While other football players go to the locker room to rest on Friday nights, junior Hilton Patterson picks up his mellophone to perform in the halftime show.
For some people, performing in a uniform that sticks out could be stressful. Although his mistakes may be more easily seen, he finds sticking out to be a positive.
“In a way, I feel like it represents Homewood because it’s a school that, whether it’s in sports or fine arts or anything, we’re very prestigious,” Patterson said.
Chris Cooper, the band director at HHS, believes Patterson’s involvement exemplifies the ”Homewood Way”.
“Hilton’s involvement, I believe, shows how Homewood allows students to express themselves in different ways,” Cooper said.
“Pride, Perfection and Professionalism” is the mantra guiding both Patterson and Cooper. This slogan has been passed down through the years as a piece of conventional wisdom conveying what it means to be part of the Homewood band.
Patterson’s strenuous practice schedules for both programs reinforce his love for athletics and the arts.
“I’ve always loved the halftime show; it’s one of my favorite parts of high school,” Patterson said. “So, I’ve always wanted to continue doing that…while also doing football, which is my favorite sport.”
One issue that may arise with doing both on the same night is communication. Patterson says this isn’t as much of an issue with football, as he can usually catch the information he needs before or after the halftime performance. However, problems often arise for Patterson when receiving last-minute directions from the band.
“Sometimes there may be something wrong,” Patterson said. “For instance, what if my instrument isn’t there, or maybe the band told everybody else something, and then I didn’t get it, and we’re changing something up.”
Patterson’s involvement in both programs has led to more connections than the average student. He says one of the best things about participating in both band and football is the sheer number of people he gets to interact with daily.
“Because I’ve done [band] for multiple years, and we share musical talents in common, I’ve become friends with them,” Patterson said. “I guess because I am the football player who’s in band, a lot of people notice me, and then I’ll meet new people because of that. Then, with the football team, I’ve done it with those guys, too. I’ve for sure enjoyed getting to know a lot of people through everything.”
