It’s 8 a.m. Out of nowhere comes the sound of brass trombones and trumpets. The Thomas Jefferson Marching Colonials herald another home varsity football game on Sept. 14.

“We play different pep tunes,” senior Kevin Zeng, who plays the trumpet, said. “Sometimes we stop in the cafeteria and the Syslab and play fight songs.”

The pep tunes are decided by the drum major while the snare drummer counts down to the start off. The band, as well as the color guard, advance through the hallways several times on both floors of the school.

“Contrary to what everyone thinks, we’re just not blasting notes and music,” said senior David Heo, who plays the clarinet. “We have to do a good job representing our program because we are also representing the curricular band and not just the marching band.”

While some students shrink away from the crowd and the noise, many join in by clapping or humming along as the procession passes by. Although the hall march isn’t a requirement, many marching band members enjoy being a part of the procession that energizes students as well as the staff.

“We just tell everyone of our presence – the marching band exists,” Heo said, “And we wake you up in the morning.”