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Pride of the Southland EXPLAINED: Black Suits, Circle Drill & the Rocky Top “Woo” | Dr. Michael Stewart (UTK)
179 Plays15 days ago
Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. We head to Knoxville with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band (UTK). Director Dr. Michael Stewart breaks down the Black Suits leadership model, keeping the iconic Circle Drill fresh, audition growth and yearly re-auditions, tuning for power (why “in tune” = “sounds bigger”), and the eternal Rocky Top “Woo” debate. UT students Madelyn Bowman (guard) and Austin Kerr (tuba/Black Suit alum) jump in for Water We Doing?! and Gush & Go on band culture, travel, and show design.
Segments
- 32-Count Life Story — Dr. Stewart
- Interview Pt 1 — UT system, grad staff, Black Suits
- Interview Pt 2 — Circle Drill refresh, audition numbers, tuning philosophy, the “Woo”
- Water We Doing?! — Away-game guard travel, visiting-band courtesy, design clarity
- Gush & Go — Pride momentum, Tokyo Disney, guard growth, rest & self-care
Panel & Guests
Host: Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs) • Panel: Alicia Sharp (@aliciaoninsta2)
Guest: Dr. Michael Stewart (Director, Pride of the Southland — UTK)
Band: Pride of the Southland Marching Band (UTK) — Website: utbands.utk.edu/marching-band/ • IG: @utbands • X: @POTSBand • FB: /utbands • YouTube: University of Tennessee Bands
Student Guests: Madelyn Bowman (@madstopbowman) • Austin Kerr (@austin_kerr)
Find On A Water Break
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• Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
Sponsors
Peak Group Travel (@peak.group.travel) • Guard Closet (@guardcloset)
Call to Action
Subscribe, rate & review, and share this episode with your band fam. Follow #OnAWaterBreak and watch more on our YouTube channel.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to 'On A Water Break' Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome to On A Water Break. It's the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal, On A Water Break. This week we're going on a water break with the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Michael Stewart.
00:00:16
Speaker
We'll find out what made Alicia say. the point that I reached out to you, I think it was like last year and I was like, if I came and took a single class at UT, Could I do this?
00:00:28
Speaker
All that and more on this week's episode of On a Water Break.
Guest Introduction: Dr. Michael Stewart
00:00:34
Speaker
Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break. Podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:46
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. Hey, everyone. I'm Nicole. And it's September. And we're talking college game day. Like, the band is the brand and college robberies.
00:00:58
Speaker
But before we see who's on the sidelines today, I want to do a couple of things for me. First, go and subscribe on your favorite listening app. Write us a review. We haven't had many of those. And then share it with a friend.
00:01:09
Speaker
If you have a question or a good topic to talk about, email us. at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com, or you can find us on social media. DM us if you want to be on the show. We even have a form that you can fill out, and you can be a guest.
Dr. Stewart's Musical Journey
00:01:25
Speaker
So just check it out. Our link is in the bio. All right, let's see who's on the sidelines this week. Alicia. Hello. What is How's it going? know. We've not been on an episode together A hot minute.
00:01:39
Speaker
Since I think before WGI. Right. Yeah, it's been a bit. yeah What's going on in life? Well, you know, our listeners don't, but you know, I'm elbow deep in all things design and choreography and and Props. So many props.
00:01:56
Speaker
You've got to check out her props. They are to scale. And I am marching band judge. So
The Role of Props in Marching Band
00:02:03
Speaker
honestly, when it comes to props, bigger is better for me. You know what I mean? I'm a firm believer, like go big or go home. So, you know, a couple years ago, we had a 32 foot rocket on the field that there were many like nights that we spent until like 2am building. And This year, I said, I want to you know, I said originally a 40 foot wall, but it ended up being 36, which is okay. But it's 36 feet long and 10 feet tall, the gates of the Haunted Mansion.
00:02:32
Speaker
Alicia, the most who would have thought? Yeah, we've got tombstones, so many tombstones that were running out of band kids to like carry stuff on the field. yeah So every time I add something, my partner, who's the band director at this school is like, you got to chill.
00:02:46
Speaker
Yeah. I don't have enough kids for this. It's like you will chill once you're bringing home all those trophies and that jewelry. right Yeah. Yeah. Once it's all in the show, like once all the sound bites are all the choreographies done, all the props are in, I'll chill out.
00:03:02
Speaker
Until then.
Dr. Stewart's Career and Family
00:03:04
Speaker
Well, Alicia, we have someone also joining us on the sidelines this week and is Dr. Michael Stewart. Yes. Hello there. Hello. Sorry. No props for us. I apologize, but I can speak the language. I get it. So we're going to get into what you would you use because you don't have to use props. Exactly. He doesn't have to do those things. we cry great to hear I appreciate it You're welcome. Thank you.
00:03:30
Speaker
So, Dr. Stewart. Yeah. We have this thing that we do with all of our new guests that come on. um I would like to say it's a sort of an initiation, you know, either good, bad or indifferent, it's going to happen and it's going to end, but it's called the 32-count story.
00:03:47
Speaker
Basically what you have to do is just fit your whole life story into 32 counts from birth until now. And it's so easy. It's so simple. Okay. What's the tempo marking? What are we looking at here? um Or are we going like 180? That's an
Band Culture Transitions (Ohio to Tennessee)
00:04:01
Speaker
excellent question.
00:04:03
Speaker
You're the, you're the band director. Nicole and I are card people. You listen to it for a second. Tell us what this is. Goodness. Put me on the mark. Oh man, yeah. So we're probably floating around the, probably around the 130, 120. 130, that's what thought.
00:04:17
Speaker
Oh my gosh, I'm good. What's it what it at? 128, what's it? 128, 132, somewhere in there. 132, all right, yeah, go I Yeah, that gives me a good idea.
00:04:29
Speaker
That gives me good. Okay. So what I'm saying is you'll get eight counts off the mat and then you're in. Okay, great. Let's do it. Let's do this.
00:04:39
Speaker
All right, here we go right, I was born in Wyoming. the people in the world that probably anyone knows that was born in Wyoming and then lived. We moved when I was young to Ohio, grew up there, small town with my wife, ended up going to Ohio State, got three degrees, been at University of Tennessee for 19 years.
00:04:55
Speaker
Poor kids. You did it. Cut that in. didn't. I mean, listen. i mean, there's a lot of stuff I missed there, but I got a wide job in the four kids, and so I think we're good. Okay. That was the last minute. Four kids!
00:05:10
Speaker
you um people like We won't tell them. We won't tell them. appreciate it. Oh, they'll know. but but Oh, my goodness. That's awesome, though. But you said, OK, so you spent some time at, did you say Ohio State?
00:05:24
Speaker
Ohio State. So I did actually one of the one of the few people I did all my degrees at Ohio State, my undergrad, my master's and my doctorate, my Ph.D. were all there with. a few years, three or four years of teaching in the public schools kind of sandwiched in between all that. But I did my undergrad there at Ohio State, marched in the band for five years, as did my wife. She was a trumpet player. I did trombone and and then taught for several years at Delaware City Schools just north of Columbus and Ohio State. In Ohio, you have to at that point, you had to get a certain number of credits towards your master's degree to keep your certification. And I had none. We were rebuilding the program.
