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The One With African American Marching ARts Performers
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Hosted by Ricardo , Woody, and Nicole, On A Water Break brings together voices from across the marching arts community, featuring incredible performers, directors, and industry professionals.
What: The podcast where we dive into the conversations you and your friends are having during water breaks—everything from performance stories to what it’s like being part of the marching arts family. This season’s special focus is on celebrating Black History Month, with powerful stories from African American performers shaping the future of our activity.
Main Host: Ricardo (with special interviews by Nicole)
Episode Description:
Welcome back to On A Water Break! This week, we’re featuring incredible African American performers from across the marching arts. Joining us are:
- Madeline Williams – Newest Drum Major at Blue Devils (@maddy_william_s) | Blue Devils Instagram: @BlueDevils
- Christian Elliott-Haynes – Performer with Sacramento Mandarins/Atlanta Quest, Battery Coordinator for Cass High School Marching Band (@chrisxdrums) | Sacramento Mandarins Instagram: @SacMandarins | Atlanta Quest Instagram: @atlantaquest
- Ayasia Lay – Performer with AMP Winter Guard (@Ayasialay_) | AMP Winter Guard Instagram: @AMPWinterGuard
- Omari Holaki – Performer with Carolina Crown (@omarimholaki) | Carolina Crown Instagram: @CarolinaCrown
- Josiah Cooperwood – Performer with University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band (@mdbdrummajors) | Million Dollar Band Instagram: @MillionDollarBand
This episode is packed with inspiring stories from these performers, and next week we’ll bring you a powerful episode with Black female band directors. Stay tuned!
Don’t forget to:
- Subscribe and hit notifications on your favorite podcast app
- Write us a review and share with a friend
- Send us your questions or topics via email at onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow us on social media @OnAWaterBreak for updates and more
- Interested in being on the show? Fill out the guest form linked in our bio on social media
Links:
- Washington Commanders Marching Band Auditions: wavy.com/news/local-news/washington-commanders-marching-band-auditions-in-dmv/
- Metallica Marching Band Contest: metallicamarchingband.com
- Feature Article on O’Neill Sanford: theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/baton-rouge-band-director/article_2aa7ee0a-e581-11ef-ab82-4fb8d447cf60.html
- DCI Scholarships Auction: dci.org/news/former-cadets-member-to-auction-painting-in-support-of-dci-scholarships
Follow Us:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook @OnAWaterBreak
Thanks for listening, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal… on a water break
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Black History Month Series
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everybody and welcome back to On a Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. This week we are connecting with amazing African-American performers from across the marching arts community.
00:00:16
Speaker
We'll find out what made Woody say. it takes them a while to understand that the regimen is good. It's okay. They feel constricted. It's a lot of little things. And why Nicole said... That you're making history because it's a milestone thing they have never had.
00:00:31
Speaker
All of this and more on this week's episode of On a Water Break.
00:00:38
Speaker
Adolph The Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break.
00:00:50
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break.
Upcoming Episodes Preview
00:00:55
Speaker
Hey everyone, it's Ricardo and we are so excited to be doing a month-long series of episodes for Black History Month.
00:01:03
Speaker
This week we have some performers who are currently enjoying all that the marching arts has to offer. And made for the struggles too. Nicole is going to be on the sideline in just a bit with an interview with Madeline, the newest drum major at the Blue Devil.
00:01:17
Speaker
We have one more episode for Black History Month, and it's going to be a big one. We have a panel of Black female band directors. One is a middle school director, one is a high school director, and one is a college band director.
00:01:30
Speaker
We even have someone joining us from the Association of Black Female Band Directors. Nicole will bring you that episode. Before we see who's on the sidelines this week, go and subscribe and hit the notifications on your favorite listing app.
00:01:43
Speaker
Write us a review and share this podcast with friend. Got a question or a good topic to talk about? Email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
Call for Guest Participation
00:01:59
Speaker
We even have a new form now for you to fill out if you want to be a guest. We love having people on the podcast. So check that out at our link in the bio on our social media. Okay, let's see who's on the sidelines.
Weather Challenges in Performances
00:02:10
Speaker
First on the sidelines, Woody, long time no see. How has your season been going? Oh, it's going pretty good, man. i don't think I've done an episode with you since last season sometime, man. like in the You know what? I would say Jeremy always keeps me separated from all of my favorite people.
00:02:28
Speaker
well I thought maybe you didn't like me anymore. No, it's definitely not that. um You know, they just can't have all of this wonderful energy from two amazing people on the same podcast at one time.
00:02:39
Speaker
You know, we're just, we're two strong personalities. We are loaded with people, right? I know, that's right. How's your season going so far, Woody? Actually, you know, I have no report because last weekend it s snowed. Oh.
00:02:55
Speaker
oh Yeah, yeah, we got canceled. But it kind of worked out. Kids learned some more stuff. So this week, let the truth be told if it doesn't snow again. Well, I'm going to hope for no snow for y'all, but that is the opposite of my problem here. We were at a show this past weekend, and it was like 90 degrees during our outside warm-up, so...
00:03:16
Speaker
I'm going to tell you something, Ricardo. I think I got squished at birth because I am a desert baby. I can't stand the snow. I can't stand to be cold, man. Listen, I am contemplating a move somewhere just so that I can be cold because I'm tired of being hot.
00:03:32
Speaker
I can put on enough clothes to be like, get myself warm and comfortable in the winter. I cannot take off clothes at this point in my life. It's not socially acceptable for me. That's not true. That's not true. I need to be to be comfortable in this heat in Florida.
00:03:47
Speaker
That's not true. They have places for you. Sandy Hook Beach and all those kind of places.
00:03:55
Speaker
For those who don't know, Sandy Hook Beach is our New Jersey resident place where you can let it all ah go. I don't know that anybody wants to see me let it all go. That's another topic for another podcast. How about that, man?
00:04:11
Speaker
but you see You too. Joining us today are some amazing, amazing performers.
Spotlight on Young Performers
00:04:18
Speaker
They say children are a future child, and we have brought the children on today.
00:04:24
Speaker
These fine young people are the ones that are really doing the work and bring you incredible performance after incredible performance. Please welcome, from AMP Wintergard, it's Ayesha Lay. Hi, Ayesha.
00:04:39
Speaker
Hello. Thanks for having me. Oh, we're so glad to have you here. We're going to talk about your show and what's going on with everything at AMP soon. But I also want to welcome from Crown, Omari Holaki. Omari, how are you? Hello. I'm doing well. I'm well. How are you?
00:04:57
Speaker
I'm fantastic. And I'm so glad that I'm getting to meet you tonight. And we're going to have a little chatty chat. We sure will. And we have one of the drum majors from the University of Alabama, Roll Tide, Josiah Copperwood. Josiah.
00:05:16
Speaker
Hey, how are y'all? Hey, friend, I'm good. How are things down there in, you know, Tide Land? It's a bit chilly. We just suffered a loss in basketball, so we're still recovering.
00:05:27
Speaker
o I'm sorry about that. At our final guest on the sideline from Atlanta Quest, we have Christian Elliott Haynes. Hey, Christian.
00:05:38
Speaker
ah you doing? I'm excited to be here, man. Really looking forward to an awesome conversation with you guys. and love it, Christian. And we're so glad to have you here. but Now that we have introduced everyone, let's jump into some news.
Marching Band News
00:06:07
Speaker
You know what? I'm going to not do news tonight on my end. So I'm going to pass the torch over to our new and brightest young reporters out on the scene. So, Josiah, I believe you have an article for us first.
00:06:21
Speaker
Yes, sir. so the Washington Commanders currently are looking to expand their marching band. And so if you are interested in auditions, they are being held March 8th and March 9th. If you want more information, you can look at www.commanders.com slash fans slash marching band slash auditions.
00:06:40
Speaker
So listeners, I'm going to go ahead and jump in here and tell you this, that Josiah did not want to do this because as of this podcast recording, he is totally repping a Texans shirt right now.
00:06:54
Speaker
So, and he's Covering it up. But you know, if you are a Commanders fan, hey, go and try out. Christian, you got a big news story for us.
00:07:08
Speaker
Yeah, so this one comes from MahoningMatters.com. It's basically talking about um how the rock group Metallica, they hold competitive kind of competition where they let bands perform their songs and they pick winners.
00:07:25
Speaker
donate money for their equipment costs. um And so this year they have three different categories. They have like a small school category, a medium and a large, large category. um And so the South range high school in Canfield actually won first place in the small school category.
00:07:41
Speaker
um And they've, they've put a little, A little ah note here from the band director, Roger Lewis. ah He says, I couldn't be happier that all the hard work and effort these students put in from July to November is absolutely validated, not just by our community, but by the panel of judges who selected us as a finalist and also by the members of Metallica who thought we performed the best. I think this is super dope. I think this this activity is so niche and small. Whatever we can do to kind of get more of the activity out there, like the general public, um i think it's super, super dope.
00:08:13
Speaker
You know, as someone who has been doing marching band for way longer than all of you have been alive and when in the heat and the high day Metallica, I remember my marching band doing Metallica in the stands every Friday night in high school.
00:08:29
Speaker
And if this would have been around back and back in my day, hope that my high school band director had pushed me into this, but they have some really cool music. And there, I don't know if anyone has watched or looked at some of the social media posts from some of this, but like some of these bands are doing really cool stuff with Metallica. And I love the fact that such a mainstream rock band who has had such a huge influence on the music scene is giving back to the thing that got them involved in this. And that is marching band. So I love it.
00:09:03
Speaker
I love it. Ayesha, you have another news story for us.
Historic Appointment of Black Band Director
00:09:08
Speaker
Yes, I do. So this article is by Robin Miller, and the title is How I Kid From East Felicien.
00:09:18
Speaker
Parrish became the first Black band director in the Big Ten.
00:09:23
Speaker
Um, okay. So, O'Neal Stanford directs the University of Minnesota during a Big Ten football game. Stanford, who grew up in East Valenciana Parish, was the university's first African-American marching band director.
00:09:37
Speaker
um And weather, wasn't really familiar with the weather, um just because he was from the South, and he, you know, went to Minnesota, so it was a little cold, but It wasn't the only thing challenging for him. He was the first African-American hired to head the band department at the predominantly white University of Minnesota.
00:10:00
Speaker
Wow. That's cool. History is still being made every day, y'all. Every day. So, Ricardo, that's some place you can move to if you want to be cold. i don't want to be that cold.
