Music echoed around the west end of campus.

Drumlines snaked through the parking lot of O’Brien Stadium, pushing their drums, bells and xylophones before them.

Lycra and sequin-clad color guard members, carrying armfuls of brightly colored flags, scurried to critique sessions.

Middle school students wearing “band geek” shirts cheered on their siblings, and little color guard hopefuls twirled their mini flags in the audience.

But while the marching band festival Saturday was for high school students, Sam Fagaly, director of Jazz Studies, said it’s also an educational event for Eastern students.

Many Panther Marching Band members spent the day guiding high school competitors through the competition.

Others tabulated scores.

Some ferried clinicians from the press box to the critique site.

And a few more helped make sure everyone stayed hydrated.

Marching band members weren’t the only Eastern students who added to the effort.

The Pink Panthers and members of the music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota worked at the gates, charging attendees and passing out guides.

Black shirted Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia members parked busses and reset hash marks on the field after each performance.

The EIU Jazz Quintet put on mini shows during breaks in competition.

When the awards were given and the show was over, a very proud and tired Jeffrey Steiner, director of athletic bands, shook hands with his marching band members and waved goodbye to high school directors.

“I’m very pleased with today,” he said. “And very glad it’s over.”

Factbox:

What the bands were judged on:

Music Performance and Artistry:

* tone control

* proper tuning

* tempo and synchronizing

* accuracy in pitch

* hold of audience intrigue

Visual Performance and Artistry:

* accuracy in techniques

* basics, balance of form and spacing

* good reaction to music

* knowledge of design

General Effect:

* readability

* music continuality

* complex concepts

*staging and continuality

*visual interpretation

Three things Judge Joe Scagnoli, director of Bands Ameritus at Ball State University, Muncy, Ind., looked for during Saturday’s competition:

Marching Band 101:

Snap: “The band has to be together, uniform, in bringing instruments up or down.”

Attack: “The sound on the field, when the note starts: Does it hit you as one sound? Is it dynamic?”

Set: “There are usually 16 to 24 counts to get from one form to the next. I look to see if they transitioned fully and, if they are aligned after the set, clearly into the next form.”