00:05:58
Speaker
uh and so ohio state offered to pay for my master's my plan was to go teach again because i loved public school had a great experience uh but after that after my master's i just enjoyed working with college kids so much they offered to keep paying for me to go to school and I said, sure,
Challenges in the Pride of the Southland Band
00:06:14
Speaker
let's do this. And I got to do everything, marching band, conducting, concert ensembles.
00:06:18
Speaker
So there was really, family was there. There was really no reason to leave. And that's the reason I got the job at Tennessee was my experience at a Division I school for that long. So it's worked out, worked out pretty well. That's awesome.
00:06:29
Speaker
How did that feel last year going to a bowl game? Yeah. It was so real. was are yeah It's funny because my wife went with me too. And I mean, I had spent 10 years at Ohio State. I grew up a Buckeye fan.
00:06:43
Speaker
And to go, that was the first time I've ever been Ohio Stadium where I was actively rooting against Ohio State. That's I've never been, you know, being in Tennessee for 19 years, you just, your blood turns orange, become a fall fan. And and And so it was, they gave me the opportunity to conduct the national anthem with their band, which I haven't been in front of that band in 19 years.
00:07:05
Speaker
So that was and was a really cool experience to be on the field again in Ohio stadium, conducting the OSU band while my band is right behind me in the stands. It was, and I'll be honest, I told my kids this, and I don't mind saying this publicly is I'm very thankful for my time at Ohio State, but it also allowed me to feel just truly blessed to be here in Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, and very thankful for the for the group of students I get to work with and the faculty every day because it's a special place.
00:07:32
Speaker
And that's one major reason why I haven't even looked at leaving, quite honestly, is Tennessee's big place. We loved it. Loved it. Awesome. I do want to take it back a little bit more. And you said you're from Wyoming. Yeah.
00:07:46
Speaker
A couple of things come to mind there. Well, first I want to ask, were you in the high school marching band in Wyoming? No. So by that time, we actually moved to Ohio. So we moved when I was young, but I still have family that lives in Wyoming. So I was born i was born in Laramie, and where the University of Wyoming is. And occasionally we get to go back. I still communicate with some of my family that lives there on ah on a yeah very regular basis.
00:08:08
Speaker
And they visited. the couple of them came for the Alabama game last year, which we won. And so I think they pretty much have to come with us now every time play them. And I still follow them. i follow ah University of Wyoming online. You know, they're sports teams.
00:08:21
Speaker
So
Rocky Top 'Woo' Debate
00:08:22
Speaker
no, but so I went to high school in Ohio, in Sydney, Ohio. And so did my wife. And that's where we met. We were both high school sweethearts. Yeah, so she asked me on the first date.
00:08:35
Speaker
Oh, no. That's awesome. we've but We've been together ever since. And I think that's one of the reasons why we've been able to stay together so long is she's, you know, you know, you guys know how it is when you have a spouse that understands the band life.
00:08:49
Speaker
That's really one of the only ways this works. So yeah that's it when I'm like, hey, I got to run to Costco at 730 at night and then run to the band room. And, you know, it's that's she's yep, that sounds about right. So yeah.
00:09:01
Speaker
<unk>s like I feel like we could do a whole episode on like band power. oh Husband, been wife, band directors. Like I see that. like but Absolutely. 100%. So that's the only way this thing works. She gets it. So you got, especially at the college level, you know, I have a little more freedom in the mornings, but my weekends and evenings are shot or I'm gone for days at a time with trips. So,
00:09:22
Speaker
Luckily, she and my family, my kids for that matter, they've, I've got two kids in the band right now and the UT band and that's amazing experience. But you know, they've, they've given up a lot of their dad too, during all of this. Oh yeah, for sure.
00:09:36
Speaker
Wow. Well, I want to thank you for indulging us in that 32 count, my story. loved it. There's a lot I threw in there, but Hey, glad we got there. I was impressed how like it was right at 32 counts. Yeah.
00:09:51
Speaker
Sometimes people will go over and I'm like, let them cook. But this time you were just like, Hey, we're doing it. We're doing it. Awesome. you Love the idea. Love it Good.
00:10:02
Speaker
Well, we're going to take a quick break and then we'll be back and jump into a bunch more questions with you. Okay. Sounds great. Awesome.
00:10:18
Speaker
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00:11:25
Speaker
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Upcoming Episodes Preview
00:11:41
Speaker
And we are back. Okay. Right now, i just want to take some time to ah shine some light on preview some of our amazing episodes that we have coming up. So we just did the live episode with all our hosts. It was Jackie, Stephen, and I. We had Jace Peoples on, the author of Twirl. We had mom, Jade Road, and her son Finley on. So go vote for him for toddler of the year.
00:12:03
Speaker
cute. so We also had the episode remembering Bruno Zucola. So many good stories on there. And i know that a lot of people would want to hear that. We also had our brand new panel episode.
00:12:16
Speaker
They did such a great job. Check that out. And coming soon, we have the DCI correspondent updates. So checking in with everybody after DCI has ended. Okay, Dr.
Dr. Stewart's Tenure at University of Tennessee
00:12:27
Speaker
Stewart, now it's time for some questions. You good?
00:12:29
Speaker
Bring it on. All right. So tell me, how long have you been with Pride of the Southland Band? Yeah, so this is my 19th year at the University of Tennessee, and this is my fourth year as the director of the Pride. So I've been there, the third person, the second person, and now the director of the Pride. So 19 years total, been amazing.
00:12:46
Speaker
Awesome. I think I was just telling you earlier, because the black suits are... If you could tell us actually, tell us who are the black suits? Yeah, so we've actually got it sort of... And it's the way that our system works. And I will say that everybody has their own system. And I go around talking to bands all over the country, all over the world, quite honestly, where we talk about what makes the University of Tennessee tick and how it operates so efficiently.
00:13:10
Speaker
And that's something we take a lot of pride in. Part of it's the discipline and part of it is just the fact that we have a system and that that system does not rely on one person. I don't care if you're a band director, if you're a business owner, you don't, I tell people, you don't have a system if the system depends on one individual.
00:13:26
Speaker
and So we have multiple backup plans for us, whether it's the directors, we have our graduate students. ah There's four of them that work with us. Most of them are studying
Organizational Efficiency in the Band
00:13:35
Speaker
conducting in the master's degree.
00:13:37
Speaker
And then we have a whole level of black suits. And most of those are undergrad students that have marched with us and held leadership positions. And there's about eight or so of them, seven or eight. And if you come to a Tennessee game, you'll see some of those black suits dressed up and our grad students that look like CIA agents. In fact, they've even got microphones, walkie talkies with them. that they talk into through their sleeve and they don't have to put the mics there i think they just do that for fun but but that's how we communicate when you've got a band 415 um you have to we've got people spread out all over i mean our band when we block up to march even if we go nine across
00:14:14
Speaker
I mean, we're almost two blocks long when we march in a parade. So we have to have that efficient communication. And especially when it's a matter of student safety, if you've got, you know, if it's a really hot game or water, or if we're in a hostile environment like a Georgia, Alabama, Florida, we need to be able to have immediate communication with our folks. So that's why when you see them, they're actually serving a role.