00:10:10
Speaker
You don't want to be cold. They're ready for you. Listen, I need like a light dusting of snow every now and then. I don't need to be buried under feet of snow, okay? There's a limit. Prince did it. Prince did it. That's all I'm saying.
00:10:24
Speaker
yeah I think Prince was born in Minneapolis, so he was used to it. I was born in the South. I just need a little bit of snow, not that much. But we're glad to hear about O'Neill Sanford. That's amazing, you know, to be put into the spotlight in a major program like that. You know, and love the fact that we're making this progress, y'all.
00:10:45
Speaker
But I'm moving. Omari, i believe you have our final news story. Yes, yes, I do.
Auction for DCI Legacy Fund
00:10:51
Speaker
This one is about a former cadets member auctioning a painting of actually the cadets, I believe, 2007 horn line.
00:11:00
Speaker
And it looks like they're on the way to a show in it. And the name of the painting is called shall always be. And obviously going the slogan, excuse me, for holy name shall always be. The artist, if I'm looking here correctly, it says Susie Griffa is the artist, and she spent more than two years creating this piece.
00:11:18
Speaker
And it was intended for it to serve as a fundraising item to support the future marching members, which is great. And 90% of the proceeds from this auction will actually be donated to the DCI Legacy Fund, which is amazing for members that are trying... Yeah, amazing for members trying to...
00:11:35
Speaker
get into the activity, especially with how pricey is getting. And her aim is that the work of art will appear to not only those of feelings of nostalgia and love for former cadets, but also to anyone with a history in the marching arts.
00:11:46
Speaker
And there's a quote here from Griffa herself or Susie, sorry. And it says, let it serve as a tribute to the core, the music and the lifelong friendships that make drum corps a way of life.
00:11:57
Speaker
Now, This one is particularly beautiful to me. Just a round of applause. It's particularly beautiful to me because this past season, I marched with a lot of cadets alumni who, unfortunately, they had to fold.
00:12:12
Speaker
And they came to find a home at Crown, and they always talked about the great experiences they had, the lifelong friendships they made, and those carried over. And it was always such a great thing to see just those lifelong friendships sustain no matter where y'all go.
00:12:25
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's awesome. You know, with all of these drum corps that have such huge legacies, and of course the cadets are no longer with us. As a person that's in my professional position, I love the fact that someone was able to use one form of art to celebrate another form of art, and thus perpetuating this whole, like, how we're all connected together.
00:12:48
Speaker
It's just a beautiful thing. I've also never seen this painting too. That's something would like genuinely put up in the crib. Like it looks great. Yeah. I mean, you know, I think I looked at a picture of it and I was like, this is actually really like, I kind of want this. And I did not march cadets. I wanted to back in the day, but I i would want to have this in my house.
00:13:10
Speaker
If they made one of crown, I think I would, would definitely take that. You know what? I think if they one of crown, that would be right in my room over there somewhere. Yeah. Listeners, if you're out there and you're an artist, here we go. We have someone that's commissioning artwork for you. So, you know, it could be your side gig.
00:13:29
Speaker
If you've been involved in the marching arts, only those people who have done it can capture it the right way. So it's a little side gig for you. Go for it. Okay, everyone, we've got to get back out on the floor so we can rep the last section. My girl, Nicole, has an interview with Madeline Williams, the newest drum major for the Blue Devils. And then we'll be back with these amazing performers and a discussion about what it's like being a Black performer in our activity.
00:13:57
Speaker
We'll be back for more on a water break.
Interview with Drum Major Madeline Williams
00:14:12
Speaker
Well, thank you, Ricardo. Right now we have the distinct pleasure of talking to you basically a phenomenal woman, but also this is gonna be something that is going down in the her three books.
00:14:25
Speaker
So I want everyone to welcome, please, Madeline Williams. Yes, hi guys. Hi, Nicole. I'm very, very excited to be here and just chit chat with you, have a good conversation about just kind of, you know, the marching arts, what that looks like.
00:14:41
Speaker
you know, just being in the DCI space. I'm very excited. Yeah. Well, I mean, honestly, this is going to be more about you and kind of less about the activity. So we are good with that.
00:14:53
Speaker
First off, Madeline, I do want you to Maddie. We're going to get informal here. Did you do marching band when you were in high school? Yes, ma'am, I did. All right. What high school did you go to?
00:15:05
Speaker
I went to Hillgrove High School. I'm from Marietta, Georgia, so ah Cobb County. um So yes, I did go to Hillgrove and I marched all of high school from freshman year to senior year. I did it all.
00:15:17
Speaker
I did the jazz band. I did the concert band. I did, you know, obviously the marching band. So I was very big in the fine arts space there. Were you a drum major at your high school? Yes, yes, yes, yes. I had the privilege of being selected at the end of my sophomore year.
00:15:33
Speaker
so I believe that's 2021. twenty twenty one Yes. So you've spent like multiple years on the podium. Yes, ma'am. It's been conducting, conducting, conducting for me for a very long time now. Yes. Okay. So usually i have a really hard time with figuring out what the drum majors instrument was. Don't tell me. Okay.
00:15:51
Speaker
Because you one drum majors are smart people. And I usually put the smart folks with, and I will tell you, I came up on clarinet and then switched to baritone.
00:16:03
Speaker
Oh, yeah. see I spent a couple of years in um drum corps marching baritone. So I don't know. Let me just narrow it down. Woodwind?
00:16:15
Speaker
Woodwind. Yes. Yes. it Are you an oboe player? I'm not an oboe player. i'm not oh That's a hard instrument, girl. I do. Shout out to the people who do, but that's definitely not me.
00:16:27
Speaker
Right. You got to make your own read. um Let's see then Let's go. I'm going to go simpler. Flute? Nope. Oh, are you a saxophone player? Yes.
00:16:39
Speaker
I'm a saxophone player. Yes. I spy. but I spy saxophone player. Well, that's okay. Awesome. Well, you know, going back a little bit more, i guess, and I always have to ask people this because you always have that show that you see in drum corps and you're just like, I'm out. I'm i'm doing that. So ah what was your...
00:16:59
Speaker
breakthrough, moment show that you saw that made you want to march drum corps? Absolutely. I think it was Madison Scouts 2022. um I was at Southeastern ah Championships in 2022 with a few friends just because we were invited by my mentor, ah Jared Gere, who works with Silent Command. And we showed up and we were like, I don't even know what this is.
00:17:26
Speaker
I'm not super sure. It's a marching band competition, just real new person stuff. And we sat in the crowd and we got there a little late. And I remember it was... Madison College 2022, I believe it was, what was it called? Innovation 85, Innovation 85.
00:17:41
Speaker
They did their ballot and it was as the world caves in and they got in that little triangle formation right at the front and they were blaring, it was like they were playing right at me. were to be playing to the judges, but in my soul they were playing towards me.
00:17:55
Speaker
And i just was like, whoa, this is super duper cool. I love this. I should definitely make this like my whole life. Really, it was that. And I never looked back.
00:18:07
Speaker
As soon as I started college, it was just, how do I get into a core? Let's get the ball rolling. Yeah. Oh, wow. So when your first year, tell me where your first year was. Yes. So I had the privilege of conducting for Music City, Drum and Bugle Corps, and I was their head drum major.
00:18:24
Speaker
And it was a team of the four of us. And, you know, it was genuinely I could not have asked for a better rookie year. I think I had a phenomenal experience, you know, out in, you know, middle of nowhere, Tennessee.
00:18:38
Speaker
It's hot. There's bugs. It's humid. But I was just every single day. It was like a dream. I absolutely loved my first year. Oh, great. So you're not like a horn member turned drum major. You are from the core ah drum major.
00:18:53
Speaker
Yes. That's so awesome. Honestly, to see that as for you as a young black woman, you know, being a drum major through and through, and then where you're coming into the ranks is let's talk present day, what you're doing now.
00:19:12
Speaker
Not only is this is this your dream core? i think it kind of is my dream core. Tell people what it is that you are currently doing. because we Yeah. So currently right now, I serve as part of the major team for the Blue Devils.
00:19:30
Speaker
And I you know plan on you know sticking with that for as long as I go as long as i can. At least until you're 21. Yes. At least until I'm 22. I do get an extra year. My birthday's in So 22.
00:19:43
Speaker
so okay So you'll be seeing me for quite a while, for a little couple years, quite a few. Right. So in that organization. Yes.
00:19:56
Speaker
This is, like I said, you're making history because it's a milestone thing. They have never had a woman of color on the podium. So tell me how that makes you feel.
00:20:07
Speaker
Yeah, I think that, to be honest, I think it's really a full circle moment, even aside from DCI, just the marching arts in general. I think we can all agree that it's dominated by men and a lot of ah white individuals. And I think that It's just so, I guess, I guess it's almost really humbling that in a way I had kind of become the representation that I wanted to see as a little girl.
00:20:37
Speaker
I think that when I was maybe like, you know, 13, 14, and I was really just getting my feet wet in the marching arts space, I think that I would have really loved to look at the Blue Devils or the Boston Crusaders or just these big names in the marching arts.
00:20:54
Speaker
I would have loved to see someone like me that was kind of leading that course. So it's really full circle. Very, very like, wow, like... What is life right now? That is crazy. Yeah.
00:21:06
Speaker
So, and, you know, I think that, you know, it's not just me, you know, there's a team of, you know, us, you know, female drum majors, black drum majors right now for the 2025 season um that are kind of making things happen. So I think, you know, it's just kind of cool to look around and, you know, even last year ah during tour, you know, when I was talking, you know, I got introduced to Amari Lewis at the Mandarins and, you know, me and her just kind of looked at each other like,
00:21:30
Speaker
We're taking big steps right now. We're making history. but So I'm just so, so, so excited and so, so, so, so grateful for the opportunity. I know for a fact that you are an influencer, even if you don't want to be. um You are definitely being youre that inspiration as well.
00:21:47
Speaker
like I know that when I was marching, I barely saw anyone like me. So being able to like look back, did I get just choked up? Wow. Stop. it's really yeah When I see...
00:22:01
Speaker
Young women, young black women, young women of color stepping into those spaces. i am so happy and so excited um because it's just one of those it's just one of those things. It needs to happen. And I just i just love to, if not you know know you, but basically let you know, hey, we see you. Keep going. Keep doing your thing because I love it.
00:22:26
Speaker
but I will have to say, like everyone has like an inspiration, whether they are black, white, brown, yellow, purple. Who was your inspiration? Who did you look up to a lot as a drum major?
