Mercer Island High School band is marching to London

For three chilly days this week, the Mercer Island High School marching band walked stiff-legged down suburban streets, students poker-faced, instruments held in rigid arms. Their band director wove through their ranks, shouting advice.

"I don't want to hear your feet. Place the heel!" said director Parker Bixby. "Eyes off the ground. Look proud!"

On New Year's Day, all the hard work during winter break will be worth it. The roughly 200 students are scheduled to fly to London for the invite-only New Year's Day Parade through Piccadilly Circus and historic Trafalgar Square. There, they will hear their name announced to crowds reaching half a million as they show off choreographed dance moves while playing Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Karn Evil 9."

It's enough to make every student want to join band.

At Mercer Island High, roughly one in five students do. The band doesn't discriminate: anyone who meets minimum playing requirements can join. Of the 300 in the marching band, about 200 sophomores, juniors, seniors and numerous chaperones will make it to London.

It's a first-time honor for a band that made the cut for the 2006 Rose Parade and will return to Pasadena again in 2012.

"London is exciting, to bring what we do and how we do it to a new audience that has never seen anything like it," Bixby said. "In that way, there's a little less stress associated with it and an ability to let loose a little bit."

Derek Fanucci is a sophomore sousaphone player, which means he can go to both London and Pasadena. "I kind of had this image if I worked hard enough and stayed in band, I'd get to go on a trip," he said. "In my mind, I had to go."

During a recent rehearsal, there was no indication from the kids that they were on winter break. Discipline set in the moment Bixby shouted, "Hey band!"

"Hey what?" the kids chorused back.

During rehearsal, Bixby, perched on a ladder, ran them through their moves that center on a dozen sousaphones with cloth letters stretched over the horns, which spell "Mercer Island," then are rearranged into words such as "s-m-i-l-e" and "d-a-n-c-e."

He reminded players to keep their arms raised at the correct height, to execute turns on the right count and to have their instruments ready to play at the downbeat. Some of London's narrower streets will also make marching in formation a little more complicated.

When the announcer calls their name for their prime-time moment on television, "They're going to be speaking in funny English accents," he said. "You're going to be very excited. You need to ignore it."

Sandy Efseaff's son traveled with the band to Pasadena, and now her daughter, a flutist, is headed to London. She praised the music program and Bixby, whom she said is "extraordinarily funny."

"The kids really like him," she said.

It's the students, Bixby said, who must prove they are ready for the commitment and responsibility required for a trip to the Rose Bowl or London.

He also touted a supportive community for making the program work. The kids and their supporters raised $80,000 for students who couldn't afford the trip, he said.

"It's a pretty tough time for music education around the state and the country," Bixby said. "This community has made it a priority not just to keep it included, but to provide these extra opportunities for these kids. It's a pretty special place to teach and be a student.

"They're very lucky."

Unlike competitive bands that perfect one show per season, co-director Ryan Lane said, Mercer Island changes its halftime show for each football game.

"We entertain," Lane said.

The band draws kids of all types, including members who do volunteer work or play a sport; football and lacrosse shirts were visible during rehearsal.

"Every single type of kid is in the band," said drum major and senior Jared Thomas. "Everyone in the school has at least one friend in band."

Flutist and sophomore Robby Blood has wanted to be in the band ever since she first saw it perform when she was in middle school. "The friends you make and connections you make with other people is really special." With such a large group, there's also a greater sense of purpose, similar to sports teams, said Blood, a volleyball player.

And the trip to London has definitely elicited some jealousy from friends who aren't in the group.

"My friends are pretty mad that they don't get to go," she said.

"Shoulda joined band!"

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com