00:14:35
Speaker
They're either graduate students or some of our upperclassmen leadership that are, they're no longer marching unless we have to throw them in at the last second. Then they're expected. to just set up. If a kid is sick on Saturday, we might go to a black student, and say c clarinet, you jump into clarinet spot. And it's like, okay, i hope you get it. It's kind of cold point. So what's really funny about that is one of my really good friends, Michelle Johnson.
00:15:01
Speaker
um And she was a black suit from her first year of grad school, which coincidentally was your first year at UT. Yeah, she was amazing. And those grad students, they got me through, i remember those first couple years, it was just hair on fire. Yeah.
00:15:19
Speaker
they They just because UT system is so intricate. And I came from one system at Ohio State, which was very specific in its own right. And then to jump into Tennessee that it's it's like jumping onto a train that's already going top speed. I mean, it's it's ah the Tennessee band was already moving.
00:15:37
Speaker
um It already had a system in place. And here I am from another train just jumping off that and trying to catch this one. and And, you know, those first and I'll be honest, Tennessee is it's well documented for like my first 15 years had a lot of change over with football coaches, athletic directors, chancellors.
00:15:55
Speaker
and And now that we have Donde Plowman and Randy Boyd and Danny White. Boy, our upper administration,
Cultural and Musical Changes in the Band
00:16:01
Speaker
I hope they never leave. I think that's why you see Tennessee having so much success now, including the band.
00:16:06
Speaker
You know, the band has grown. We had 570 people audition last year, and we had to cap it last year at 415, no matter what. So we've seen a growth with the band. There's not enough Yeah, well, exactly. Well, and that's I would love and I tell the students, that's my worst part of my job is having to cut students. I would love to take every one of them.
00:16:27
Speaker
Truth is, is that costs a lot of money. It takes up seats in Neyland. It takes up bus spots, hotel rooms, lunches. So we had to kind of make a deal with the university that, hey, will you let us raise the numbers to 415, but we'll cut it there. so And it allows the students to be competitive, too, which is something a little different that our alumni aren't used to is every student now has to re-audition.
00:16:47
Speaker
So once you make it in, that doesn't mean you're in it for next year. You have to re-audition the following year, too. I think this is a great segue. Yes. Big old symbol crash for that one. But so you took over the program. It has deep rooted traditions and it's a crowd, you know, with, I mean, a crowd that just doesn't change at all or doesn't like change at all, especially when it's Tennessee. pretty accurate Just tell us about some of the kind of changes that you made over the years and like how you've navigated that. And then how did the student body or alumni
Balancing Traditions with Creativity
00:17:21
Speaker
take it?
00:17:21
Speaker
Yeah, that's a great question. I'll be completely, you know, i people know this about me. I'm transparent to a fault sometimes. sometimes i say But I think I owe that to the alumni, to the fans, to the band members. um We always focused on two things. When I came in four years ago, myself and Fuller Lyon and John Zastapil, who John Zastapil is the director of bands.
00:17:42
Speaker
Fuller is the assistant director of the Pride. The three of us just make a great team. And I think that's one reason we've had success, too. But we said there's two things we want to change. First has got to be the culture. We got change the culture.
00:17:53
Speaker
how we talk to each other, how we treat each other, and also this whole experiment that's still ongoing of the fact that we can treat each other well and our expectations can actually rise, not drop because they we're being nicer to each other, right?
00:18:08
Speaker
It's one of those things where, heaven forbid, the band will do better if they enjoy being there at rehearsals. Our expectations are higher than they've ever been, I can tell you that. I make no bones about it. My goal is not to be the best band in Tennessee or SEC. It's to be the best band in the country.
00:18:23
Speaker
But y'all are. We can't. That's my that. And that's the thing is I tell the kids, I'm like, look, I'm not coming down. Like, you got to come up to my level. This is this is where we're going to be. There's and there's no negotiation. This is where it is.
00:18:38
Speaker
That's the tradition that J. Julian had, you know, with with mediocrity. And I I preach that I knew Dr. Julian and his wife, Faye, really well. And I still preach. I despise mediocrity. The kids know that. and And how it just seeps into a program. It doesn't come like a tidal wave. it just It's like a fog. It's just little parts here. Could be uniforms, could be music, could be, you know, that's how mediocrity settles in, is it just creeps in and finds the cracks and then opens up doors. And so that's one thing we do at Tennessee. is That's part of our culture is to expect the best.
00:19:12
Speaker
but treat each other well while we're doing it. And then the second thing I said, we're going change the music. We're going change the music. We're going change how we play. We're change what we play. So we went out and we hired some of the best arrangers in the country um and they are now writing for us. And we spend I don't know how many minutes and I'll give all credit to Dr. Lyon on this as we spend, you know, we do Remington warm ups, we do lip slurs, articulation exercises. We use we actually take a drone out on the field to tune.
00:19:40
Speaker
And, you know, people are like, well, why is the band so much louder? It's not that we're playing or blowing harder. It's we're more in tune. And when you're more in tune, the band is going to sound bigger. So we've hired great staff, you know, in our drum line, we started to get more continuity with that.
00:19:55
Speaker
Our guard folks, we added weapons to our guard as well, rifles, which you talk about change. You know, you won't see videos. It was the Tennessee flag, you know, and yeah everybody's still in a band uniform for years.
00:20:12
Speaker
If you look at those old pictures. And so for us to pick up rifles and what's funny about it is you all know this because you're in this world, you know, that bumped us into like that, what the 1960s, you know, so we were, we're getting there and in everybody in the guard world, they all knew this. They're like,
00:20:31
Speaker
About time. And we don't do sabers simply because honestly in Neyland, you can't see them. They're just, you throw it up and it looks like an air, you know, an air. Yeah, no, I completely agree. When it comes to marching band outdoors, like I'd much, you can see a rifle. It's really hard to see. Especially the stadium, the size of Neyland. It's, it's really hard. so And we're still introducing this. I mean, we're still, honestly, there's only been what year two or three since we've done this.
00:20:53
Speaker
And we're still figuring out how to integrate them into a division one college. We do seven shows a season. We just played our show, the show we're doing for Saturday, Led Zeppelin. We just started Wednesday but because we had a day off for the holiday.
00:21:07
Speaker
um And so we're going to have two rehearsals plus Saturday and that's it on the show. So
Showcasing Band Members' Hard Work
00:21:11
Speaker
there's not a lot of time. You don't have an entire summer or season to work on that. Long story short, I'll be honest with about 90% of the changes we made were internal in the band that I don't think many of the people on the outside of the band would know.
00:21:24
Speaker
I think alumni would get it if they came in and watched us rehearse. It's a very different vibe now than it was ah even five years ago. It's totally changed. And I've tried to put more accountability on the students' shoulders. This is their band.
00:21:38
Speaker
And also last thing is just, I've tried to open the door to not just our alumni, but family members and anybody that's been a part of this big band family. I feel like alumni have always been a little afraid to come visit. And I've gone around the country preaching that we've got open doors. Come watch us, come, you know, go ahead, sit there, tell us how much better the band was. And I don't care. You know, that's, that's part, that's part of it that's part of it. So, you know, we want you to be part of this family.