00:22:38
Speaker
Absolutely. So just I was taught everything I know about drum majoring, conducting, being a leader in the marching arts by Mr. Jared Gere. um He currently serves with Silent Command as their co-executive directors, I believe.
00:22:56
Speaker
He served in the Blue Devils for his, I guess, Rookout season in 2022. And he showed up when my high school was like, hey, you want to be a drum major?
00:23:08
Speaker
And he kind of just kind of took me by the hand and was like, oh, I'm going to I'm going shape you into into something, something. And he just, the way, you know, just aside from his conducting, which is just gorgeous and just the most clearest, most expressive style of conducting I've ever seen. I just think that his style of leadership is just so amazing. And I look up to it all the time when I'm like, even last season when I was operating, you know, the biggest thing is I'd be like, what would Jared do?
00:23:39
Speaker
Like WWJD, what would Jared do? Like, he just always has an answer he always you know and he was always available to call but he absolutely has been my biggest biggest biggest inspiration and you know he was the first person I called when I got you know into college and I was like Jared want to do drum corps help me and he was like okay let's do it and so he you know hasn't left my side I've been working with him for I guess this is like third, fourth year, i believe.
00:24:10
Speaker
Wow. So yeah, he's like my uncle now, kind of. Cool mentor uncle now. But yes, Jared, Mr. Jared. Oh, yay. Well, good, good. Well, let's like come off the field a little bit and like talk about it. So you're in school. Where are you going to school? Yes.
00:24:27
Speaker
So right now I'm a second year at Georgia Tech. Okay. All right. Are you in marching band there or anything like that? yeah Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. um I'm a music technology major and I spend a lot of my time in, you know, the music hall. I am a member of the marching band.
00:24:42
Speaker
I'm not a drum major. I play saxophone there just because I think, you know, it was time for me to return, turn to my origins, to my humble origins. So I do play saxophone there. um but yeah, so most of my time is just kind of spent, you know, in the music hall.
00:24:56
Speaker
here, which is a little funny because, you know, I'm at an Institute of Technology as a music student, which is a little funny, but you know, it's, it's, it's, it's been an interesting experience for sure, but I love it here. Would not trade it for anything.
00:25:12
Speaker
I think music definitely is the, I think a catalyst for all things that you want to get done or want to do And it also helps. Like there's the studies done that kids in band are just way smarter.
00:25:28
Speaker
I mean, ah just to put it that way. Now I cannot cite my sources or anything like that, but definitely I've read it before. does It doesn't feel different to be like in a saxophone line It's definitely a lot bigger for sure.
00:25:44
Speaker
um my section is, I have to recheck with my section later, but it's like 40 something people. Man, in the marching band for a college marching band, it's not even ginormous. We have less than 300 students, I believe.
00:25:59
Speaker
And so it's a huge section and it's like a big family rather than maybe just like, you know, four people, five people as a drum major team. It's every single time you go to practice, you're talking to a new person in that kind of couple hours that you have just because there's so many people in your section, which I really appreciate.
00:26:17
Speaker
The group chats are bigger. on campus. so I'm seeing you guys. didn't see them at rehearsal last time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's on campus. So you're just pointing, oh, hi there. my gosh, hello. Like, good to see you again. So it's a little mini community and and of itself.
00:26:33
Speaker
Now, have you been, i mean, like, have you been approached by somebody or anyone, I'm going back to the drum major thing now, but have you been approached by little ones that say, oh you know, we're so excited to see you on the podium or anything like that?
00:26:48
Speaker
it's actually Yes, yes. So it's so funny because just last night, um one of my peers who she's still in high school texted me and she was like, girl,
00:27:01
Speaker
you you're in DC, like you you're doing Blue Devils. I'm literally so excited for you. and And most of the, I guess my kind of like littles are people that I knew when i was a senior and they were maybe like a freshman in high school.
00:27:15
Speaker
So, you know, to kind of see them and, you know, a lot of them, you know, have become drum majors themselves. And so for them to kind of text me and be like, oh my gosh, like, you know, I just wanted you to know that like, I'm so proud of you. And like, you know, you did great things here.
00:27:28
Speaker
I'm so excited to see you do great things there. It's genuinely Every single time I get a message, I get a little teary-eyed. It's so sweet. And I just, you know, I owe everything back to kind of like my community back in Marietta because I guess in a way, like they saw something in me that at the time I didn't even see myself.
00:27:46
Speaker
So, you know, it's just, it's, it's once again, kind of full circle, just very, very, very heartwarming. Yeah. Yep. I mean, I think that we both know when I say like, it also takes someone telling you.
00:27:57
Speaker
how good you are for you to actually start to believe it and to start going a little bit more forward with it. Absolutely. And honestly, you would not, from the way that you're talking right now and just the whole vibe, you would never think that. and It's just like, yep, that's what I'm going to do. That's what I'm going to do. And I'm going to do it. And knowing that it has to start from somewhere, there has to be that encouragement that starts that fire.
00:28:21
Speaker
Yeah, completely a hundred percent agree and know where you're coming from.
Emotional Connection in Performances
00:28:26
Speaker
We do ask this of a couple of different people. So I want to ask like when there's a show, you know, the layout of the show, there's sections. Well, we're not going to about sections because now I know you're saxophone player, but, but ah there are sections of the show. So there's obviously the opener.
00:28:46
Speaker
Some people have a ballad and then you have a closer. It can be bombastic. It can be small. It could be whatever. So but what part of drum corps show are you? Oh, and you can even put in the pre-show.
00:29:01
Speaker
Oh, okay. Okay. What part am I? i feel like am... and
00:29:09
Speaker
probably the ballot hit. Like if I had to be like, this is me as a part of a show. Yeah, definitely the ballot hit. I'm, you know, I've been told by, you know, my mom, my friends, everybody that I'm like a very like emotional feeling person.
00:29:25
Speaker
And I don't, I don't really try to hide it. Like it's all on my sleeve. And I just feel like you know, the ballad, you know, it's kind of like the emotional apex of the show for most shows that is. And I just feel like if I had to, you know, be turned into a part of a show, definitely the part where all the emotions come together and clash a thousand percent. That's me.
00:29:46
Speaker
Awesome. Because I was just like, some people will just say the ballot and i'm like, okay. But then like the ballot hit, like that's literally all the emotion in the world. Yeah. Because well, you're, you know, you're on the podium. You feel it.
00:30:00
Speaker
Oh my gosh. I just got goosies. Stop it. So I guess my last thing, and I mean, we'll start wrapping up, but like, but what are you most looking forward to? I guess this, I mean, you're right now you're in the marching band or do y'all, are y'all still doing shows and things like that? or wrap No. Yeah. We've kind of wrapped up. We're just kind of doing, you know, like basketball games, volleyball games, just kind of like cute little pep bands, but yeah, no more marching band until August.
00:30:30
Speaker
So yeah. and so for And then for Blue Devils, you all are having your camps. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Okay. where' i leave ah this Friday.
00:30:41
Speaker
so Okay. yeah And how is that transition to go from Music City to Blue Devils? I mean, it's a big, wild journey, to say the least. it'ss Literally, it was like, I guess, like it kind of flipped my whole world upside down. But i think it definitely was...
00:31:00
Speaker
but a transition that was full of love and respect and care. I actually tu asked my core director to send me a letter recommendation when i applied to the Blue Devils and he was like, absolutely, i got your back, like it's done.
00:31:15
Speaker
You know, people that I marched with last season, you know, are, Maddie, are you going to do this? Maddie, will I see you here? It's just, it's been full of love and, you know, care and just the absolute utmost respect. um And, you know, for, you know, to get to step into the Blue Devil space, you know, kind of was, it was almost a culture shock, you know, yeah thus far, since I guess kind of like,
00:31:40
Speaker
get me is just to take everything in and just absorb my brain for the past few months has just been a sponge spongier than normal just taking everything like how do they act what do they do you know how how do i interact with the staff what's the vibe you know who can i talk to let me make some friends let me know everyone's names like it's been like just learning learning learning learning learning And I think that it it's been pretty successful.
00:32:06
Speaker
Very, very excited. But I'm just, I'm definitely looking forward to this weekend. And of course, leaving for the summer. Like, I'm so stoked. Oh, good. Oh, yay. I can't wait to see you out on the field and ah during tour. Yes. I will definitely see you and make sure I do one of these.
00:32:23
Speaker
but I'll do one right back. I'll do one right back. Yes. And then I'll get ready to start. Yeah. Oh, well, I mean, the last thing I did want to bring up is that when ah people don't know this, but this is a morning...
00:32:38
Speaker
interview. And first thing I said was, I'm sorry, Maddie, I had to get my coffee. Yes. like that That's my twin. like Yeah. met She was ready.
00:32:49
Speaker
Well, I've had such a great time talking to you And i I do think that this is not the last time we're going to be talking together. yes So I agree. And you please let the people know where they can find you on social media.
00:33:02
Speaker
Yes. So on Instagram, my handle is Maddie underscore William underscore S. That's kind of where I do a lot of my like, here's a picture of me.
00:33:13
Speaker
Here's a little post of me. So I think that's where I'm definitely most active. You can find me on Facebook just with my name, Madeline Williams with a Y. Those are definitely the two platforms that I'm the most active. But you can also connect with me on LinkedIn if you don't want to offer me an internship or anything. Because once I'm out of D.C., i once I age out,
00:33:30
Speaker
It's time for the world. Them checks need to start coming. So connect with me on LinkedIn also. All right.
Guard Closet Ad Spot
00:33:38
Speaker
Well, Maddie, thank you so much. um It is so great to honestly see you in the marching arts activity where you are with Blue Devils.
00:33:48
Speaker
And we'll be seeing so much more from you. I know. Thank you so much. I appreciate it I'll make you guys proud. Thank you. All right, Ricardo, you can have your screen back. All right.
00:34:09
Speaker
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00:34:24
Speaker
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00:34:38
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:35:02
Speaker
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00:35:15
Speaker
Check us out at guardcloset.com or follow us on social media.
00:35:32
Speaker
And we are back.
Young Performers' Stories
00:35:33
Speaker
Everyone put your equipment down. Nicole's interview was pretty amazing, but i want to get to know our four young performers. So now each of you have already accomplished some pretty cool things, but...
00:35:48
Speaker
We're going to make you do 32 count life stories so that all our listeners can get to know you. So for those of you who don't know, we're going to give you eight off the mat. And then you're going to tell us your life story from the start all the way up to where you are today in 32 counts off the metronome.
