Step into the rhythm and feel the beat with the Johnson College Prep’s marching band— one of the newest additions to Johnson’s extracurricular offerings! Last year was the first year that Johnson had a marching band, and its impact has already been felt across campus. The band has been instrumental in lifting school spirit and morale while also encouraging accountability, fostering leadership, and providing band students with scholarship opportunities for college. Led by amazing teacher and band director Frederick Tapley, this talented student group brings energy, passion, and collaboration to the art form.

Tapley originally started the marching band when he recognized a change in music enrichment interest after surveying students in his classes. In those surveys, students talked about how going to the Chicago Football Classic (an opportunity offered through Johnson) and watching the HBCU marching bands perform there made them really want to try out marching band. So, Tapley established it in the 2023-2024 school year.

We sat down with both Tapley and Karlito Franklin, a sophomore in the band, to hear about how it’s been going. Check it out:

Q: What does the JCP marching band look like?

A: The marching band enrichment consists of students who play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and drums. The students learn how to read and perform music {in class}. We refine it during our enrichment time. Once that music is strong, we add choreography. They learn how to march, and we emphasize precision in their movement so that everybody moves together on one accord…

These young musicians must learn to be together—as one sound. If we’re dancing, everybody’s dancing. Everybody puts in that hundred percent effort so that we’re bringing a quality, excellent performance every time we perform. Marching band is a community coming together to make something magnificent!

Q: What does a typical afternoon in enrichment look like?

A: It’s the same operation as our {daytime} class. They immediately grab their instruments and sit down to warm up. Our drummers assemble their drums, and one of our leaders starts their group warm-up with instruments and stretches. The leaders bring the entire ensemble together, and then we start to rehearse through the music that we’ve learned during the school day. Once the music sounds right where we need to be and everyone has memorized their parts, then we go to the next step and we start choreography or we do marching maneuvers.

Q: What is your favorite memory/moment with the JCP marching band?

A: I would say the best memory was the SAT Pep Rally last school year. That was the first time the band had performed that year. The entire marching band was beginners. This is something unheard of, in a way. They pretty much broke a record. It’s very unconventional for a beginning band to add movement, produce sound, and be coordinated. So, they did something really big.

Q: That must’ve made you proud as a director and teacher. Why did that moment stand out to you?

A: It did! I chose that as my best moment because I saw how their faces lit up once they performed and got through it. They put in the work after school—I had them marching up and down the hallways some days just to build up their endurance and strength and get acclimated to performing in the space. Them putting in all that work and then turning out with a good end product, seeing their faces and all the joy that they had— it did something for me.

Q: What are you looking forward to this year with the marching band?

A: This year, I’m looking forward to going to either a parade or a competition or both. I also want to continue to just build up their confidence. Learning an instrument is extremely difficult and a lot of times when it’s creative, we’re very hard on ourselves.

Q: If you had to pick one student to spotlight from the JCP marching band, who would you pick? And why?

A: Let’s see. I would have to say Karlito Franklin! He’s a sophomore this year. What I love about him is he was always willing to get down, roll up his sleeves, and put in the hard work. Karlito just blossomed into a very skilled trombone player last year. I’m really excited to have him again this year in a varsity band. He also stretched himself, and in his spare time, he learned piano and bass guitar. He’s just literally like a rock star!

Q: How has being in the marching band impacted your experience at JCP?

A: Being in the band has been one of the best parts of my high school experience. It’s given me a sense of community and a place where I can be myself. I’ve made some of my closest friends here, and it’s taught me so much about discipline, teamwork, and the power of music. It’s like having a second family.

Q: How do you support and motivate other band members as a student leader?

A: I try to lead by example and always bring a positive attitude to rehearsals and performances. If someone is struggling, I make an effort to help them out. I think it’s important for everyone to feel included in the band.

Q: What advice would you give someone considering joining the marching band?

A: Go for it! Being in the band is hard work, but I think it’s worth it. You’ll learn a lot about music and have chances to perform. Just come in ready to learn, ready to work hard, and just have fun.