band but they couldn’t because a marching band was required,” Senior drum major Ashley Kenney explained. 

Because of these conflicts, many students had to miss rehearsal for sports practice or other activities.Now students can choose if they want to participate in marching band.

“I think there’s going to be a lot less of a problem with kids missing rehearsal,” Kenney predicted.

Marching band is a large commitment of time and energy. Some students don’t have the time to participate, while other students simply just don’t vibe with the marching band. 

“Friday Night Lights are not everyone’s cup of tea, and I can appreciate that.  That atmosphere and the after school commitment is not what everyone who plays an instrument wants to do,” Buer explains.

Buer doesn’t believe in forcing students to participate in a program if they are involved in a similar program. 

“Forcing students to be involved in marching band simply because they’re in concert band is like forcing all students who are in choir to be in musical or even forcing all students who take Phys. Ed. to be in an extracurricular sport,” Buer illustrated. 

Marching band requires a lot more commitment than concert band with after school rehearsals, parades, and friday night football games.

“Marching band is a completely separate beast,” Buer said.

Marching band has been connected to concert band as long as people can remember. So the change seems odd to some people.

“I was kinda upset at first because that’s how it’s been for so long, it was weird to change,” Kenney explained. 

Although there were also many people who had been waiting for this change. 

“Ultimately with input from parents, students, administration, and the Marching Band staff we decided it was the right time to make this decision,” Buer said. 

If there wasn’t logical reasoning behind the decision Buer wouldn’t have encouraged the conversation.

“I don’t believe in change for the sake of change. Nevertheless, the decision seemed pretty straightforward,” Buer explained.

Will this change damage the size of Dallastown’s marching band though? 

“ I will admit I was a bit nervous when sending out the ‘sign-ups’ for this year’s marching band,” Buer admitted. 

The results of this change were even better than the band could have expected. 

“After I heard that so many more people are signing up for it because it is optional. I think that’s more beneficial to the band,” Kenney claimed. 

The band ended up having 20 new players sign up for the coming season. 

It also allows the marching band to do more, such as York Tech students participating in marching band.  

“In the end though we are a larger group than last year!” Buer exclaimed. 

Overall, this decision was highly beneficial to the band, and could possibly go down in Dallastown history.