00:36:05
Speaker
You guys ready to do this? All right, Ayesha, you are up first. Hello, my name is Ayesha. I was born in Newark, New Jersey, and I was raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
00:36:16
Speaker
I started color guard from fifth all the way up to my sophomore year in high school with Mechanicsburg, and then I joined with Amp Winterguard. marched Blue Coats, Cadets II for two years, um and then the Blue Devils, and now I'm working in an school for nursing, and I'm still with Amp Winterguard now at 22 years old.
00:36:37
Speaker
Wow. First of all, you were so excited to get started. You skipped over your eight-count intro for that, but you have done a lot in your 22 years of age, girl.
00:36:49
Speaker
Yes, yes. I'm super excited. It's been journey. Yeah? And the journey's just started, baby. You're just getting going, honey. So there's so much more, and I can't wait to see what comes next for you.
00:37:01
Speaker
Yes, thank you. All right, Omari, it is your turn. Do you understand the assignment, sir? Hold on. How fast am I allowed to talk? Listen, once those eight counts click off, that tempo is on you. How you choose to interpret the beats that are given, that is on your spirit and your soul.
00:37:21
Speaker
Okay, another one, another one. Can y'all like turn down the BPM? Because listen, I got to stutter. Like, I'm not good at this. I It's okay. We are going to love it regardless of how it comes out, okay? As long as it comes from the heart. You ready?
00:37:36
Speaker
All right, let's do this. Eight off the met and you're in. ah I can't hear it. My name is Omari Holacli. I was born in San Diego, California, and now I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. So you were complaining about snow earlier. I know everything about snow. Anyways, I started off playing football, which you can see my jerseys back there and my medals. Yes, I win a lot.
00:37:54
Speaker
And we didn't get into music at first. And then in the end of my 10th grade, I started getting music. I started off playing trumpet. I was battered and I started playing tuba. And then sudden I got invited to join the Calgary Tempeed Show Band in 2022, which led me to figure out what drum corps was.
00:38:09
Speaker
And then i'm west carolina crown and i'm going on with that and I work.
00:38:15
Speaker
I told you that I talk too much. I'm going to put it at 30 BPM. Okay. So. Not as smooth as Miss Lane. Not as smooth as Miss Lane. Listen, there were so many things. Okay, first of all, you live in Canada.
00:38:32
Speaker
I'm a neighbor to the north. Okay, cool beans. And then you throw in there that you marched the Calgary Stampede. Yeah. It's like the mecca for marching band.
00:38:45
Speaker
That was actually like my first year ever doing anything marching band in 2022. Oh my God. I never even like moved with an instrument. I was always sit down band dude.
00:38:56
Speaker
And now you're playing tuba on the Lord's horn line. Yep. Okay, and I'm just going to put that out there. Listen, you can get mad at me if you want to, okay? The Carolina line of Crown horn line is God's horn line, okay?
00:39:09
Speaker
It is. And we're not going to argue that. I'm still stuck with Canada, but okay. I feel like I can't talk anymore. I feel like i've taken up so much more than 32 counts. It's okay. That's fine. We just wanted to get to know you. We're here to talk.
00:39:24
Speaker
We moved here when I was around the age of eight and it was because my parents found better jobs and also like a lot safer over here. i still got into a lot of trouble as a kid, even though I was in Canada, that didn't change nothing.
00:39:37
Speaker
No, you did. You were an No, i I was the opposite of a teacher's pet. What would you call that? A teacher's nightmare? Yeah, I just talk a lot. You was a class clown?
00:39:51
Speaker
Yeah, that one. That one, yo. Just talk a lot, you know. But, yeah, we moved here just for, like, jobs and whatnot. And I continued playing football.
00:40:02
Speaker
But then at some point, you know, I was just like, music, I'm in a music degree. Football's taking so much of my time. I got to put that away. yeah. Wow, that's great that you made that switch. up Not that it's great, but, you know, it's awesome that you decided that music was going to win out for you because that's not the case for a lot of people, and that's pretty cool.
00:40:22
Speaker
And look at you. Like I said, you're playing on the Lord's Horn line. Oh, I love it. I love it there. a He only had alouettes to look up to. It's not like he had people or something. Come on, man.
00:40:35
Speaker
Nah, we don't talk about CFL over here. Yeah. We don't do that. don't run run here on the other side of the border either. I know. I know. Trust.
00:40:46
Speaker
I tried. I was on tour. Well, my friend, Josiah, it's your turn to give us your 32 count life story. You ready for your eight off the mat?
00:40:58
Speaker
I'll never be ready, but I'm ready. Hey, a if you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready. Here we go.
00:41:06
Speaker
Okay, so my life started when I was born. i was born in Houston, Texas, and then we had to move to New Orleans, Louisiana, but then Hurricane Katrina had other plans, so we moved to El Paso, and then I ended up in San Antonio. I played tuba in sixth grade because all the other instruments didn't really fit me that well, and then I've played it ever since. I became section leader in high school, then drum major afterwards, played basketball a little bit in high school too.
00:41:26
Speaker
Came to the University of Alabama because just had like the best offers, and I felt more at home here. And then I also didn't want to be like everyone else. And then I joined the band here, made tuba section leader, drum major, and now I am here.
00:41:38
Speaker
Wow. great job. That was good. That was perfect timing on that. Because you're bringing that drum major skill in. I was going to say, I expect the drum major to have the perfect timing through all of this. So you held up to the title, sir.
00:41:53
Speaker
I love it. I love it. It is wonderful to have you here, Josiah. But we have one more 32 count story to get to Christian, ah you doing?
00:42:04
Speaker
i'm doing great. i'm I'm prepared for this. You are prepared for this. Okay. You know what? I love it when people are prepared. Christian, you get eight off the mat and then it is your turn, my friend.
00:42:15
Speaker
Here we go. All right, what's up? My name is Christian. I'm a snare drummer. was born in Tampa, Florida, but I went to high school in Johns Creek, Georgia, and I currently live in Atlanta.
00:42:26
Speaker
um My first like independent marching experience was my sophomore year of high school, um and that was through the Atlanta Quest. indoor production organization. I marched with the Open Class Group for two years, and this is my third year with the World Class Group.
00:42:41
Speaker
I also marched at Land of TV in 2022, and for 23 and 24, I marched with the Mandarins, and I'll be aging out with them this summer. Wow. k Christian, another Florida person from right across the bay from me in Tampa. I love it.
00:42:57
Speaker
Oh, yeah. That's awesome. Hey, when you see me on the road this summer with Mandarins, you better say hey, okay? Oh, you want tour too? and I'm the color girl caption head for the Academy, so. Oh, okay. Fire, fire. We'll be on the road with y'all most of the time.
00:43:11
Speaker
That's dope. All right. So let's just get into a little bit of conversation. So I have my wonderful young performers here and all of them, as you can tell from their 32 count life stories are amazing in their own
Challenges as Black Performers
00:43:25
Speaker
rights. But, you know, as we talk through,
00:43:27
Speaker
through things for Black History Month. There's some common themes, you know, that we share and all of this stuff. And I just want to get you guys feel for a couple of things. So my first topic of conversation that I'm going to throw out there for you is what is your biggest challenge being Black in the marching arts?
00:43:47
Speaker
du okay Yeah, I can go. um So I think for me, um you know, band and like the marching arts was like the first like big thing I was a part of. i didn't really do a lot of like sports or it wasn't really like in any like clubs or anything.
00:44:04
Speaker
um i was pretty like to myself. um And once I had like this experience when I went to high school of like, being band, being, you know, in indoor percussion as well. um It was almost like I had these feelings of like, you know, like I'm part of a larger community, ah right? And I didn't want to like do anything to like, you know, lose it or like jeopardize any like connections or relationships I might've built.
00:44:26
Speaker
um So I think when I was a little bit younger, i definitely struggled um almost with like, like enabling certain behaviors and like my my peers and the the people around me.
00:44:36
Speaker
Cause I didn't want to seem like the guy that like, you know, couldn't take a joke or like was overreacting or were soft or anything. Um, but I think the marching arts is so like unique, uh, because it pulls, you know, such a large amount of people from, you know, all over the country, all over the, you know, even like, you know, uh, like overseas and stuff.
00:44:54
Speaker
Um, But that also kind of means that like, you know, you have groups of people who might not um interact with, you know, people from, you know, other communities in their everyday lives back home.
00:45:05
Speaker
um So, you know, maybe, you know, certain things, certain comments, certain jokes, or, you know, maybe you can can slide, you know, in in their circle in their communities back home. um But when you're in ah an environment where there's so many different people, you know, those things might not be as, you know, acceptable. Right. um So I feel like over the years, I've really like matured and grown a lot um and learned that, like, you know, if somebody is in your circle, um who's like, you know, it's supposed to be your homie and they communicate with you in a way that you know you don't agree with or maybe you ah find a little bit unsettling.
00:45:37
Speaker
um you like You got to have a conversation. um And if they value you as ah as a friend, as a peer, um they you know they'll make it right. But if they don't, then you know you have to be comfortable with like letting them kind of go and do their own thing. Because you know at the end of the day, if something doesn't you know The way somebody communicates with you doesn't you know make you feel good or you know they make a joke that kind of crosses the line. I feel like now I'm kind of like, all right, cut that out. like I can kind of check them a little bit.
00:46:03
Speaker
But I feel like you know when I was kind of first getting to the marching rights, I was kind of like a rookie. I didn't really know anything about – I feel like that was like my first experience like being far away because like when I marched my first world-class year,
00:46:14
Speaker
um it was with the mandarin excuse me in sacramento california and like i live in atlanta so i was like completely far away from home um i wasn't really comfortable like i was kind of just like getting by right um and so i feel like as i you know grown i got you know i got older and know more comfortable um i find it a lot easier now to kind of be like yo like why are you kind of talking that way about this community or this group of people um so that's kind of been been my experience Yeah, I always say that the marching arts are a great connector.
00:46:44
Speaker
And it's one of the ways that a lot of us, one, get exposed to people of different cultures and different backgrounds. And when we come into this place, if we all start with one come goal and one common interest,
00:46:59
Speaker
um you can build relationships from there. And like you said, like telling people and saying things that like, you know, jokes that you may have thought were appropriate, like in a certain group of people, like once you were exposed to those other people that you may have paid a joke about, you realize that those have consequences. They have weight. Words have weight to them.
00:47:20
Speaker
And The marching arts does such a great job of being able to put people in all of these different situations together and giving them a common bond that it allows people to be able to have conversations and say, hey, I'm not comfortable with this.