00:22:04
Speaker
So. I will say, just as an avid vol for life and someone who's watched the band for 30 years, one, yes, the sound is so different. And i I feel like I talk about it every game. I turn to my partner and I'm like, man, and the band sounds so good. The band sounds so good. Do you hear how good they sound?
00:22:24
Speaker
But exciting thing for me that you guys have done in the past few years has been bringing rifle into color guard. And because I feel like there was, ah yeah as a color guard person yeah um and a person that deeply regrets not doing color guard in college, yeah I watched the size of the guard kind of decline.
00:22:45
Speaker
you know, slowly for years. And then you've done with Laura Williams and then with CJ now, like the guard is growing back again, but also you've stepped into where most of the other SEC color guards are in that realm. And it's really, it's, it's changed.
00:23:02
Speaker
I mean, oh my gosh, I was watching the other day, just a video on Facebook that popped up of pride rehearsing. And I saw the color guard throw a 45 and I was like,
00:23:12
Speaker
the college well all And I do, I really appreciate that. That means a lot, especially for folks that kind of know the world. And, you know, that's the thing is our numbers were going down and that's because these kids are all doing indoor. They're doing, you know, all this really creative stuff.
00:23:27
Speaker
And then they come here and we're just asking them to go right shoulder for, you know, hours on end. And we're like, I wouldn't do this if I were a guard member. So, you know, and CJ has been instrumental in that. We also just hired Katy Perry, who's and she's doing a lot of our body work and focusing specifically on rifles, on weapons. So here I think that's going to help things as well and help CJ out. And yeah, so that's one of those things where I think that's probably one the biggest outer changes that we've made and we continue to do and,
00:23:54
Speaker
And we'll continue to see how this goes. But so far, it's been a positive experience. Noted. It's being seen.
Encouraging High School Students to Join College Bands
00:24:00
Speaker
yeah I should mention, too, the tradition is a huge part of it. So all of that stuff that I was just talking about, we still do in pregame. There's still the traditional, you know, high knee step. The right shoulder. One thing I've learned about Tennessee is you don't mess with Rocky Top and you don't mess with pregame.
00:24:15
Speaker
Let those two things go and you'll have an OK job. Oh, and you must believe we're going to come back to Rocky Talk because I have a serious question for you. yeah But, and you know, recently, speaking of tradition, the band was featured in a documentary about the iconic Circle Drill.
00:24:32
Speaker
and And Nicole and I both got a chance to watch it. It was fantastic. but In that documentary, you spoke about the importance of taking risks. Yeah. And can you tell us about some of the risks you've, and do you deal with in teaching circle drill and performing circle drill?
00:24:50
Speaker
Yeah, well, circle drill specifically, it is by far the hardest drill I've ever had to teach or clean. I mean, it is. I'm also aware of the history of circle drill. You know, circle drill used to only be maybe a couple portions of almost every show.
00:25:02
Speaker
There was maybe one circle move here, one circle move the next week. And ah there wasn't just one show. And then a while back, they kind of did a greatest hits where they put a lot of those together to make one formal circle drill.
00:25:13
Speaker
I think one of the things that I try to do with Circle Drill is I do like that format. I'll go on the record with I think it's synonymous with UT. I think when I go to other conferences around the country, around the world, they know the Tennessee Circle Drill.
00:25:26
Speaker
One of the things i want to try to do is just I want to keep that fresh. Like I want to keep that. for we didn't We didn't change that, I wanna say for almost 21 years, we kept that the drill in the music the exact same.
00:25:38
Speaker
And so one of the things that we did even last year, last year we changed up the music. It's still Tennessee themed. like I wanted to keep it a Tennessee concept. But then I wanted to take the drill. So I reached out to Ken Langren, who wrote the original drill back in the 70s when he was a student. He now lives in Houston, Texas. Yeah, definitely. And you probably saw He was interviewed on that yeah documentary.
00:26:00
Speaker
And Ken is still sharp as a tack. And he's still writing. It seems like every week he's coming up with new ideas. And we've got a shared Google Drive. I'm like, Ken, anything that you can imagine, just put it here. And we'll figure out what works, what doesn't work. And make it work. So i think that's one of the things is I think, you know, the circle drill from a traditional standpoint is important. That's what we do. It's who we are. The kids look forward to it because it is challenging.
00:26:26
Speaker
And the fans know it. The visiting fans hate it By the way, Alabama, when we take it to Bama, they I don't know that I've ever been booed like that, which I just kind of soak it in. Yeah, it's so iconic.
00:26:37
Speaker
Maybe they're just angry.
00:26:40
Speaker
We love an angry Bama fan. But I also think we know people who are actually in that marching band. Yeah, the Million Dollar Man, sure. Yeah, no, absolutely. And listen, Ken Ozzello, I have nothing but, all the college bands, I've got nothing but respect because it's hard. It's hard to be a full-time student. Many of these kids have a full-time job too or are sometimes caregivers. I mean, it's the stories. And that's one of the reasons we wanted to do the documentary too was just to kind of, I mentioned about opening the curtains.
00:27:08
Speaker
I think a lot of fans see the final product on Saturdays, on game days, you get 102,000 people there watching. None of them, unless they've marched, know what these kids do from, you know, Sunday until Friday, the next week, and the time and effort they put in. So one thing, including that documentary is trying to give the crowd ah sort of perspective behind what we do and how we get to Saturday afternoons.
00:27:32
Speaker
So I do want to say that you spoke in the documentary about wanting to, you just talked about it, like moving the curtain. I want to dive into that a little bit more because honestly, a lot of people will look at, like we talked to marching band members, college marching band, HBCUs, drum corps, Winter Guard, like,
00:27:51
Speaker
There's a lot of times when the best thing we want to do is humanize these performers because it doesn't, it's not just get up, do it. You know, there's a conditioning that happening that happens with it.
00:28:04
Speaker
And I want to know with, uh, the pride fans, like the more that you shared, how has that changed the, I guess you could say the relationship with, you know, the fans to the marching band.
00:28:19
Speaker
i think it's been I think it's been eye-opening ah to really a ton of different groups. I think our alumni look at it and we get some alumni, they're like, wow, this is amazing, love it, wish I was in the band right now.
00:28:30
Speaker
We get some alumni, especially some of our older audience that are just like, I can't believe the band's doing this. And that's fine too, we get that. You know, and so, and, and, you know, the thing always tell me, I tell the students all the time, I'm like, look, you know, learned this from Inky Johnson, a great, you know, VFL back in the day, you know, he always says
Engaging Segments for Listeners
00:28:48
Speaker
it's, it's not the smartest or the strongest that always win. It's the ones that can adapt to change. And,
00:28:53
Speaker
We preach that to our students. We can't educate students even the way we did pre-COVID. That's completely changed. Our expectations can still be up there, but how we deliver the information changed. So I think people want to, I think I want our alumni to see that. I want our parents to see what their kids are doing, that this is so much different than anything they've ever done, whether it's high school or DCI, this is a different animal.
00:29:17
Speaker
And then for the fans, you know, the common fans that just see the Saturday afternoon product and they love it and they see the tea open or they see, you know, the forms and the music. But they just don't understand how much time and effort it takes. And the fact that these kids, it's a class and they're paying for that one credit hour that everybody has to take. And, you know, they hopefully open some eyes to some of the fans that have the financial means to help support these students, because many of them give up jobs during the fall. Many of them are taking pay cuts just to make ends meet.
