Inside Marching Mizzou's prep for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City

Marching Mizzou's moment of national attention in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade came with hard work and preparation.

The band learned last year it would be part of this year's parade.

Along the 2.5-mile route through the streets of Manhattan, the 350 band members will perform "Every True Son," "Fight Tiger," and "Missouri Waltz."

Then comes their 34th Street feature in Macy's Herald Square. They will perform "All I Wanna Do" by MU alumna Sheryl Crow.

That was a focus earlier this month, said Breanna Derritt, 19, second-year alto sax player from Warrensburg. She spoke before practice on Nov. 3.

"We ran it multiple times yesterday — at least 20," Derritt said of the 34th Street performance.

The parade is longer than they're used to, so they improved their endurance, she said.

"We've taken it up a notch," Derritt said.

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They've also practiced their gate turns at corners, many, many times, she said. Being open to change has been important, she said.

The performance must be precise, said Brady Sohn, 21, third-year sousaphone and tuba player from Quincy, Ill.

"We have to be very tight," Sohn said, also speaking on Nov. 3. Even one foot off will look weird on TV, he said.

For most people, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For freshman Jacob Pittman Davis, 18, from Blue Springs, it's a twice-in-a-lifetime experience.

In the drum line, Davis went to the parade previously as part of the Blue Springs High School marching band. That was in 2019.

"It was real eye-opening to be in New York and being watched by millions," Davis said. "I was a freshman in high school.'

He thought at the time it was his one moment in the parade before a national audience, but now he's returning with Marching Mizzou.

They will be highlights of his life, Davis said.

"They're definitely events that help shape who I am as a person and a performer," Davis said.

Band members got their music early in the season and since then they have been drilling, he said.

The band will be hyped to play on Thanksgiving Day, Derritt said on Nov. 3.

"I'm looking forward to getting to see New York, just feeling the energy from the crowd and how much fun it will be."

The 34th Street feature took some adjustment, said director Amy Knopps.

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"It truly is like a mini field show on the street," Knopps said on Nov. 2. "That is new to us. That is something we've never prepared before. It's taking a lot of effort."

While the Homecoming Parade in downtown Columbia is about 1.5 miles long, the Macy's parade is a mile longer.

"We've carved out time to work on our street routine," Knopps said. "We've also dedicated time for a Marching Health exercise routine that has helped us prepare for the physical demands. No detail has been too small in what we want to accomplish."

On the practice field Nov. 3, band members rotated among instructors on the field, each with a different physical exercise before ever picking up instruments.

"Hydrate, please," came a voice from a loudspeaker. "Hydrate."

"Think about 2 1/2 miles for Macy's," came another instruction from the loudspeaker.

They practiced several numbers, with the disembodied voice occasionally giving directions.

"Sousaphones, if you all could just collectively commit to being louder," was one.

And another: "Make sure you get up your air to push phrases all the way through."

Marching Mizzou had been busy with home football games, Homecoming Parade and a Kansas City Chiefs game, but when the calendar flipped to November, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade came into clearer focus, Knopps said.

Excitement is building, she said.

Everyone should tune in to see Marching Mizzou represent MU and the state wherever they are for Thanksgiving, Knopps said.

"I'm really proud of their hard work," she said.

And if all the flights are on time, Marching Mizzou will rush back to Columbia to perform in the last home game of the season on Friday, she said.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Marching Mizzou prepares for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022