00:47:37
Speaker
Let me educate you on this. And I think that that's something that our society right now needs as a whole, because we are all off in our own little buckets and our own little pockets of places.
00:47:49
Speaker
And we get on the internet and think that we can say anything that we want to. And that ain't the truth in real life, because you wouldn't say that to somebody's face. So I'm here for it. Christian, I'm glad that your experiences have been great.
00:48:05
Speaker
Who else wants to talk about this topic? Omari, come on, friend. My friend from the Canada. Yeah.
00:48:16
Speaker
There's, don't know, I really like what Christian was saying because that was, that's also the very big thing that I think anyone that isn't in the majority, you know, race group of an activity will go through, especially with jokes because jokes can be,
00:48:32
Speaker
like such a bonding thing, but also something that's really dangerous. you saying So yeah, that's a, it's a lot of, for me, wouldn't say it was necessarily hard, but it was definitely an obstacle was just like finding common ground culturally, you know, cause at least where I'm from, AKA the tundra, I'll be, you know, I've surrounded ah people, you know, of the African-American culture, you know, and,
00:49:02
Speaker
going to a place like Carolina crown, which there's not actually, it's not even their fault, quote unquote, because not a lot of African-American people auditioned. I think I could count like three and, you know, there's so many things that are done differently. Like the things, how we treat each other, you know, and respect is,
00:49:21
Speaker
done a lot differently. Like if I were to say something at home, you know, that I, everything I say at home, sorry, is something is everything that I would say, you know, out in public, you know, that's how my parents would raise me, but sometimes it's not the case. And especially on the point, especially on the point of, you know, saying things online versus what you would say.
00:49:42
Speaker
In person, that's like that should be taken the same as what you say at home should be said on the field, especially when you're around people for so long. And I'm the type of person that I can get sick of someone very easily and they will know. you know I'll make it very clear.
00:49:56
Speaker
But you know it's something that you know I can do to my sisters, but I can't do to the people I'm marching with. so And by the way i have three sisters.
00:50:09
Speaker
um I'm the oldest, so they hear a lot from me. but I bet you're great big brother. I try. Yeah. There's a lot of finding that common ground.
00:50:20
Speaker
And I think I can summarize that whole thing up by just saying like the respect is the number one thing. act is the number one thing That's a little bit of an obstacle at first, but we'll always say people do good.
00:50:35
Speaker
as much as I say, people do good with finding that, you know, respectable boundary and whatnot. Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, I think your experience, you know, growing up and living in Canada and not necessarily experiencing the same types of barriers ah that we experience here in the United States and then coming to the States and doing an organization like this, I think that your experience is truly unique.
00:51:02
Speaker
Um, um you You said something about like not through their own thought, but, you know, this is a conversation. If you go back and listen to last week's podcast, like we talk about, oh, there should be more of this and there should be more of that. But like unless people are actually auditioning and coming into those spaces and knowing that you are valued and worthy in these spaces, you know, there's not going to be that many people.
00:51:26
Speaker
of color marching these organizations. Like when I marched back in the day, i was one of three African-American people on the color guard at the Cavaliers. And one of them was my best friend who came with me. And the other one turned into my best friend who came from Baltimore.
00:51:43
Speaker
And we were always together. We were always hanging out because we had this shared value. But then other people wanted to be in on that and they wanted to get comfortable with And they asked questions and we talked and we had conversations and they were comfortable.
Importance of Representation
00:51:57
Speaker
and They got to understand because, you know, if you come from a small town in Kentucky and you've not really ever seen Black people in the world, you don't necessarily know how to interact with Black people until you are around Black people. Oh, true. So true. So true.
00:52:14
Speaker
But like I said earlier, you have this common ground of the marching arts that is the great movement denominator for all of this. And it's like, we have this shared goal so we can use this to move us forward and we can push ourselves forward as people because we have this common goal that we want to get to. It's just, it's a wonderful thing.
00:52:33
Speaker
It's a great thing. Ayesha, what do you have to say on the topic, girlfriend? Yes. So before me and my family moved to Mechanicsburg, I was living in Harrisburg and it's, you know, a lot of African-Americans there.
00:52:49
Speaker
I went to Mechanicsburg. It was lot of white kids, very different, very, very different from how I was raised in like, you know, raised like in my own home.
00:53:00
Speaker
So then when I joined Color Guard, now I'm not just seeing these people, ah People just like in school and just going home, I'm like actually practicing with them, sharing a little bit more like personal experiences with them.
00:53:13
Speaker
But it's still, always still felt different, felt left out because guess, you know, things weren't taken inconsiderate of like how I looked, how my hair is, makeup for my skin, skin tone, colored gloves, tights, you know.
00:53:30
Speaker
I just had a little experience with that. um Same thing, making jokes. It's actually really crazy when I think about, like, back then when I was, like, in eighth grade, how jokes were just being flow flown out and no one would say anything.
00:53:44
Speaker
And so I just felt kind of alone. Like, I couldn't really go to anyone share how I would feel on that. So i would say now, being with AMP,
00:53:55
Speaker
I remember being in Mechanicsburg, that was the first guard I've seen so many Black people. And I was just like, wow. I was like, this is like inspiring. This is amazing.
00:54:06
Speaker
And it was just amazing to see people like me that is in this community. And they all look just, they're so talented. And I just was never around that growing up in Mechanicsburg. Or even just seeing other groups and color guards.
00:54:22
Speaker
There's just not a lot of Black people in this community. So when I did come to AMP, it just felt like a family. felt seen. I felt heard. And I'm so happy now. I'm very connected with a lot of the Black people on that team.
00:54:36
Speaker
and And it's like, we'll share the same experiences. Or if I feel know what I'm doing, or if a makeup doesn't fit me, they're like, there's this Black-owned product. You know, we just help each other out. And it's very special.
00:54:48
Speaker
um and it just feels like a home. But yeah, and I would say I'm very grateful for those people too because they use their voice. So anything wasn't, if there was something that didn't really sit right or they wouldn't really take and consider it of, you know, the Black people there, then they would say something, to voice it. And AMP did amazing job with, AMP did an amazing job with changing things around and talking about it, asking questions just to make sure we're valued and everything.
00:55:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's so cool that, you know, as a society, know, in the last five or six years or so, we are able to have these conversations openly and honest with each other and say, hey, these are things that aren't working, like tight color and glove color and all of that stuff.
00:55:38
Speaker
I'm so glad that you have found a home where your voice is not only just heard and listened to, but it's valued. And the people in your leadership have made that a priority to make sure that every single person in that organization feels comfortable and feels valued and feels loved.
00:55:56
Speaker
It's great. I'm so happy for you. Josiah, my friend, you are in the deep South. at the University of Alabama. And I will say before we get onto this, your band director is a longtime friend of mine. We went to college together and has been a friend of mine for over 20 years now.
00:56:17
Speaker
And but what are your experiences like at the University of Alabama? Yeah, so about your friend, no, I'm kidding. so i No, I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. So I grew up like in a very diverse environment because it's just so close to Mexico. It's only about a couple hours from the border. So a lot of my friends were Hispanic. There was a lot of African-Americans there, different people of like just different great hodgepodge of cultures in the band.
00:56:43
Speaker
So making that transition from high school to college and then coming here and kind of seeing the not so not so proportionate diversity, I guess I would say here, was definitely a huge shift.
00:56:57
Speaker
And kind of one of the most difficulties that I faced whenever I first joined was trying to like fight the pre-consumptions that people had about me. Because of like where I grew up, I had out honestly like never really given much thought as far as like skin color and everything. Like I never, I was just always at home. Like people always just assumed that I was a person. And then I kind of had to learn coming here, not in regards to the million dollar ban, but in regards to the culture here in the South, it's not always that case.
00:57:27
Speaker
And I had to learn that some people are going to have some tension just by my mere existence, especially because at times jokes, as Christian was saying, and like politics would like love to be brought up.
00:57:39
Speaker
And then people, I could feel like the side eye from people as like, they would discuss these things and were like, You know, like didn't really want to hear my thoughts on it, but were curious if I disagreed because of this. And I'm like, you know, why not just come talk to me? I'm a human being too. Like, and even if my views are different from yours, why can't, why can't we share in that? Like, why can't we converse? We used to do that in San Antonio.
00:58:01
Speaker
Like, it didn't really matter as far as like ethnicity or race. We were people. um So that was always something that I had to not necessarily fight, but get accustomed to here and show that my voice kind of deserved to be heard as well.
00:58:14
Speaker
And that's a great voice you have, my friend. Your experience is not uncommon to most of us who are put in situations and put into um places that are different culturally than what we are.
00:58:26
Speaker
Myself grew up across the border from Tuscaloosa over Mississippi, and I understand what that is. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to college and my mind be open because not only was surrounded by African-American people and Caucasian Americans, but for the first time was surrounded by people from different ethnicities, Asian people and Latin people and all of these things. And um those stereotypes get broken down once you can stop putting labels on people and you can meet people as people.
00:58:58
Speaker
And I think that that's, you know, one of the great experiences of being in college and being all of your age is, is that you're going to meet all of these different people that come from all over the world and all of these different places.
00:59:12
Speaker
And you have this common ground that you can talk about stuff and you can make each other comfortable. And sometimes making each other comfortable means that you have to be uncomfortable for a little bit and have those very hard discussions.
00:59:24
Speaker
So I applaud all of you for you know enduring the things that you have endured and making yourself stronger and thus making our society as a whole stronger just for your mere existence in it and doing the thing that you love. So I'm going to shift gears in our topic of conversation now. So what has been one of your biggest aha moments just in your program growing up, like whatever, what has been one of those moments that's made you go,
00:59:56
Speaker
k Christian, you want to start us off? I feel like when I was thinking about this question, um it actually kind of flows pretty nicely off of what we were just talking about. um And for me, it was like kind of realizing how much of an impact like i actually had on other people who wanted to do like the marching arts and wanting to do like WGI and all that.
01:00:17
Speaker
I like a short story. So marched Mandarin's in 23 and 24. In 23, we didn't go to the Atlanta show, but last year we did. And that was like the first time I had a home show with like a world-class drum corps.
01:00:30
Speaker
And the lot was crazy. And before the lot starts, this this kid comes up to me. It's like this big, like, you know, like like chubby black kid. Like he's so excited to like come and talk to me. And he's like, hey, man, i I'm from out like a school here in Georgia.