00:29:49
Speaker
and still do band. So yeah, hopefully they see that. oh We all wear those t-shirts. I can't, I have band. Yeah, exactly, right? um i You know, the funny thing is, is they see Saturday and everybody just assumes that, hey, everything's okay. I mean, look at it. The T's still opening. The band sounds good. They're marching.
00:30:06
Speaker
The general perspective is, hey, everything looks great. They don't need my help. Well, some of these things that we're doing, including this podcast, is kind of just sort of letting people know that, yeah, we do that. However, these kids are giving so much of their time and talents and money you to to be able to do something that they enjoy and work hard and sweat when it's 100 and some odd degrees out there. And yeah.
00:30:29
Speaker
Crazy. Crazy. Yeah. Well, for those kids, because I'm i'm not going to lie, you just made it sound really enticing. But for our younger listeners, um you know what would you say to them if they're on the fence about coming to audition for a college band? you know I wouldn't even say college band. I think just continuing band in general, having done the public school thing and still going out. One of my favorite things to do is to go visit schools. I love it.
00:30:55
Speaker
And we always joke, like we can't play Rocky Top if somebody doesn't teach them how to play Hot Cross Buns or or ah you know number 58. That's where we start. Hot Cross Buns. sorry hot cro That's where we start. can't do that if somebody is showing them how to hold a clarinet or a flag or whatever the case is. So we we kind of reap the benefits later on. So and I get that.
00:31:17
Speaker
I think for high school students is one when it comes to college, just know it it is very different. It's very different. You know, most bands don't do one show a year. The band is really, really well respected wherever we go. That's not always the case with college with every college band.
00:31:31
Speaker
But with Tennessee, that's one thing we're very well respected because of the history of the band and people know what this band means to the university. So but keep playing. It's one of the few things in life you can do for the rest of your life.
00:31:43
Speaker
I've been to China over 10 times because band. I've been to Europe. I don't know how many times because band, um, I, you know, my wife, you know, I've been to so many band weddings. Uh, I can't even count anymore. It's, you know, i' your best friends you meet.
00:31:58
Speaker
I don't know that I still know any of my high school friends, but my college friends, we still talk on a regular basis. So, uh, it's a few things you can do for the rest of your life. And if you put it down, you know, that's it.
00:32:08
Speaker
So, uh, you know, keep, just keep playing, keep practicing. Um, and, and, uh, you'll be in front of Neatland someday. I know that I will tell you that, and I have Leif and David, Mr. Webb, Mr. Cook, to actually be the person to do this, but like they were the first my catalyst into, and I just love them since then. you know um And that was something from high, so now it's years later, and I still love them.
00:32:38
Speaker
So- They're amazing. And you know, it's funny, Mr. Cook actually is coming to the game this weekend and with his wife and daughter. And so we still keep close ties with all those folks. And, you know, we can't do what we do if public school teachers don't pull off their magic and keep them in. And they work every bit as hard. It's just we happen to have a bigger spotlight, you know, with UT. So oh we're so thankful for them and can't do what we do without. They're amazing.
00:33:04
Speaker
I have a question I'm dying to ask that is, first of all, beautiful answer. hope that I hope kids listen to that and hear it because I totally agree. It's something band stays with you forever.
00:33:17
Speaker
yeah Even after you put it down and and and what you learn, but gosh, again, I'm a person that deeply regrets not doing band in college. I wish I had, um, To the point that I reached out to you, I think it was like last year, and I was like, if I came and took a single class at UT, could I do this?
00:33:36
Speaker
You can do it as long as you're a registered student. I'm not saying can't. I
Ad Read: Peak Group Travel
00:33:42
Speaker
would probably be the oldest member of Pride, and that's okay. That would be something I would embrace.
00:33:47
Speaker
Donnie Pickle still owns that. All alumni will know Donnie Pickle. He still holds that award for longest member. So now, Nicole, when I reached out Dr. Stewart and asked about it, he was like, of course you would need to audition. That's right.
00:34:02
Speaker
There's no freebies. You're not getting that easy. You still got to be able to do 45s and across the floors and you name yeah Yeah, I got it. I mean, I might need oxygen afterwards, but i that's the bigger problem. So my, my question for you, and I think you came to UT after this was added, but are anti or pro woo in Rocky Rocky Top.
00:34:28
Speaker
Okay, so you're not going to like my answer. I do have an answer. Okay, so here's the thing. It was in before I got here for sure. And I know that the woo is a very passionate topic. I know like everything Tennessee, it's passionate, right?
00:34:43
Speaker
You got people who love woo, you got people who absolutely hate it, can't stand it. And listen, this is going to be the most politically correct answer you all have ever heard. But I also know who paid my mortgage. So...
00:34:55
Speaker
they No, my whole thing has always been if you like the woo or if you hate the woo, you just enjoy Rocky Top, whatever. If you want to add it you just you be you do your thing and you can either woo or not.
00:35:08
Speaker
Our job is to play Rocky Top and and to just get the team and the fans hyped up yeah perfect or to bring down the other team. um So I am not touching that with a 10-foot pole. So I not touching that.
00:35:20
Speaker
He's like, I know what side my blood's buttered on. That's exactly right. That's exactly. I know better. I know better. Yeah. i will I will say this. I will say this. When I sing it, I don't woo.
00:35:32
Speaker
Now, that's not because I'm necessarily against I just I'm thinking about the band. But but if you do woo, have at it Good for it. Good for you. I told my partner who my partner Spence was in ah Pride of the Southland for our listeners.
00:35:46
Speaker
And yesterday in the car, I was talking to him about this interview and some of the questions we were thinking of. And I said that question to him and he gasped, like literally gasped.
00:35:56
Speaker
What did Spence do? He's a wooer. He likes the woo. And I am also a wooer. Okay. Nicole? I'm not a wooer. That's what I mean though. that's what i mean now It's like...
00:36:07
Speaker
It's about 50-50. And it's funny because i do, i listen, i run into this all the time. And it is amazing how black or white the response is. It is. There's no middle. People fight over it. You either woo or you don't. I'll just walk away.
00:36:23
Speaker
it's That's why I answer the way I do, because I know I'm going to tick off half of the fan base, whatever my answer is. So my answer is you do you. ah talk to art It has been awesome time sitting here and talking to you and honestly watching that documentary and then sitting and talking to you now and knowing how many degrees of separation you've just been a delight, man. yeah so I appreciate it. It's been, I've enjoyed getting to talk to you on.
00:36:51
Speaker
And like I said, our doors are always open. If people ever want to come by, watch rehearsal, they're always more than welcome to shoot us an email. We're always open. It's it is what it is. Well, make sure you spend some garb down to the on a water break people. Yep.
00:37:06
Speaker
Yep. You can do that. You know it. You know it. Stop always looking for something you T-door. Well, I hope you like Nike because we're getting to starting to switch over to Adidas. So, you know what? Listen, a big Nike fan. If you have any of the orange Nike tennis shoes lying around. No, I don't have any shoes. know. i I want to hear so bad.
