Despite near 100-degree heat last week, the Indian Land Marching Band played on.

The marching band practiced from the break of dawn to sundown during a week-long band camp. The camp taught the students the basics of this year's marching band show, from the footwork to the music.

The students will display their skills at Friday night football games and at the fall marching band competitions.

In the mornings, the group worked outside of Indian Land Middle and Elementary schools, perfecting each step of the show. In the heat of the day, the band went inside to work on the show's music. In the evenings, it was back outside to learn more of the footwork that could earn the students accolades during the competition season.

"The kids seem to be enjoying themselves," said Band Director Matt Willis. "It feels like we're ahead of where we were last year."

This year's show is called "Out of the Box," Willis said, and is about making your own decisions and following an individual path instead of being part of a crowd. The theme will be displayed through the music, colors used by the band's color guard and with props.

The music won't be recognizable to most people, Willis added. It's not popular music from the radio or a movie score, he said, which makes it more difficult for students to master.

It's important to Willis that the students are challenged to perform more difficult music during marching band season and year-round.

"It makes it more teachable. It gives me what I feel is more product to teach in the classroom," Willis said. "Does it make it easier for the kids? No. I think it requires them to be more artistic and work on things that we try to work on year-round."

The students are frequently focused on the season's big competitions, Willis said, and this year is no different. Students are excited about the Upper State and State competitions in October.

Competitions are exciting but right now the focus is on perfecting the music and marching, Willis said. When you're the best musician on the field, everything else takes care of itself, he added

"I don't put the kids on the field unless I think they have an opportunity, if they do their best, to win," Willis said.

"It's not the ultimate goal for me as an educator. But if you ask the kids, most will say we want to win Upper State or get a superior rating. Do I want to do those things? Yes, it's a great feeling as a director to see the kids achieve the goals they set out to achieve."