01:00:42
Speaker
Like the like um the band program isn't really that big. But like seeing someone that looks like me, like out there in California, just like bawling out is like really inspiring. Like I hope one day, you know, I can do what you do.
01:00:54
Speaker
And like I feel like I never really realized, like obviously, like, you know, back then it it was kind of different because you didn't really get to interact with a lot of people. um But like nowadays, like everything is filmed.
01:01:05
Speaker
Like there's so many lot videos, like every performance, every run is filmed. um So like there are so many people that are like seeing the things that we do. And like I remember the entire day, like I did the performance, I did a lot.
01:01:18
Speaker
I packed up, i was just like still on the bus and i was like, damn, like there are people that like, I have, like, I talked to this guy for three minutes and he's looking at me like I'm like his hero, right? It's like, it's it's crazy. There are so many people out there that like, I like, like we don't even talk to, we don't interact with, but we're like impacting them and we're inspiring them. I thought that was like, and never really thought about it. Like, I think it really easy to try and like, oh, it's drums, it's you know, it's guards, flags, it's it's horns, whatever. But like, it really is bigger than just band.
01:01:48
Speaker
you know You know, man, I can dig where you're coming from because I've had that that experience several times. Plus, you know, being in the activity for so long, I never realized how many people looked at me just like like you did.
01:02:03
Speaker
And it's one of the things that that keeps me interested in and the whole thing. You know, I had a life moment like that. Me and a friend of mine, we were the face of United Percussion. We basically started it.
01:02:17
Speaker
And one of the most inspiring things that ever happened to me was I heard two black kids say to me, say, hey, there's those two black guys who run United. I have never seen black person run a drum corps or drum line before. That's awesome.
01:02:37
Speaker
And, you know, I took the time to turn around and talk to them. And you don't realize the impact you have. And it's nice to see you young guys in it because, Your experiences are so much different in my experience.
01:02:51
Speaker
I could go off on it, but it's nice to hear how more, I shouldn't say welcoming, but more comfortable it is for you to get in it.
01:03:02
Speaker
And that whole cycle go a lot faster. yeah That's really nice. Yeah, and that that lot too, like hopefully, like I don't know if if you guys have ever experienced this, but like when you're on tour, like it is so hard to get a haircut.
01:03:17
Speaker
like when you Like when you're on a guys are trying to find a bar that's not going like completely like mess you up. And so in the Atlanta lot, like I had this like – black like velvet because had like I had my hair braided and so I had like this like black velvet do rag like I was wearing it in the line like it's like I wear the final box like I just I couldn't get a cut and so all the like the kids that were in that Atlanta they're like oh he got a do rag on like okay like it was just it was just this awesome moment um that's cool I didn't know you were one of the guys at un United that's that's super screw that laundry day take your barbershop so I can get a line off
01:03:55
Speaker
I used to have to actually cut the other two black guys hair on tour because there was nobody else to be able to do it. So that's a whole thing. And if y'all listen, last week's episode where we talked with Eric Prince from our marching counts, that was one of the initiatives. Like it's little things like that, like being able to do, you know, ethnic hair and like, that's a, I mean, that's a thing, but I'm going wrap that up from Christian and say this Christian, and this is a phrase that has stuck with me forever.
01:04:26
Speaker
If you see them, you can be them. And for all of you who are on this round table right now, you know, someone is seeing you do the thing that you love doing and you're doing it at a high level.
Inspiring Future Generations
01:04:38
Speaker
and you are inspiring to them. They can say, hey, I can do that one day. I can be the drum major at the University of Alabama. I can play tuba on the Lord's horn line. I can march Atlanta Quest and the Mandarins. I can be a Blue Devil champ just because you are out there. So, you know, keep representing yourselves well and doing the things that you do and show your passion and your love for this activity and be the best that you can possibly be.
01:05:03
Speaker
Anybody else have an aha moment they want to talk about? Omari. Yeah, I have so much on this topic right here because there was, forgot where I was. It's lot, right? It's a lot to say.
01:05:18
Speaker
It's a lot. And you can't gather it all in one concise moment because the experiences, ah they flash by so quick and there's so much information to digest.
01:05:31
Speaker
I myself, I'm from Philadelphia. So just getting into the activity, stumbling into it, it was very awkward. I can only imagine what it's like now because at least back then we had lots of music programs even in the black neighborhoods that were very big.
01:05:48
Speaker
Now there's so less, ah you know, so fewer people who are involved in it. It's a bigger world for you to to step into.
01:06:00
Speaker
ah ah sad. Not sad. But thanks for the music time. yeah but um Yeah, there's a... This is more ah after, actually after this past season.
01:06:13
Speaker
It was, I ah work with Silent Command, which is a group that, you know, does training for for, does clinics with band groups and also does training, you know, private lessons.
01:06:25
Speaker
We have private lesson instructors and whatnot. And the director, Jared Gere, he's also black and he, uh, It was funny because he was like, I've been dying to meet you.
01:06:36
Speaker
And I was like, what's so good about me? You know? And he was like, you know, he was like, when people usually talk about Crown or when I talk to people about Crown and I've talked about you and Crown, people usually go, o And I'm like, why is that?
01:06:52
Speaker
You know, why is it that people say and they're like, oh, it's just like not many black people go to Crown. I'm like, I really had to sit back and think, wait, why is that? Yeah, you know, why is that? And, you know, think back to the, it's not their fault thing, but it's more of like, I didn't realize how many people might've seen doing Crown and been like, oh, okay.
01:07:13
Speaker
So like, we're kind of receptive to this group. Again, not Crown's fault, you know what I'm saying? So yeah, this past season, There's been, as I said before, I was like, I think I was one of three, like, African-American people in Crown. And then there was this past season, I can't even count on two hands how many auditioned and how many received contracts, you know?
01:07:36
Speaker
And I was talking with one of the kids there at this past camp, January camp, not February. And he was like, yeah, just seeing you. And he was like, yeah, I've been dying to meet you.
01:07:48
Speaker
And seeing you doing this, like seeing you on the media pages last year, like really told me, okay, then this is something I can go for, which by the way, I was, if you've looked at Crown's media on tour, i was kind of, I was kind of farming that, that media team. I was, I was getting in there.
01:08:06
Speaker
Get your shots, man. Get your shots. I see the camera. i was like, you know, getting all ready. But, you know, my peers, we joked about it. It was just like, oh, you know, we joked about it. well They love you.
01:08:22
Speaker
They love the dreads. But it was like, well, I mean, maybe they like the dreads. Maybe they like me. But it's also, it's just, I didn't realize how much that could inspire people, you know?
01:08:33
Speaker
Especially young kids, just like Christian's story. It's just that I didn't, unfortunately, didn't get to talk to many people ah while I was in lots and whatnot because just brass playing. Brass lots are so so regimented.
01:08:45
Speaker
but it was just, yeah, it's a really good feeling to know that, like, ah I'm someone, just me being the goofy guy I am or doing what I do can inspire so many people, no matter who it is, you know?
01:08:58
Speaker
Wow. I have a little bit of a theory on why people would say that about you being in Crown. Your situation is the same as in Phantom. You don't see a lot of brothers and sisters go to Phantom.
01:09:11
Speaker
I think a lot of it is from our culture. know They don't magnetize towards that style of music. Two, um I find that just being a band director, the people color, the music they listen to,
01:09:28
Speaker
influences how they play. And you're talking about like a Phantom or Crown is very regimented. you know Most of lot of the younger players, they listen to music that's a little bit more, a little bit more rhythmic.
01:09:41
Speaker
It's just not their thing. So it's very surprising, I guess, to some people when they see it.
01:09:49
Speaker
Over my course of the years, a lot of black students don't like that regiment. It takes them a while to understand that the regimen is good. It's OK. They feel constricted.
01:10:01
Speaker
It's a lot of little things. And if you've been a music program that your band director has not introduced you to the classics, you know, you just don't have a love for it. So that's just a small theory for me.
01:10:15
Speaker
Another one of those subjects you could just go off the deep end. Yeah, it's a big thing because especially even at Crown, I'm not sure how many groups do this, but we even go down to the detail of putting our pencils at the right angle at the right space on our towel. know what I'm saying? Not in our culture.
01:10:33
Speaker
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Not in our culture. And I don't mean that in a ah du a bad way for us. It's just our our families are not raised that way.
01:10:45
Speaker
We're raised more like, hey, just put it here because we got to survive. Yep. That's why I would think like with Ricardo marching the Cavaliers, it's more of a blend of the classical, but it's still kind of hip.
01:11:01
Speaker
So, oh, I could do that, but I can't do that crown thing. Even though they both play the Firebird Suite, they're two separately different Firebird Suites. Two different approaches.
01:11:12
Speaker
Two different approaches. Two different approaches. Mm-hmm. Yep. That's pretty smart, Woody, how you said that. i it's That's 100% accurate. Ayesha, what's your aha moment? Yeah, so I would say my aha moment is actually similar to Christian.
01:11:27
Speaker
um This is when i was marching Blue Devils. um And it was right, we just got done performing. And this Black mom, her Black daughter, came up to me.
01:11:38
Speaker
And they were like, oh, like we saw you on the field. And just want to give you $50 because you performed so beautiful. And um she loved performing and talking about her daughter. Honestly, like it literally...
01:11:51
Speaker
I don't how describe the feeling, but was just, I didn't, I kept saying like, thank you so much. It felt special because I'm like, this could be you, you know, it's like, don't ever like, don't ever doubt yourself or don't ever feel like you can't do anything because you don't look like the next person, you know, right next to you. But, um, it was just special. Cause it was like, I'm,
01:12:13
Speaker
I didn't know could make an impact on somebody like that. You know, just felt rewarding. And i do want to give a shout out because I know you guys were talking about the hair on tour. Bluecoats, I was struggling.
01:12:24
Speaker
Bluecoats, I was struggling. But with Blue Devils, I do want to shout out to them because... Our drum major, Jared, he did talk to them to just put in word for the Black people on the team to see we can get our hair done. So for, I think, two free days, they found a Black-owned salon, and then me and this girl, Lena, were able to get our hair done. So just want put that there. love that.
01:12:48
Speaker
Yes. I love that. And you know what, Ayesha? I'm going to say it again. If you see her, you can be her. So you you have inspired another young person that's probably going to want to be a Blue Devil.
01:13:00
Speaker
I would probably say her influence probably has more impact than horn people because out of the three sections, you see the least amount of Black women in our activity.
01:13:13
Speaker
So when you see it, especially in a Blue Devil situation, you're like, oh my goodness. Is she black? Yeah, I think she is. You know, it's an incredible thing.