00:37:32
Speaker
Well, while Dr. Stewart and Alicia talk about wardrobes, and we're going to take it to a commercial, but we'll be right back. Hi, everyone. It's time for your travel tip of the week with me.
00:37:42
Speaker
I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. Are traveling with delicate or oversized instruments? Be sure to check with your bus company or your airline for any extra fees that you may incur or any climate-specific needs you have for your instruments.
00:37:57
Speaker
A little extra legwork before you leave could help you avoid costly repairs when you arrive. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour.
00:38:16
Speaker
I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel and your travel tip of the week.
Return from Break & Segment Setup
00:38:32
Speaker
Ready to elevate your travel game? Welcome to Peak Group Travel, the ultimate adventure creators. Whether you're planning an unforgettable class trip, a once in a lifetime parade experience for your marching band, or a choir tour full of memorable performance venues, Peak Group Travel handles it all so you can focus on making memories.
00:38:49
Speaker
From breathtaking international destinations to amazing adventures right here at home, Peak Group Travel customizes every journey to your vision. We're not just planners, we're your partners for the trip you want for your students.
00:39:02
Speaker
Our online registration portal makes managing your pre-trip experience smooth and convenient. We even collect your payments if you'd like. Picture it. Effortless planning, unmatched experiences, and smiles that last long after the journey ends.
00:39:16
Speaker
That's the peak group travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mentioned that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn a $100 trip credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Peak Group Travel.
00:39:28
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit peakgrouptravel.com today. You
Student Guests from University of Tennessee
00:39:34
Speaker
pick the date, and we'll make it great.
00:39:48
Speaker
All right. And we are back. So you can see that we're in different clothes right now because that last run did us in and we were totally sweating and we started to have our water break. The water went everywhere. So we didn't want to get on looking a mess. So, you know, now we're presentable. So, yeah.
00:40:05
Speaker
Dr. Stewart wouldn't have had it any other way. Exactly. Also, Dr. Stewart said that I could get some garb. So please remind him of that for me. Okay. hello Hold into that.
00:40:16
Speaker
um In the drum line, they pulled another rehearsal and before the big game this weekend. So we had Cash joining us, but unfortunately now he got pulled into a sectional. So he is not on the sideline, but that's okay.
00:40:31
Speaker
Drummer's going to drum. It's fine. Okay. It's fine. ah So joining us now, we have a couple of members of the UT band that are here with us just to wrap up the rest of the episode.
00:40:43
Speaker
ah Let the people know who you are and your role in the UT marching band and how long you've been in the band. So Madeline, how long should to go first? So I'm Madeline Bowman, and I have been a member for 30 years, and I'm in the color guard and on the rifle line and a squad leader this year.
00:41:01
Speaker
Very nice. I have applause. I have applause. Awesome. And another, I guess you could say bonus question. You've been there for three years. So what's your favorite thing about being in UT BAM?
00:41:16
Speaker
Definitely the people I've met. i feel like it's really gotten me involved on campus. home Love that. And you're in the first ever, I think it's worth saying, Madeline, the very first ever weapon line at UT. It's called a brand new entity.
00:41:32
Speaker
That's also one of my favorites. Love rifle.
00:41:37
Speaker
So I bet everybody lost their minds once say they were like, okay, we're doing something new here. And they pulled out. It's like, great.
00:41:49
Speaker
um And we also have Austin with us. Austin Kerr. How are you? Good. How are you? Good. Doing good. Tell us a little about yourself. Like what's your role? um How long have you been in the UT band?
00:42:01
Speaker
I'm actually a recent alum of the band. I am ah finishing up my degree at UT in music ed. I was in the marching man for six years.
00:42:12
Speaker
I marched for four years and I was a squad leader for three of those. And then I was a black suit in my final two years. Nice. Very nice. I love that.
00:42:23
Speaker
We saw a clip of Austin, Nicole, when we watched the documentary. was about to say that. Yeah. We watched the the though Circle Drill documentary.
00:42:33
Speaker
And also, fun fact, is I have a really good friend of mine who we're still friends. And she used to be a black suit at UT. want to say many moons ago, but it's been a while. And ah one, I went to visit and, you know, I was with her with the band and the march down the street and everything. And it was just like, everything stops for the UT marching band before the football games. And it was just, I felt like I was with like celebrities. It was really cool.
00:43:01
Speaker
It was really cool to see. So from your six years and then now you're a black suit, what is your favorite thing about the UT band? There's a lot of things I would say are my favorites. I can't hardly pick one, but the family aspect of the band is huge. And I'm a tuba player and, you know, tuba players stick together all the time, no matter where they are, but it's even they more a big deal.
Impact of COVID-19 on Band Traditions
00:43:32
Speaker
Uh, when you're in a college marching band and, you know, every walk of life is coming through that door, but, our, our safe space is I like to call it is the sousaphone room in the music building.
00:43:44
Speaker
And just having that sense of family is really awesome. That's awesome. And I pretty, I mean, you're a tuba, so I'm sure you've heard of Ken Broussard.
00:43:58
Speaker
He's the 66 year old tuba player at LSU. Yes. Yes. Isn't that not amazing? Yes. That's awesome. I'm so hoping we can get him on to be in a future episode because I just want to hear his story. Yeah, that'd be super cool.
00:44:12
Speaker
Yeah. Well, we have a couple of different things we're going to have y'all do for us. ah So the first thing we're going to do is what are we doing?
00:44:23
Speaker
What are we doing?
00:44:32
Speaker
What are we doing? So this is the part of the show, y'all, when we let loose a little bit and we just talk about or rant about something in the marching arts that just doesn't make sense. So maybe it's a tradition that needs to go away. Maybe it's a habit that performers can't seem to break. Maybe it's just something that makes you think, why are we even doing this? Or why haven't we started doing this yet? Because it needs to be done.
00:44:56
Speaker
So whatever it is, this is your moment. You can call it out and get it off your chest. And who's got something that they want to get off their chest? Alicia, do you want to start us off? I'll start us off because the NFL just started and college football is back and I'm a huge football fan.
00:45:12
Speaker
I just have to ask, what are we doing the state of Florida right now? Miami Dolphins football game was the most terrible thing I'd seen since the previous Saturday the The University of Florida played.
00:45:28
Speaker
and I'm a ball for life, I've got to throw shade at Florida. What are we doing down there? The only thing going right in Florida is Florida State University football right now. What are we doing?
00:45:40
Speaker
I'll do it. Yeah, where's that sound?
00:45:44
Speaker
Maybe. There it is. Oh, my goodness. See, I don't sports ball, but because of teaching for so long, I know of football. I feel you.
00:45:54
Speaker
feel you though. um Yeah. It's something in the water down there is not right. It's all those alligators. Madeline, what are we doing?
00:46:07
Speaker
Oh, what are we doing not bringing guard to away games? oh
00:46:13
Speaker
What? Say more things. I don't understand. I love football. I'm with Alicia. and they just I want to go watch away games.
00:46:25
Speaker
I want to be in the atmosphere. I love it. Yeah. Tell us about that. Pride takes just a pet band or do they take the whole band or what? So guard gets to go to, we go to Bama. The whole band goes to Alabama, of course, because we have to.
