With high school football season now under way, it’s not only the teams that are out in the sun everyday practicing — so are the marching bands.

For almost a month now, the Dallas County High School Band has been hitting the field to practice for their upcoming performances.

Second year band director Joshua Howard said the group still has some things to work on, but overall they are off to a good start and he is excited to get the season started.

“These guys are doing a good job and working really hard,” Howard said. “It’s always really exciting, especially this year.”

For their halftime show, the band will take on music from the film “Blues Brothers.” The opening piece will be a medley of “I Can’t Turn You Loose” and “Soul Man,” followed by “Soul Finger,” and finally a medley of “Think” by Aretha Franklin and another reprise of “I Can’t Turn You Loose.”

Howard is settling in a little better now that he has a year under his belt, although after marching in the Hornets’ band himself as a student he said it’s not that hard to get comfortable.

One of the things he’s most excited about he said, is the relationship that the different departments have with each other.

“That’s what I’m most excited about is how supportive all of the athletic and arts people are with each other,” Howard said.

“Around here, everybody is excited about everybody’s stuff.”

For the first time in a number of years, the band will have a majorette line. And heading up that line is senior captain Destiny Brown.

“We’re trying to put it up there and make that mark … that we’re trying to prove our point that we should have [a line],” Brown said.

Brown has been in the band for three years, two of those as a member of the flag corp.

“It’s been fun. I enjoy going to the games and being on the field to perform,” Brown said. “It’s a very nice experience.”

Jamiya Berry, a senior, decided to put her clarinet down this year to be a co-drum major.

“I’m really excited, because I think this year is going to be a lot better than last year,” Berry said.

“We weren’t as prepared … last year as we are this year, so it should be a lot better.”

On the other end of that spectrum is freshman Katelyn Hopkins, a flute player who is beginning her first year in the marching band.

“I think this is going to be a big step up in band,” Hopkins said. “I think I will be [nervous], but I think I’ll warm up to it once I get going.”

The band’s first show will be Friday, Aug. 28 when the Hornets take on Selma High School at Memorial Stadium.

“All my guys are real excited for that game to do their first show,” Howard said.