The sounds of drums, brass, and woodwind notes will fill the air at the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Eleven marching bands from across the Rio Grande Valley will compete in the 6A area competition in the hopes of advancing to the state championship.

“Because we only have 21 bands going, only three will advance to state,” Veterans Memorial Band Director Elizabeth Stone said.

On Friday, marching band students tuned each note and perfected each step of the routine they started learning in the summer.

The students practice their routines in the mornings and afternoons.

Saturday's forecast calls for some hot fall temperatures, but band directors are making the perfect pitch to students.

“We're constantly telling them, ‘drink water, drink Gatorade,’ and making sure that t

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