By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The sound of drums, flutes, saxophones and cheerful voices filled the hallways of Niles High School Monday.
And, it wasn't from the workers preparing the school building for this fall's batch of students.
Monday was the first day of band camp, a week filled with practice for the dozens of high school students preparing for the upcoming band season and the marching contest on Oct. 7.
The students practice from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening.
She said the high school's color guard and percussion section met in previous weeks, but this is the week all sections come together to practice.
The Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., Music and Education graduate, who took over as band director right after she finished college, said the students are currently working on getting through the first half of this year's show.
Hacker enjoys the early days of camp, but is looking forward to when the students have practiced more.
John Van Der Linden will be a sophomore this year.
A percussionist since fifth grade who has "always" been in band, Van Der Linden said he has done band camp every year he's had a chance.
Van Der Linden, who hopes to play percussion at the college level, however, also likes to see the end result of hard practice.
Although many people may think playing in band is limited to counting beats and marching straight, drum major and senior, Annie Schueneman, said playing in band is about more than music.
She is glad to have the opportunity to meet the other band members during the summer.
She likes this year's Beatles theme and thinks many people will recognize the music.
The students who participate in band camp will play for parents, or anyone else who are interested, on Friday August 1, at the Niles High School.
The concert starts at 6 p.m.