Tyrone’s Indoor Percussion team is hard at work preparing their 2023 show for the upcoming season. Their show is titled Umbra, which is a song from the progressive rock band Karnivool.

The song is about the artist’s battle and victory over the disease of addiction. The name “Umbra” is also the name for the dark inner portion of a shadow.

The complex show features lots of melodies, harmonies, time changes, dynamics, climaxes, and challenges.

“I like this year’s music even more than last year,” says band director David Hock. “It has a lot of musical potential and some exciting moments that I’m looking forward to learning and performing.”

Battery instructor Rob Bonsell pieces the different instruments with the different parts of the music so everything will sound graceful.

“Music is the ultimate team sport and no one sits on a bench. Every person must do their part to make it a cohesive piece,” says Bonsell.

The percussion group has grown to 23 members, seven more than last year. Members of the band give the time for practice and concentration to be able to make the music come to life.

“It definitely tests my confidence,” said junior Landon Geissinger. “It’s certainly a change of pace from last year’s Long Way Home show. The time changes offer a new challenge by extension and new learning experience.”

Because of the growth in the team, the band needed to buy a new instrument. They purchased another vibraphone so they have at least two of each main instrument: marimbas vibraphones and xylophones.

This allows for a more balanced ensemble sound and allows for more students to play a keyboard instrument.

This year’s show consists of lots of new techniques and technical parts.

“I hope the students grow and develop into better musicians because of the music we play,” says Hock. “I hope they really enjoy the music and connect with it in a way that excites them, helps them be successful, and learn something new.”

The Indoor Colorguard program will also perform along with the Indoor Percussion Team again this year.

Coach Lisa Geissinger hopes to build the guard program and showcase what guard is all about to get more students interested. The indoor Guard currently has 11 members.

The first competition will be at Tyrone in the high school gymnasium on February 25th.