Band Students Participate for NMIB Tuesday, January 24, 2012 By Junior Pashantz Howell Freshman Legand James playing flute. - Pashantz Howell Advertising For the past eight years, Northwest Missouri Invitational Band (NMIB) has been an important tradition in the music department of CHS, as students stress out, lose sleep over, and obsessively practice their audition music. The band directors are ecstatic. “NMIB is a good way for students to be able to play in a quality band. It’s a little less stressful than All-District Band, and it gives students an opportunity to learn from other directors,” said Band Director Blake Duren. Lawson, Bethany, South Harrison, and Gallatin will be in attendance, along with twenty eight students from Cameron. With a practice on Monday, January 23 at 8am, and a performance at 7pm the same day at Goodrich, most students were hard at work practicing their audition music. “I used to practice all the time in middle school, but once I hit high school, I became involved in Academic Team, Jazz Choir, National Honor Society, etc. and I just kept getting busier and busier. Practicing wasn’t a necessity anymore, because I could basically play anything they put in front of me,” said Senior Zane Clark. Upperclassmen may not be too worried, but underclassmen aren’t quite as confident. “I have less time after school to do homework and hang out with friends because I’m busy practicing my NMIB music,” said Sophomore Alyssa Mercer. To make it in NMIB, students have to be invited. “To be invited, directors that are involved nominate names of students. Most of the time, we tend to try to get a good mix of all the grades in there. In more competitive sections, we tend to invite mostly Juniors and Seniors. The band directors involved with the organization come together and see who has what credentials to get into whatever particular section. Each section needs a different number of people,” said Mr. Duren. However, this is not always the case. “I was invited into NMIB last year, so I was automatically invited this year,” said Alyssa. Although NMIB was snowed out last year, if you received an invitation it still counts as a year you participated. “The best part of NMIB is hanging out with the people all day,” said Alyssa. “Seeing my friends and being able to make amazing music are going to be some of my favorite memories from high school,” added Alyssa.

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