LAUSD Marching Band Preps For Tournament Of Roses Parade

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — For most Los Angeles Unified students, this week is simply part of a longer holiday break from school.

But as KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports, for over 400 members of the All District High School Honor Marching Band, it's a working Christmas vacation.

The band - comprised of all brass and percussion instruments - spent the day Monday rehearsing in the Dodger Stadium parking lot ahead of its turn in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, a tradition that goes back for some 40 years.

Band director Tony White said while preparations for the 5.5-mile Rose Parade route can be strenuous, it's all worth it in the end.

"This is something that is powerful, where kids are connected, they're being nourished so they can go out and be positive in society," White said.

In addition to the Rose Parade, the All District High School Honor Marching Band has played in Anaheim Stadium, Disneyland, and Super Bowls XI, XIV, and XVII, according to the band's official website.

Some band members like Ulysses, who plays the drums, said the march can be physically taxing even for seasoned veterans.

"A lot of people say by the three-mile mark, you're pretty much dead, like in your back," he said.

RELATED: LAUSD's All City Honor Marching Band To Mark 40th Performance In Rose Parade