01:13:24
Speaker
So I understand where you're coming from with your experience. jeff That's pretty cool.
Personal Challenges on Tour
01:13:29
Speaker
A lot of weight on your shoulders, sister. Speaking of like hair places, getting your dreadlocks retwisted is impossible.
01:13:38
Speaker
I don't know how people did it. I did not do it. Listen, when I was on tour, i by the time we got to the end of the summer, this summer, because this is the first year that I was on drum corps tour and had dreads, my dreads were so raggedy on the roots.
01:13:52
Speaker
It was bad. My hairdresser, my lactation looked at me and was like, why have you not been here in so long? And I was like, I was on tour. I can't just go get my dreads redone.
01:14:04
Speaker
But, you know, it's all good. Now that I don't have to be there all the time, I'm to make sure my dreads are fresh whenever y'all see me at shows. Yeah, Christian, we got you. Got a hand up. Josiah, I'll let you wrap up the aha portion of this. What's your aha moment?
01:14:20
Speaker
I guess, sorry, I have like so many of them throughout. I think a lot, but I'm going to go with the trend. I think like my aha moment in the band was like being able to recognize like the impact that you have gives you power to both like impact other people's lives but also prevents you from impacting them the negative way because i see that like a lot of ah the negative leaders that i've had in my life all share one thing in common and it's ah that they didn't recognize their impact and so i'm sorry i'm trying to say this without like naming names but and it's it's not your friend your friend is an amazing leader i'm talking about like high school
01:14:56
Speaker
But ah yeah, like in high school, I had a certain leader that are just was completely not aware of his high standing position and would walk around just cutting people like metaphorically, just cutting people like down the street and would talk to freshmen like freshmen and just new members and like You don't know that ah you don't know that we do things this way and this is how we do it. You're stupid because you can't let get this right.
01:15:23
Speaker
And it's like, no, literally. And then so like I've just seen that like throughout my years that like a lot of people who don't recognize their impact soon enough, like are the ones that are going to be out there hurting people because they don't realize that they carry such a weight.
01:15:36
Speaker
And I almost fell into that trap ah to not telling people they were stupid, but not recognizing my impact because I'm until the first couple games where like I'm just walking and you get you know you get so caught up in like the rehearsal mentality. like you have You've been doing this thing for so long and it's so repetitive and your brain is like trained. I'm a biology major, so this is happening. But your brain is like trained to like weed out stimuli that are like constantly happening.
01:16:02
Speaker
so like when you do something for so long, it just becomes natural to you. And then you forget to like other people. That is like mind blowing. Like I'm sure like to Omari, it's like what he like just does on a daily basis. But like to me, like crown horn line is like, oh, my gosh, like, dude, you get to say you're a part of that. Like, that's insane.
Impact of Leadership
01:16:21
Speaker
So like whenever we're walking to games and stuff like that, and then ah just see like my favorite thing is like just to see like the little kids go like, like, oh, my gosh, like, that is like the drum major of the million dollar, but like, and he's like standing next to, he's breathing the same air I'm And I'm like, and I love to just turn and be like, what's up? Like, you want to take a picture?
01:16:42
Speaker
Cause like to you, it's just, it's so simple. And then to them, it like literally takes the world power to change their course of their life. It's their world. ah You're just thinking, i don't know. i just did it. Well, you could do it.
01:16:55
Speaker
It really wasn't that much. Fantastic. I find it. hate that about about the way we approach it too. That's what I find that. Why do you just let everything just roll off your back? I don't know. I just don't seem that hard to make it.
01:17:09
Speaker
I know. So, but I have the same way, Rudy. I have like the same, like you know it's like, I don't want to be mean to people. My brand is love and light all the time. And like I want more people to be a part of this. I'm not going to turn them off by being mean to them or cutting them down. Now, corrections, if you're doing something wrong, that's one thing. But being a bad person, ain't nobody got time for that.
01:17:31
Speaker
Ain't nobody got time for that. All right, my friends. So I'm going to ask you one last question, and I want you to do this in one singular phrase, okay? Everybody gets the same thing, and think about it for a second. But this question is going to be, what is the best thing about the marching arts?
Love for Marching Arts
01:17:52
Speaker
In a singular phrase, the best thing. Christian,
01:17:58
Speaker
A paragraph, five to seven completely well-written sentences as I would do an assignment for my kids in class.
01:18:08
Speaker
Wow. That was profound. That was profound. And a single statement, Christian. You you nailed it. I love it. That's that a snare drum culture. but I said, that's that snare drum culture.
01:18:21
Speaker
You got to understand, it's like a guild. If you're not a snare drummer, you can't understand. You know what I mean, right?
01:18:31
Speaker
It's like being a rifle. You know i mean? a rifle and a saver to have their own culture. Yep, it's true. That was truly a snare drummer talking right there. Obari.
01:18:43
Speaker
Yep. What's the best thing about the marching arts? I don't know. Okay, here we go. I'm going to say depth, the depth of the activity, because there's so many levels to it.
01:18:57
Speaker
And people enjoy it at so many levels, no matter if it's like class 1A to class 6A to drum corps, like everyone has a love for it. And it's almost as competitive a love as it is for sports, you know, because people are like, oh, I marched. aless Let's say two people come together in like drum corps or something. like, I marched Avon and then I marched Hebra and something like that. And they're like oh, you marched there?
01:19:24
Speaker
it's like, oh, we saw you guys here. And it's just, you know, everyone has a deep love for the activity, whether you're in it, out of it, or just getting into it. but like even someone like my sister who was able to come with my mom last season and see what was about and she was like whoa wait this is like nothing like it is in Canada you know and obviously it's like there's a few things people just don't always have the resource to enjoy it but I feel like the people that enjoy are usually some of the better people in this world who tend to love everything in life and not take stuff for granted you know that's that's what I would say
01:20:02
Speaker
Ooh, agreed. Deep. That's deep. There's nothing wrong with competition, bro. Yep. And it's not. Ayesha, what is the best thing about marching arts?
01:20:15
Speaker
I would say the best thing about marching arts is meeting new people and creating special connections. I love meeting new people and just making new friends.
01:20:25
Speaker
No matter how long you've been doing the program, you'll always find a new person to connect with every different season. And I think it's beautiful. I think it's amazing. And I definitely try to cherish that now that I'm more older.
01:20:37
Speaker
And I'm getting to that age where I'm like, I might have to stop soon. like I try to cherish those those moments even more. But, and yeah, and just getting like, being able to experience new opportunities, even being on this podcast, like this is an amazing experience, something new.
01:20:52
Speaker
fantastic. Thank you. Josiah, you get to wrap it up. for What is the best thing about being in the marching arts? I am not going to lie. Everybody in order stole all of my answers, but I came up with a new one.
01:21:10
Speaker
What was it? I would say the, it's going to still sound like i'm copying Ayesha, but it's, it would be the memories that I've, I've created. Cause you spend all this time, hours each week, just working to perfect at the end of the day, like this eight or for us, like sometimes the six minute show.
01:21:29
Speaker
And like, sometimes that can be like arduous and like, it can just be so draining. And like, the only thing that keeps you going is like the memories and the laughs that you have with the people that you love doing what you love.
01:21:41
Speaker
And I will tell you as someone who has been doing this for a very long time and has been away from it for a long time, those are the things that you will cherish, those memories of those moments of working an eight count phrase or ah section of whatever are gonna stick with you forever.
01:22:02
Speaker
Okay, everyone, let's get back out onto the floor so the guest clinicians can get into sectionals. Here we go.
Marching by Montez Services
01:22:22
Speaker
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01:22:43
Speaker
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01:22:56
Speaker
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01:23:09
Speaker
Visit us at marchingbymontez.com, contact us at joey at marchingbymontez.com, and check us out on social media at Marching by Montez.
01:23:34
Speaker
Okay, everyone, we are getting back out onto the floor. We're to start a new segment called 60 Second Tech Block.
Tech Session Segment
01:23:45
Speaker
Each week, one of our hosts or guest clinicians will be forced to give a 60-second text session with the section needing it the most after the last run.
01:23:53
Speaker
So basically, our special tech this week has to choose three topics that they think they can give a 60-second nonstop speech about and maybe help some people out there. This week, we are bringing in Woody to do some old-school teaching.
01:24:09
Speaker
right, Woody, you said that your best topics were, one, the importance of eight on a hand for warm-up, two, marching band and color guard coordination with the music team, or three, why do kids choose groups to march with based on footwear? All right, panel, my wonderful guest clinicians tonight, what do you think we should have Woody talk about tonight?
01:24:34
Speaker
As a drummer, that that eight on a hand sound kind of I'm not going to lie. I feel like I need to hear when you talk about footwear. like i mean the That's just something I need to hear.
01:24:47
Speaker
oh Okay. I'm torn right now between footwear and I really want to hear about the marching band coordination with the music team. So Woody, I'm going to throw you a curve ball right now.
01:25:01
Speaker
And I'm going to ask you, why do kids choose groups to march with based on their footwear? Okay. So we're going to give you 60 seconds. Josiah, you got your phone ready?
01:25:15
Speaker
Josiah is our drum major in charge of time right now. Woody, you're going to get 60 seconds on the clock. Josiah is going to time you. And you are going to tell us, why do kids choose groups to march based on their footwear in the winter season? sixty 60 seconds, head clock.
01:25:41
Speaker
So here's a question for you. Like, you know, I had this terrible experience. We brought just the standard, you know, marching shoe. And the kids in this particular group freaked out.
01:25:53
Speaker
This was about 10 years ago. So now I'm buying some shoes from my high school and I'm actually stressing over the shoes. I want to know why is the damn shoe that important?
01:26:06
Speaker
Like, what why does it have to be a Puma? Or why does it have to be the soccer Adidas? You know what? You don't care about it outside. Why it makes so much difference?
01:26:17
Speaker
I'm trying to save costs for everyone. You're already paying like $5,000 march in a winter program. And now you want a pair of $150 shoes because you don't care. The shoe is more important than anything.
01:26:31
Speaker
No, no, no, no, no. Take the shoes off. March barefooted. don't care. One. one That's it. I'm done. Oh, Woody.
01:26:47
Speaker
Oh, my goodness. I am dying right now. Okay. So, listen. As someone who is very fashion forward, I think I can did identify with these kids that, like, i'm going to pick the group that's going to match their footwear best to fit the theme of the show.
