If you have ever tried to play an instrument, then you know the time and talent they take to learn. So many people are covetous of the passion and endurance it takes to learn to play any instrument. Josh Niermann (11) is no different, and he has taken to playing brass. Niermann has been drawn to the trombone from the beginning when he walked into the band room at North Middle. For the past six years, he has been dedicated to becoming the most amazing at his instrument of choice. “I decided to play the trombone because it just looked the coolest and easiest in fifth grade. I’ve been playing since I started fifth grade, so this is my sixth year,” Niermann said. Since fifth grade he has progressed. Niermann has been optimistic about how his career in marching band has been going, stating how easy it has been to keep at it with all the good guidance he has been given. “I think I have had good teachers, so I have gotten good at it. [The teachers] have helped me stick with it; being good at helping others and being helpful to others,” Niermann said. LCHS band has gotten a new Band Director, Dr. Hardy-Moore, and when asked about it, Niermann responded optimistically. “It started out rough, just with a new director and I'm sure it’s different for him too. With a new school and everything, but we've all gotten into a stride that's going to take us pretty far,” Niermann said. In recent years, LCHS has had some particular out of the box halftime performances. Recent themes are “A Walk in the Garden,” in 2023, “Night Fever,” in 2025, and most recently, “Through the Shadows,” in 2026. Niermann’s favorite show was the first of his high school marching career, “Keeping Time.” “I really liked the ‘Keeping Time’ show. It was during my freshman year. The music and the picture booth just looked really cool,” Niermann said. The band plays all throughout the football games. They play all kinds of upbeat music in pep rallies and different genres in the halftime show itself. Niermann decided that stand tunes are not only his favorite part of football games, but as his overall favorite kind of music to play. “If I had to pick a favorite song to play, it would probably be any of the stand tunes we play. They are one of my favorite parts of being in the band in general, so I try to play with spirit, play it right, and play it loud,” Niermann said. Every stand tune, every chant we hear, every halftime show we see, and every song in pep rallies shows the admirable passion that Niermann is playing. Niermann has persevered through the challenges he has faced with a new band teacher, different halftime performances, and starting his marching band career. From fifth grade to junior year, Niermann has shown dedication to marching band. By: Anna Kate Terry