VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — This is not your typical marching band performance — more than 50 students from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach performed for millions of viewers on NBC's Today show. All throughout the 8 a.m. hour, the marching band played multiple songs leading up to commercial breaks right outside of Rockefeller Center in New York. 10 On Your Side spoke to band director John Boyd earlier this week, who tells us the ball got rolling on the project more than a year ago. Pharrell Williams contacted the school in March of last year, asking if the marching band wants to be part of a song in his upcoming movie, Piece by Piece, a Lego biopic about the life of Williams. They jumped on the opportunity and recorded their parts for the soundtrack. Pharrell biopic movie production is underway at Virginia Beach Oceanfront About a year later, Williams told the students that the song is out on Apple Music and is coming through production. Boyd remembers the excitement among the students, listening to it in class for days. It did not take long for Williams to invite the band up to New York City to play on the Today show, just a couple days before his Lego biopic hits theaters on Friday. Boyd told 10 On Your Side Williams himself played for the Princess Anne marching band back when he was a student. Boyd credits the famed musician for remembering his roots and highlighting Virginia Beach. "We're incredibly grateful," Boyd said. "I think this entire region is grateful for everything he does. I mean, he's constantly referencing this area, constantly referencing Virginia. He's constantly trying to promote Virginia artists and to do things that that really highlight the musical diversity and musical accomplishments of our entire 757 region, but especially Virginia Beach, and especially Princess Anne High School." During the performance, Williams also spent a few minutes speaking with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie about the upcoming movie and his roots. "The reason why my high school marching band is on the song is because that's where it all started for me, and Virginia Beach, Virginia and Princess Anne High School," Williams said, prompting a cheer from the audience standing outside with them. "VA forever!"