00:46:41
Speaker
And then we get to go a bowl game. if We go to bowl game, bowl game, which, um, and then they take a pet band to other games. And then the guard does not get to be part of the pet band.
00:46:52
Speaker
No, probably because we wouldn't really do much because we won't perform, but I i just want to watch the game. Yeah. That's a good one. I like it.
00:47:03
Speaker
Fair. are Fair. And it's valid. Yeah. Totally get that. Yeah. Great, Austin. What are we doing? Oh, gosh. Yeah. ah I have recently started um you know teaching at local high schools, and I have noticed that and when I was in school, the the home school you know courtesy was to let the visiting band go first on the halftime field.
00:47:36
Speaker
And I've noticed that that is not the case anymore. And the home team schools are going first and making the visiting teams bands go second.
00:47:46
Speaker
That's okay. that's What are we doing? Being rude to the visiting bands basically. yeah we want to teach sportsmanship like conduct wow words i have a little in on that um because my partner's a band director local um and that's a thing that like the county came down and said the home first at all games unless they want to go second and let the other band go first so this choice is still there The choice Throwing a little shade at the band directors that are not choosing Yeah. yeah
00:48:22
Speaker
I agree with you, Austin. Right. Stand there, watch them, give them some... Yeah. yeah Do a couple of those, and then hopefully they stand around and then watch you and then go back.
00:48:35
Speaker
Hopefully. Hopefully. Yeah. I guess my what are we doing? in the... you know in the I do a lot of judging ah marching band season. and um So, you know, I've gone through one show and of course, yes, it's early season. No one's going done right now.
00:48:54
Speaker
But um I guess I can say, the what are we doing? Not really. oh gosh. I don't know how to put this into words, but what are we doing? Not giving.
00:49:08
Speaker
the performers on the field enough information to at least perform as much as they can of the show that they have. Uh, a lot of times I'm seeing like, you know, there's just a marching band for marching band sake for, um, color guard for color guard sake.
00:49:23
Speaker
So, uh, there's, you know, been a huge synopsis that they give you, you know, like a little mini novel sometimes, sometimes not all the time. It's very regional, but, um, But, um you know, you get that and you read that and you're like, that's what I want to see. And and then you don't.
00:49:41
Speaker
So you're, yeah, you are doing that at the end, by the way, because it's the first show.
00:49:49
Speaker
However, there's more information that needs to be get given in there. um So, ah yeah. Yeah. Just um give the information as you go. Don't wait until the end because then you're trying to be like, you must perform and you're like trying to pull them along and it's not gonna happen that way.
00:50:07
Speaker
You're working harder, or not smarter. The students have to be part of the design from day one. Oh. They have to
Student Perspectives on Band Growth
00:50:14
Speaker
be part of it. Like they're performing. We switched a few years ago. We used to learn the whole show and then we'd go back and add visuals.
00:50:21
Speaker
And at one point we had to reframe our thinking and be like, no, we've got to, we've got to build all of that in as we go. The whole show has to be put in as we're learning. There's no going back and making visuals and afterthought. And i feel like a lot of programs, um,
00:50:35
Speaker
make the design an afterthought and they want to try to make that story come across when it's too late. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Now, see, being in college, man, y'all don't have to really do that. It's just like, okay, here's some top 40s hits. Put them together.
00:50:50
Speaker
Smile. And we're Led Zeppelin this weekend. loved the Led Zeppelin show, by the way. That was fun. Thank you. Yeah, it was fun. It was a good one. I'm excited. This weekend's is really good. What is the show this weekend?
00:51:02
Speaker
Are you allowed to tell? you not Yeah. and I don't know if I am, actually, because we did it in... um Atlanta. so i think you've done it before. yeah I think so. tell It's James Bond.
00:51:14
Speaker
Oh, yes. And we bought rifles for this one, and it's so fun. The work is really fun. The guard is throwing, like, real.45s and, like, doing, like, some legit choreography.
00:51:26
Speaker
freshman year, the work from freshman year to now is so, like... but Black and white. but I love it. It's so fun. Because Madeline, you've kind of been around.
00:51:37
Speaker
I'm getting off topic, but you've been around for like the rebirth and change of what the UT color guard was, haven't you? Yes, I have. And you had Laura, right? Was probably your black student instructor at first. And then now CJ. I had Laura freshman year and I love Laura. um And then now CJ. And CJ's just...
00:52:00
Speaker
He's bringing it. I love it. Yeah. I know Laura really had to fight and kind of lay the foundation for everything that is happening right now. But CJ has really just taken it into a whole new. He has.
00:52:11
Speaker
And we're just, I think everybody's just enjoying it so much more. Whereas like my freshman year, I didn't feel like I grew my skills. Whereas now we're like doing double 45s and throwing sixes and everything. And it's so much fun. I love it.
00:52:25
Speaker
I love that. And gosh, awesome to think about the growth of the program since you've been there, right? Because I know you're not with Pride Anywhere, you're alum, but the essentially seven years that you've watched the program, not even including what you may have paid attention attention to to in high school. But what...
00:52:43
Speaker
Can you talk about that? Just the change or the growth that you've seen over this time? Oh, yeah, absolutely. i and um So, I mean, my freshman year was 2019. So it was pre-COVID, which was a huge thing in and itself. um And it was the 150th year.
00:53:01
Speaker
edition of the pride. And so wow that's a huge milestone for any program, obviously. And so for homecoming my freshman year, we had over a thousand people on the field, March and halftime.
00:53:14
Speaker
Oh, you can't even current. With current members and alumni, ah I mean, there were like maybe 60 or 70 majorette alumni that came just because it was the 150th. Like you didn't want to miss that.
00:53:30
Speaker
And going from that to COVID band, I don't even, you know, nobody wants to talk about COVID band, especially in college. And then, you know, after after COVID, we had um ah kind of a bringing back of everything.
00:53:48
Speaker
And the next year is when Dr. Stewart took over as our head director. And that's really when you saw the snowball start to roll. And the the things that him and Dr. Lyon have done in the past years,
00:54:05
Speaker
three now four years but the three years that I ah was able to be in that program ah it's astronomical what has been able to happen and they have started to where every member has to audition regardless of
00:54:23
Speaker
time in the band so my my last two years even though i was a black suit i still had to audition to earn my spot into the marching band um which is something you know percussion and majorettes and color guard have already done for all these years but now that the winds are also having to do that it's just making the band that much better and we had the pride had i think probably dr stewart has already said this to you all but 560 auditionees and sixty auditiones and they're only able to take 415 because that's all that will fit in the stadium.
00:54:55
Speaker
Yeah, we did talk about that a little bit. Yeah, seeing that much interest in the program is really amazing to see because it was not that way when I first got there.
00:55:06
Speaker
Oh, that's a good way to put it. That much interest, that many people wanting to be a part of something so special. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, thank you for that. yes Yes, absolutely.
00:55:18
Speaker
great job everyone such your equipment down got
00:55:23
Speaker
All right. So now that we've gotten all that off our chest and then bantered a little bit, you know, you talk during a water break. but Now we're going to talk about our gush and go. Now this is the time that you can be like super braggadocious about something. It doesn't even have to really be about anything in the marching arts. It can be, it can't be, but you can just talk about like a performance, a student success, a big life event, something. So no negativity here, just pure unfiltered hype. So who's got a gush and go they want to go about?
