"Oh, dude, we have a rookie bus driver here," calls out one member as the bus driver attempts a three-point turn instead of backing into the space. Everyone turns to watch. After all, they should know—these students are veteran bus riders.

There is the usual last-minute confusion before the buses leave—"I need help with the uniforms," someone calls out. Nobody moves at first. Permission slips are rounded up and then roll call is taken by drum major Hoi Chan. He's the equivalent of conductor and the student leader of the band. Even parents are included in roll call. The only time anyone was ever left behind, the left-behind person was actually a parent, laughs Vicki Streeter, vice president of the band's booster club.

It's foggy as the bus makes its way toward San Francisco, most of the kids resting comfortably in the plush seats listening to music through headphones or talking to their seatmates. Over the speaker Nat King Cole sings, as Chan explains the workings of the band.

This activity requires tremendous commitment. The students put in long hours practicing; learning to play an instrument while marching requires a special skill.

"You learn to separate the top part of your body, which is the musical portion, from the bottom half, which is working athletically," says Chan. He currently plays the French horn but is a little incapacitated on this day with an injured arm, the result of a spill off a moped.

It's a miracle of sorts that the marching band can fulfill its commitment today; it almost didn't happen. The band learned a week before school ended last year that it was in serious jeopardy because of budget constraints. Although a marching band class would still exist, the band director's classes were cut back so he wouldn't be working full time anymore. As a result, he needed to pick up extra classes, teaching at Saratoga High School, to compensate for the lost classes and was thus unable to take on any extra duties. This meant that the competitions—an important element in the band—would be dropped.

"The boosters decided we wouldn't let that happen and have been running the marching band portion in conjunction with the school but using outside instructors," explains booster president Jeanie Suzuki. Getting this up and running required long hours last summer, the volunteers working the equivalent of a full-time job.

All rehearsals and activities like band camp are picked up by the boosters now. The band is divided into groups based on instruments and each has a section leader. These student leadership roles have taken on an even more important significance with the lack of a band director.

"This gives you real leadership and people skills, especially when working with difficult students," says Cassie Prow, leader of the woodwind section. She loves the experience, but at the same time is looking forward to joining sports activities in college since there isn't time now to do both.

"There is more pressure on the section leaders; they have to really pull through on rehearsals and group activities and deal with discipline issues," says Suzuki. And since freshmen make up one-third of the band, the older kids have stepped up to the responsibility. In the future, they hope to recruit more band members, thus allowing the school to add extra classes to retain a full-time band director again. Currently the band has about 70 members, compared to Saratoga's 200 members, and Saratoga overall has fewer students than Los Gatos, too.

Without a band director, a new system was developed for choosing music for the band. The boosters decide what to play, then run their choices by the drum major. Others chime in if they've got an opinion. Some have welcomed the change.

"It's a lot more flexible this year," says Chan.

The band also relies on its marching band class with former director Jim Francisco. "He does a really good job; he chooses the right music for the event," Chan adds.

Greg Messa, a senior and leader for the drum section, is cognizant of the responsibility he carries with his section. The drums can drown out the rest of the band and require special attention, especially with such a large drum section in a small band like this one. "The focus is on being musical," says Messa, who also belongs to the San Jose Youth Symphony.

Messa toured in Japan with the San Jose Youth Symphony and counts the cultural exchange as a significant life experience—this is in addition to a trip to Ireland with the marching band to perform at the St Patrick's Day parade. It was after Sept. 11 and the Los Gatos band was the only American band to make the trip. The high school administration felt it was important for the band to go and represent our country.

"The crowd roared so loudly after we performed," says Streeter. It rained all but one day, but the band members insisted on taking off their ponchos when it was their turn to perform, not wanting to hide their brand-new uniforms.

As the bus pulls into the SBC Park parking lot, the Shriners are also departing from their bus, milling around in their clown costumes and getting ready. The band members quickly change on the bus or standing next to it. Another marching band from Mariposa arrives with not one, but two, band directors. The bands size each other up as they begin warming up.

Listening to a live band is quite impressive. In the SBC Park parking lot, a group of local kids stand by, mesmerized. There are last-minute instructions and adjustments to be made. One minor emergency has been resolved—the mallet for the bells was left behind, but someone's parent graciously offered to drive it up.

Once in the stadium, everybody settles into their seats. The different bands take turns playing, careful never to intrude on each other's piece. "It's part of the etiquette you learn," says Prow.

Most are watching the game intently, and one member is explaining the different positions and rules to a freshman. Everyone seems remarkably calm until it's time for the halftime performance.

"Are we the only band playing?" asks one member.

"Yes, but just remember, it's like playing at your high school football field," says one of the Shriners reassuringly. Easy to say, but once down on the field looking at the enormity of the stands all around, everything's suddenly different.

There are last-minute jitters, but once the band starts playing "Rocky," everything falls into place.

Today is one of the few times Danny Hage, a senior, can actually march with his bell set. Usually he's in the pit, as his instrument is difficult to carry while marching. Like many, his time is stretched pretty thin—he combines wrestling with band, both of which require a great deal of time.

In the drum section is Nicole Rodriguez, a junior who plays the bass drum. The petite 5-foot junior is the only female member of the drum section and carries a 30-pound drum. It was difficult at first, she says, especially on her back, but now she has no trouble. She started as a dancer in the color guard but switched when a space in the band became available.

After the halftime activities end, the band marches back to the stands, with the football players already congregating and blocking the way. Remarkably, a path is created.

"People make way for the drumline—they carry a presence," says Chan.

"Everything went smoothly; it was great," he adds. "In a bigger crowd you feel more exposed, but it's a chance-of-a-lifetime experience."

"We had a great time," says Prow after returning to her seat, "although it was a long time to stand."