New Northwest band director’s enthusiasm rubs off on students

"He drinks a lot of coffee," sophomore clarinetist Karlie Chang said about new Northwest Band Director Shawn Pfanstiel.

When that comment was repeated to him later, Pfanstiel laughed and fully agreed with the comment. He had a cup of coffee in his hand, and when he sat down at the desk in his office, Pfanstiel reached down and pulled out a thermos filled with coffee.

"I bring this with me every morning," he said.

Whether it's due to caffeine or some other factor, Northwest band students also think Pfanstiel is a high-energy person -- even for a director.

Drum major Matt Hudnall said Pfanstiel "is so enthusiastic." He noted that, when every single member of the band plays music correctly, he "jumps up and runs around."

The new Northwest director again laughed when he heard about student impressions of his animated personality and pointed to a certificate the students made after summer band camp that is now hanging on an office wall. It reads, "Most Energy Person," on the first line, with the nickname "Fancypants" printed below.

Some of Pfanstiel's energy was evident during Thursday morning rehearsal on the field just west of Northwest High School. As the students moved through their maneuvers for their field show, Pfanstiel used his amplified mic to sing the tune for the show.

That allowed the students to concentrate on marching in formation without simultaneously having to play music.

"Keep the energy, keep the energy," Pfanstiel urged.

Of course, the next step was to regroup and move through the formation playing music. Pfanstiel wanted the students to reassemble in the starting formation as quickly as possible.

"Fix it up!" he said. "Quick … let's go!"

When band members got out of synch partway through one maneuver, Pfanstiel stopped them and said, "Let's try that again."

As they rehearsed the move again, Pfanstiel urged the musicians to "try to stay in tempo with the drum majors." To help them, he counted off the tempo, "1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 5 … 6 … 7 … 8."

There was a little extra intensity during Thursday's rehearsal. Tonight, the Northwest band will perform its first halftime show at the Northwest football game against York.

Just before they broke before their second-period class, Pfanstiel told the musicians he needed them to be even more focused during the final rehearsal before Friday night's show.

Hudnall noted that the band's two previous public performances -- Music Jubilee Night, more popularly known as "Hot Dog Night," and parading at the Nebraska State Fair -- are akin to NFL preseason games.

Friday night's halftime performance is Northwest's opening of the regular season, Hudnall said.

Sophomore alto saxophonist Daniel Carlson said the halftime show also marks an evolution in the band's development. It will be the first time the band has publicly performed the second piece in its four-piece field show.

Another part of the fall season is the music and marching the Northwest band does in parades, Carlson said.

In addition to becoming accustomed to the new director's personality, they've had to get used to some new technical aspects of his direction.

Hudnall said Pfanstiel is using new terminology, which now is widely used by other bands around the state.

"He wanted to bring us into the new age," he said.

Pfanstiel said that, instead of "17 different commands, I use one basic command with different variations."

One such command is "mark-ten-hut," a signal for the musicians to count four beats, then begin playing while marching in place, he said. "Mark-ten-mark" is a command to count four beats, then begin playing without moving.

Chang said discipline has changed as well. She said band members used to be graded on appearing for marching band rehearsals and doing what they were supposed to. Now there is more emphasis on mastering specific skills.

Carlson said Pfanstiel, who just graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney last year, also enforces discipline when it comes to band members talking between sets. He said that Pfanstiel will chide talkers by saying, "My hearing isn't that bad."

While Pfanstiel may be making changes, he is well aware of directing a marching band program with lots of tradition. He said Northwest has earned 11 straight superiors at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association field competition.

Asked when he learned that fact, Pfanstiel replied, "During the (job) interview. That is an important detail."

While Friday night may be the beginning of the "regular season" for Northwest, the UNK Band Day Parade and Field Competition, Harvest of Harmony Parade and Field Competition and NSBA State Marching Contest may be akin to the playoffs.

Pfanstiel recognized that Thursday, congratulating the band on reaching an early-season goal of learning its entire field show, while also saying, "I know it's not perfect."

That's why an entire fall of 7 a.m. rehearsals lies ahead.