As many of you may know from attending Star Valley High School’s varsity home games, the pep band plays at most of them, featuring a variety of pop tunes and other genres. However, what remains a mystery to many is how the pep band decides which songs to play, when to play them, and the coordinated actions that go along with them. This article aims to explain the song selection process while also sharing some fun facts about the music and the traditions that accompany it.

The pep band brings an exciting and energetic atmosphere to the audience, but we rarely hear from the band members themselves. Here are a few of their thoughts:

• Senior Emilio Torres on being part of the pep band: “I love pep band because it lets me vibe out with the band and the community.”
• Junior Ren Wilson on what he enjoys most: “Pep band is one of my favorite activities because I get to hang out with friends and play fun songs.”
• Stryker Suter on his feelings about the band’s cheers: “Oh, I feel good! Oh, I feel so good!”—a reference to one of the traditional call-and-response cheers between the band and the cheerleaders.

How Does the Pep Band Get New Songs?

If you hear a new song at a game, it may not actually be new—it might just be one that isn’t played often. The music room contains a closet full of different songs, many of which haven’t been digitized, meaning they can’t be displayed on the iPads the band uses to read music. Occasionally, at the end of the year, the band has the opportunity to purchase new songs. This process involves band members suggesting songs to Mr. Sand, usually from a site called JW Pepper, which provides sheet music and pep band arrangements of popular songs. The selections go through a bracket-style voting process before a final order is placed. If the music is available digitally, it arrives immediately; otherwise, physical copies are received at the start of the next school year to be played at games.

How Are Songs Chosen During Games?

For football games, the band typically plays from a pre-made playlist, while at basketball games, there is more direct communication between the director, Mr. Sand, and the band members. The playlist consists of songs, drum cadences, and time-out tunes. For basketball games, band members often suggest songs on the spot. If you have a song request for something we’ve played before, don’t hesitate to ask! If we have the sheet music available, we’ll likely try to play it.

Band Actions and Audience Participation

Along with the songs and drum cadences—short rhythmic patterns played only by the percussion section—you’ll often see band members performing synchronized movements. For example, during Holiday, the band sways back and forth with the rhythm to enhance the energy of the performance. These traditions have been passed down orally from one generation of pep band members to the next, rather than being written down.

These actions aren’t just for the band—we encourage anyone in the audience to join in! While it might feel awkward to participate alone, you can always clap along with the band. For songs like HandClap, where clapping is a key part of the music, feel free to join in. In other songs, you can clap along on beats two and four—if you’re unsure when those are, just follow the people around you!

The Pep Band’s Role

Ultimately, the pep band exists to bring energy and excitement to every game. Their goal is to engage the crowd and enhance the game-day experience. Hopefully, this insight into how the pep band operates gives you a greater appreciation for the music they play—or at the very least, satisfies your curiosity. Either way, we hope you enjoy our performances!