Home of the PAHS Instrumental Programs
Under the direction of Mr. Darrell Goslin, goslind@pasd.k12.pa.us
Marching Band under the direction of Mrs. Heather Moll, mollh@pasd.k12.pa.us
last updated 1/13/10
The PAHS music department is committed to filling your student’s life with quality music and education. We find importance in each ensemble offered at the high school and take great pride in the various repertoire, genres, and styles available. We are excited to have your child play a part in our musical ensembles, and we hope that the information below will serve as current news and information to give your child the most successful experience possible.
Important dates:
Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:00pm - 8th grade band parent night in the middle school band room
Marching Band Information: 
Under the direction of Mrs. Heather Moll - mollh@pasd.k12.pa.us
**Stay tuned (no pun intended) for information regarding the 2010-2011 Marching Band Season!!!**
¯ Not sure if you want to be in marching band? Read this document to help you decide! 
MB Sign Up Perks.doc
What Students Are Saying…
When I was in eighth grade, I was not particularly eager to be in marching band, as my only experience with marching had been marching in the Dogwood and Homecoming parades with the middle school marching band, which wasn’t the best of experiences. At that point, I was merely doing marching band to be able to try out for Jazz band. However, my opinion quickly changed after one day of band camp. I immediately found that I really liked marching band, and that it was nothing like the parades. The field shows are far more fun to perform in than parades. With all the practice time, I already knew a large group of people at the high school by the beginning of the school year. This helped make the transition from middle school to high school much easier. I cannot imagine not doing marching band for my remaining two years of high school.
- Alec Thompson, Sophomore
Coming into marching, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to think or what I was getting into and some people told me that marching band was a waste of time. But after the first day of band camp, I knew that that was wrong. The practices may seem long but it goes by incredibly fast, everyone in marching band is funny and there really is no negative attitude. Being in the stands at football games is great and bus rides are better than any other bus riding experience. Put aside any fears of marching band, nobody considers you a nerd and it is not a waste of time. Just go out and have fun.
- Ryan Marks, Freshman
Marching band means a lot more to me than just moving around a field while playing some music on my trumpet. Marching band has taught me the importance of being a team player - a team is only as good as its weakest link. To be a team player, you must be self-accountable and take self-responsibility. Marching band has not only caused me to strive to be a better musician, but also to strive to be a better leader. The best way to lead is to lead with example.
- Tim Hackett, Junior
At first I did not want to join marching band because I hated marching in parades. It was my least favorite part of band. I really wanted to be in wind ensemble so I joined. I ended up loving it. Marching band is really nothing like parades, at all. It was super tiring and took a lot of focus but it was fun. The feeling of performing the first time after band camp was amazing. I feel like my closest friends are the ones in marching band because we bonded so much. Band camp was very fun but hard too. 12 hours a day seems scary but you get breaks and you’d be surprised how much better you get over just a week. Playing in the stands at football games is fun too. The music is easy so you can play loud and enjoy yourself.
- Sydney Marks, Freshman
Marching band has had a huge impact on my life. I've made some of my closest friends through the band and have even made friends in other schools. Everyone in the band if one big family and everyone helps and supports each other. However, it is a lot of hard work (definitely not easy, like everyone assumes). Sometimes practices are the hardest thing ever and you wonder why you're even doing it and other practices make you feel like you can take on the world. All of that hard work pays off once competitions pick up. There's nothing better than the feeling of walking into Hershey stadium for championships and walking off the field knowing that you did your absolute best. Overall, the memories that marching band has given me are some of my best and I'm sad that I'll have to leave. It feels like only yesterday I was a freshmen learning how to march and picking up my drum for the first time.
- Kelsey Pacell, Senior
When I first started the marching band I thought it was going to be hard. I was wrong. It was easy! The thing that I was mostly scared of was that I didn’t know how to read music. But I learned how to read music really fast. There are a lot of good students that will help you if you need any help. The most important thing about the marching band for me was to always be prepared, remember my music, and enjoy practicing. We had practice on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. It seemed like a lot of hours, but the time really went fast. The best thing that I liked about marching band were competing with other bands and winning trophies. I spent time at home practicing that’s how I became better. So if you have a music talent this is a good place for you.
- Ben Ford, 8th grade
Marching band was at first an intimidating challenge. I had no idea of what I had gotten myself into. However I discovered my passion for the activity after seeing incredible examples and performances in the form of older members and older ensembles like colleges and drum corps. The activity grabbed me by the heart and never let go, and I owe all my gratitude and success in marching music to the excellent staff here at Phoenixville Area High School. Marching band, in whatever form, will be part of me for the rest of my life, and I'm proud to say so.
-Ed Newman, Senior