For marching band directors, one of the biggest challenges occurs before students even pick up their instruments:

The challenge? Selecting the right music for each year's performances.

Larry Royer, Lampeter-Strasburg director, said for him the process starts months before band camp. And he takes a slightly untraditional approach to the music, picking a theme, then finding music to match it.

"There is definitely a creative process to it," Royer said. "Our first step is to come up with an idea, and we look for music to fit that."

Most often, Royer said, the music is a blend of concert-band standards and original compositions from the directors themselves. Past themes have ranged from World War II to music inspired by autumn. This year's show is titled "Borne of Fire."

"It centers around fire — the starting of it, how it dies down into smoldering embers and comes back," Royer said.

Each school year, bands strive to create shows full of variety.

"We try not to do the same show as years before," Gary Doll, Solanco band director, said. "We've done a jazz show one year, a serious symphonic show and Broadway the next year. I try to vary the music so that the kids get a variety of different types each year."

The directors said they try to create shows that will keep both instrumentalists and crowds entertained — and there is certainly no lack of variety among Lancaster County bands this fall.

Those listening at football games will hear everything from movie-theme hits such as "Mission Impossible" to music from the opera "Carmen."

Pequea Valley band director Byron Mikesell chose "West Side Story" for this year's band routine.

"I thought it would be something the students would enjoy playing," he said. "It's something people can recognize, but it'll be done a little bit different than before."

Then there are what band members and directors simply refer to as "stand tunes."

"They're the songs that everyone in the stands knows," said Garden Spot band member Julia Smith, 16, a three-year member of the band. Garden Spot favorites, she said, are "lots of the oldies," including "Twist and Shout," "Shout" and "Hey Baby."

The Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann," "The Hey Song" and the "Rocky" theme song are among Royer's favorites. The director said many of the tried-and-true stand tunes he played while in high school remain popular.

"They're just fun," Royer said. "They've stayed the same; the crowds know them. They get into it."

And so do the bands. Those who listen closely might even witness some friendly competition between opposing school bands.

"They'll start out playing a song really slow and then build up to get faster and louder," said Smith, a percussion pit member. The opposing band will then respond by playing faster and louder.

"They play back and forth. It gets pretty funny," said Smith, noting the competition is all in good spirit.

"I don't think there's ever a winner," she said. "But it can get pretty loud."

Staff writers Rachel Fetrow and Eric Hughes contributed to this report.