00:55:53
Speaker
We're going to change it up a just tad bit here, but Austin, we're going to go with you first. Oh, gosh. I hate being first. um
Listener Engagement Opportunities
00:56:03
Speaker
I would just, I mean, since this episode's about the Pride, I just want to brag on them ah for, I mean, this is the first time in seven years that I haven't been in the program, seeing it actively happen every single day, and seeing that it's And I didn't think it would not, but seeing it still actively happen every single day to be their absolute best that they can be is really awesome to see.
00:56:32
Speaker
It's cool to see as an alumni to be able to brag on the program that you were once a part of that's not like they're not the laughingstock of UT and they never will be.
00:56:43
Speaker
That is a- deserves applause. Yeah. That's like a deep tradition and it still lives on. Yeah. Yeah. yeah Congratulations. um Alicia, what are you gushing and going about?
00:56:57
Speaker
no I- I didn't prepare a gush and go. I guess all I've got going on my world right now is I'm getting ready for a really big trip for my best friend's birthday. So I'm going gush that my best friend is turning 34 and we're celebrating by going to Tokyo Disney. And I'm super pumped about that. So let's, yeah.
00:57:17
Speaker
That's a brag. Okay. Yeah. That's a brag, bro. I'm like, we're ready to go. I leave tomorrow night and I'm like, let's get there. Okay. I'm going to share a little bit about that, but Alicia showed me the spreadsheet she made for this trip.
00:57:33
Speaker
And you know it's a big trip if you make a spreadsheet. So brag about it. bragger yeah And I love that spreadsheet. I printed it. thats There you go.
00:57:45
Speaker
All right, Madeline, what gushing and going about? um I'm going to gush on the guard because I just feel like a lot of the members, CJ's giving us stuff that some of us have never even done. and These tricks and tosses, and they're in every show.
00:58:00
Speaker
We're learning two shows right now. Like... I just I'm so proud of actually everybody. Just everybody's picking it up so well that and honestly leadership to within the guard, all the squad leaders in the Blacksuit I work with. I just couldn't ask for better people to be alongside.
00:58:20
Speaker
That's awesome.
00:58:24
Speaker
Well, I think i have a question for you, Madeline, as far as the guard's concerned. and i don't know if ah you're about that life, but do you think that UT is going to come out with a winter guard? No, my freshman year and then sophomore year, they talked about it.
00:58:40
Speaker
Mm-hmm. But it seems like a far-off future maybe type of thing. Okay. Well, now... Stay tuned. but Back in the day, i don't know if you know this, Madeline, but in the early 2000s, UT had a winner card.
00:58:53
Speaker
Mm-hmm. And the last year they were active, I believe was 04, might've been 05. ah And it was, I mean, it used to be big. It was, it was a big, you know, thing. So hopefully, I know, I feel like practice space is probably an issue. Yeah.
00:59:08
Speaker
That, and I feel like we just have, like, there's a winter guard in the area anyways. So I feel like it's like a thing of oh, just everybody just goes and does that. yeah And yeah, want to do winter guard and I don't know.
00:59:19
Speaker
I just think it's been um like, oh, maybe, you know, it's but it's never, they've talked about it, but. never come to fruition. No. Well. I think I'll be gone by the time it time. Well, CJ, if you're listening to this one.
00:59:37
Speaker
He's already so busy. em we' We're big fans of CJ here, by the yeah hi um So I guess it's my turn with my gush and go. um I am actually pretty excited not to be busy this weekend, which is a difference.
00:59:58
Speaker
We were just talking about that. was like, I'm going to be so busy. And then it's just like, wait a minute. No, I'm not. Yeah.
01:00:06
Speaker
So I'm pretty excited about that. It's, um um i I talk about this all the time with every, you know, ah guess ah guest that we have. I think while we're in these busy seasons of college for football, marching band season, all of that, we are in, we're the business of go, go, go. And I can't, I can't.
01:00:27
Speaker
um When you, And, you know, and you can't actually take a minute and take a breath and maybe just relax, marinate in it because it's going, you cannot fill another person's cup if your cup is empty.
01:00:41
Speaker
So be good to yourself so you can be good to other people. don't take those bi-weeks for granted. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Oh my gosh. What is the, um, sorry, this is again off topic, but because it's UT, um, what is your all's like rehearsal schedule look like for the week?
01:00:59
Speaker
Um, for us it's Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 345 to 545. And then Mondays we have sectionals. So then we have like a 30 minute dinner break.
01:01:09
Speaker
And then we do usually for guard, it's an hour sectional and then another hour rifle sectional. And then Saturday mornings before a game, we practice an hour and a half. you have any like class time during the week?
01:01:23
Speaker
ah The practice is like Monday, Wednesday, Friday and counted as classes. Oh, that's the class. Okay. Yeah. Well, that makes sense. let's just carry for it and That's time. yeah But this is like hours and hours a week that you guys are devoting to making it as awesome as Yes, it is. yeah Inside and outside the practice hours.
01:01:43
Speaker
Oh, for sure. It's like added. Did you guys hear that? Because Madeline just told all of you to go practice.
01:01:52
Speaker
Hey, it's called Gush and Go, not Gush and Stay. Let's go. Well, you know what they say, ah hydrate or hydrate, man. like So we were getting our water in.
01:02:06
Speaker
I want to thank you all and Dr. Stewart for a great rehearsal this week. Madeline, um tell the people where they can find you on your socials. um My Instagram is madstopbowman.
01:02:20
Speaker
well I will be honest, I'm not on there a lot. So... good for you good for you or anything like that i deleted tiktok okay as i get into my homework and my major i just i haven't had time so i deleted it to free up study time what is your major madeline um i'm biomedical sciences nutrition you better get it girl girl yeah
01:02:50
Speaker
I understand why you're not on social. I get it. I've just taken up a lot of time. and said I can, I have band.
01:02:59
Speaker
And then Austin, and tell us where we can find you on your socials. um My Instagram is, guess the handle is underscore Austin underscore Kerr underscore.
01:03:12
Speaker
ah open It is a private account, but if, as long as you're not a bot, I'll probably accept you. So yeah. Mine too. thank but I don't think we have any bots listening to the podcast. If we do, ah thanks for the listen. no A listen is a listen.
01:03:29
Speaker
All right. Well, if you've got a question or a good topic you want to talk about, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or you can find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
01:03:41
Speaker
We even have a form you can fill out now if you want to be a guest. We love having people on. So ah check out the link that's in our bio on our social media. Or you can just take out your phone and make a video and send it to us. and Maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon.
01:03:56
Speaker
One more thing. Don't forget, we are on YouTube now. So you can go and check out all our shenanigans in not real time, but you can see us. So you can see us there. And before you close out of your favorite podcast listening app, go subscribe, write a review about us, tell your friend, tell your phone, and follow us um on social media at On A Water Break. And we'll see you at the next rehearsal on A Water Break.
01:04:23
Speaker
um The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Ream. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
01:04:36
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning
01:04:43
Speaker
super okay