The Fort Dodge Senior High band will debut new marching band uniforms for the first time since the 2014 season, giving the band a new modern look. The band will also debut some new elements on the field.

The Bands of America governing body for high school marching band competitions has started to allow props like ramps and platforms on the field, said Al Paulson, FDSH director of bands.

“So this is our first attempt at adding in props and eventually, I want to add a stage to this in addition to the ramp,” he said. “Just trying to take us to the next level of the new era.”

A medley of Earth, Wind & Fire songs is something Paulson had been looking at planning for a show for a while.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Fort Dodge Senior High senior Grace Tolliver plays the clarinet during the FDSH Marching Band camp on Thursday afternoon.

“I’ve always enjoyed that music,” Paulson said. “I’ve always wanted to do the show, but haven’t had a horn line that I thought could handle it until this year.”

The marching band is led by four senior drum majors — Ryan Madden, Aliyah Henry, Grace Casciato and Reese Peterson.

The show features an alto saxophone solo by Abby Meyer and a piccolo trumpet solo by Aaron Amhof.

The band has been working hard in this week’s sweltering heat for the annual “band camp,” where they get a jumpstart on learning the music and drill for the show in preparation for the four home football games they will perform at, as well as the three competitions they’ll go to this fall. They’ll play a selection of songs including “September,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “Fantasy” and “In the Stone.”

Band camp week will wrap up today at 5 p.m. with a free exhibition show at Dodger Stadium.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Senior Drum Major Aliyah Henry directs the Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band during band camp rehearsal on Thursday afternoon. This is Henry's second year as a drum major.

“The kids are looking great, they’ve been working hard,” Paulson said. “They haven’t been letting this weather bother them.”

This is Henry’s second year as a drum major. Having that experience helps prepare her to give better advice to underclassmen and the incoming freshmen she works with.

“It just makes my life a lot easier and makes their lives a lot easier, especially when I can answer their questions,” she said.

As a member of Generation Z, Henry was not familiar with Earth, Wind & Fire, a multi-genre band that was most popular three decades before her birth.

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel about it,” she said. “But then over the summer, I listened to a lot of their music and now I’m super excited to see how the show goes.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Members of the Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band practice the drill for this year's Earth, Wind & Fire show on Thursday afternoon. The ramp adds a new element to the band's performance.

The band will compete in the North Central Iowa Marching Band Invitational, hosted by FDSH, on Sept. 24. Paulson said they will be welcoming 13 bands, including a band traveling all the way from Oklahoma. On Oct. 8, the Dodgers will compete in the State Marching Band Festival at Dodger Stadium. A week later, they’ll travel to Ankeny for the Mid-Iowa Band Championship on Oct. 15 at the Ankeny High School stadium.

Paulson expects the 120 members of the All-American Dodger Marching Band will be ready to perform at the highest levels by competition time.

“I’m pretty excited for where we’re at right now,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Fort Dodge Senior High senior Nathan Beekman rehearses with the FDSH Marching Band on Thursday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Fort Dodge Senior High Dodger Marching Band rehearses its new show during band camp on Thursday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band Director Al Paulson gives directions during a rehearsal during band camp on Thursday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Fort Dodge Senior High freshman Adriana Manzanilla plays the clarinet in the FDSH Dodger Marching Band. The band had a week-long band camp this week that will end with an exhibition show 5 p.m. on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band rehearses its new show during band camp on Thursday afternoon.