01:27:04
Speaker
I mean, that's kind of important. My footwear's got to be righteous in my street clothes.
01:27:12
Speaker
That don't translate over into the marching world, too? No, as long as my uniform is clean and looks good. No one's looking at my feet unless you're a visual guy. I'm looking for the entertainment.
01:27:24
Speaker
Plus, again, I'm a snare drummer. Our feet are not the thing. Our hands and our upper body isn't. So, like, who cares about my feet? Okay, I come from Color Guard World, so he we're barefoot anyway, so doesn't matter. But I will say this.
01:27:38
Speaker
On the marching band field, I am one that does coordinate footwear to what the theme of the show is. So if I can get away with buying some sort of athletic shoe that's cool, that fits the uniform, I'm going do it.
01:27:53
Speaker
I'm going to do it. I'm an old guy. I got to keep up with the times. I'm in. but Just a rant. My bad. Well, with that, I think this is a perfect time to talk about what are we doing?
01:28:07
Speaker
What are we doing?
01:28:16
Speaker
What are we doing? Those beats sound kind of fresh, don't they? I know. I know. to get they They are fresh beats, yeah. Woody, you know what? Since you did such a great job on the 60-second Tech Block, I am going to get you to start us off with what are we doing tonight.
Advice for Writing Drum Programs
01:28:31
Speaker
Man, I feel like Stephen A. Smith on here today. OK. but What are we doing? You know, with our drum programs, our younger instructors are not understanding the sheets. They're writing stuff to keep up with the world teams.
01:28:45
Speaker
Stupid!
01:28:48
Speaker
I'm quite sure you see the same thing in color guard.
01:28:53
Speaker
Clearly, the regional A sheet is very specific. Just do the basics well. But no. No, no, no. We can't go that route.
01:29:04
Speaker
And I won't lie, I caught myself. I was in a video meeting, and Giff Howard was talking. And I'm thinking about, after he finished talking, I cut off the you know cut off the camera, and I'm thinking, what am I doing?
01:29:22
Speaker
ah And I went back. I'm like, well, this is out. That's out. This is out. They just go out to cry because we're regional A drum line.
01:29:32
Speaker
There was just no need for the stuff we were doing. I was just writing for myself, basically. It was like personal art. No, no more. ah I'm back.
01:29:44
Speaker
Listen, the same thing does happen in the color guard world. I am constantly having to tell these young instructors, like, listen, you just came from marching your world-class color guard. Do not get out here and try to run with all these crazy tricks and all this stuff. Yo, Regional A color guard does not need to do that. You do not need to do that.
01:30:01
Speaker
Basic skills is what it says, okay? If you can't stand up and spin on a block together, do not try to do double turnarounds. It's not to happen for you, sweetie. That's not your ministry. Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank.
01:30:14
Speaker
Clank, clank, clank, exactly. Clank, clank, clank with the flag holes. Ayesha, what are we doing?
Social Media's Impact
01:30:22
Speaker
Okay. And it could be anything that like bothers me.
01:30:26
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. um I was... I don't like, okay, I know this activity is competitive, but I do not like to see other people commenting on, like, organization, social media platforms, like, negative stuff. I, like, actually do not, I don't like that.
01:30:45
Speaker
Like, I don't, we all work hard. They're not judging themselves. Like, blame the judges. Don't take it out on other like performers. I don't know, just still give credit, still support one another. We're all doing the same thing.
01:30:59
Speaker
honestly makes me annoyed. It does. It does. Listen, preach, preach, preach. If you got nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all. Like, why do you need to go on somebody's page and say something or post or whatever? Like, we are all working hard. And you know what? Here's the thing.
01:31:15
Speaker
This is the fact about it, is that the people that are commenting are people that cannot do the thing. Exactly. Yes. The anybody that's in the activity that understands this, they are not going to be commenting on something in a negative way. They're going to appreciate when you do something well.
01:31:35
Speaker
And if you do something bad, they're going to shut their mouth because you know what? That's bad juju. So. yes And can I add one more thing? Add it. Add it. Okay.
01:31:46
Speaker
And I also don't like other groups having like animosity towards others because maybe another group's getting way more recognition than the other one. Like I said, we should just support each other, but support and love do your thing and do your thing. Well, yes.
01:32:00
Speaker
Omari, what are we doing? I'm going to move on to a different topic. Cause that got me. I'm very competitive and I let scores affect my mood. i'm I'm trying to work on it. I very much am trying to work on it, but I let it affect my
Subjectivity in Scoring
01:32:12
Speaker
mood.
01:32:12
Speaker
And, I don't think there's anyone in this world that can listen to a horn line one day and listen to a horn line the next day and say that they're 0.1 apart from the day that they were. There's no one in this world that can do that.
01:32:24
Speaker
And I really don't think that... Brass judges, especially one person, can sample something from one side of the field and get everything that they need to about that group.
01:32:36
Speaker
And what I mean by that, specifically last year, we had ah tuba feature that was probably one of the most ridiculous things I've ever played in my life. And in a good way, though, because it was really hard, but it got down.
01:32:48
Speaker
And in all the brass tapes throughout the whole season, not one stood in front of us. But we were still going up, down, left, right in them scores. No matter how clean the tuba feature was, no matter how bad it was.
01:33:01
Speaker
And just that system, sometimes it turns gears in my brain that are really, you know, it gets me really upset sometimes. But at the end of the day, it's the best for the activity. But I think if you're going to really make changes, make it a few days after. Make it, you know, not between shows, maybe two or three shows.
01:33:20
Speaker
Because things don't happen that quickly, you know? It's all in the moment, bro. Yeah. Nothing more, nothing less. When you have great programs like you're part of and your attempts to so apart, it's just a, who'd I like better that night?
01:33:37
Speaker
Nothing more, nothing less. Don't take it personal. Yep. Do not take it personal. try. I really try. Josiah, what are we doing?
Critique of College Band Performances
01:33:46
Speaker
Okay, I don't have like personal ties to DCI, so mine goes out to the college bands.
01:33:51
Speaker
And I'm not like adding anybody. I could. But what are we doing playing popular music and sounding bad doing it? like I understand. There isn't a... Oh, I'm so sorry. this is Oh, this sounds so arrogant.
01:34:03
Speaker
But it's arrogant because like, actually, because like, why are you going to do something if you're going to do it bad? Why do anything else' going to do it bad? like That has never made sense to me that we go to these away games or like we have these college bands come and perform in front of us and we're like,
01:34:19
Speaker
you know like We hold ourselves to a standard. I'm not out here saying we're like the best in the nation. I would argue we're one of, but like it's because we put in the effort into the basics, as Monsieur Woody was saying earlier. like We don't just leave the basics behind and let's go play Fiend or whatever. It's the popular song out there at the time.
01:34:36
Speaker
You know, like we actually put in effort. So what are we doing, like trying to be popular and trying to be trendy and do it like sounding bad while doing it? Like anyway. but My college band director, who is also your college band director's band director, had a phrase that he used with us all the time. He said that is not meant for public consumption.
01:34:56
Speaker
And if it was not meant for public consumption, it was not going to be played that day, period. No matter how long we worked on it, no matter what it was supposed to be, if it was a traditional something, whatever, if it is not meant for public consumption, do not put it out into the public.
01:35:13
Speaker
Okay? I'm about to steal that phrase. Thank you. Oh, thank you, Ricardo. You're welcome. i owe that to mr gary wane Dr. Gary Wayne Adam. ah That is his phrase. We're going to let him coin it.
01:35:24
Speaker
Christian, what are we doing? Okay, it's crazy because literally in my notes, I had overriding and I had keyboard warriors and both both have been in something.
Importance of On-Field Judges
01:35:35
Speaker
But one thing that I just thought of, what are we doing not allowing perk judges on the field?
01:35:41
Speaker
Right? Like, There are so many, like, you can only get so much of a read standing on the front sideline. There are so many moments you end up missing, like the battery playing something in a different part of the field. I think it's it's good for a front ensemble, right, because the judges are standing in the front, and they're going to sample a lot of that.
01:36:01
Speaker
But I feel like, you know, like they know what they're doing. Obviously, there are some safety concerns, and maybe, you know, when you're watching it from the audience's perspective, they're like, that weird you know what's that weird green dot in the form like I get it but at the same time there is that like competitive aspect where you can't get the full sample size of what's going on in the writing from just standing on the front sideline may I speak on that yeah Yeah, please do.
01:36:28
Speaker
There is one example that happened. That was the Blue Knights 2023 bass feature. They done had like pressure changing basses that changed the tones of the basses. How are you supposed to judge that from the stands or from the front sideline? and They were back on that prop. don't know.
01:36:44
Speaker
That is something that I posted crazy about on my social media because I was like, you know, they were proposing all these rules and I was like, why are we removing people from The field. The field is where stuff happens. The staff clean from the field.
01:36:57
Speaker
You know?
Judges' Field Experiences
01:36:58
Speaker
Listen, going to play devil's advocate because I marched back in the day when the judges were on the field. And it was like father back in those times.
01:37:08
Speaker
but Because as color guard people, we were always trying to take out a judge if we could. Take him out. Take him out. and And our visual design was nowhere near as complicated as visual design is today, but I totally get it. I totally get being able to be up close and personal to see what's happening.
01:37:25
Speaker
But it's it's a dangerous game, y'all. If we're going to keep doing the visuals the way that we do them in 2025, judges, it's harder for them to get in and out safely. So you guys missed that whole era of when you would see a judge get trapped inside a form and he's just running for his life.
01:37:44
Speaker
You can thank the cadets for that. Yeah, it is the cadets' fault. Does anyone have like a video of that or an example? Oh, I'm sure. that's brought it like in it That's before everyone had camera phones and were constantly recording everything. So unfortunately, these are things that are lost to history. And for those of us who are ancient artifacts from the past time, we're the only ones that can tell you about those stories and you have to relive it through our memories.
01:38:12
Speaker
All
Outro and Social Media Interaction
01:38:13
Speaker
right, everybody. Thanks for a great rehearsal this week. And what a great way to celebrate Black History Month. Thank you to our guest clinicians this week. And good luck with your seasons.
01:38:24
Speaker
Hey, everybody, tell us where to find you on socials. Ayesha, what's your socials handle? Yeah, so my Instagram is AyeshaLay with the underscore. Love it.
01:38:35
Speaker
Omari, what about you? My Instagram is Omari M. Holaki. Ugh. Josiah? Okay, so I'm trending. So the only social media have is Facebook.
01:38:47
Speaker
So you can like look up my name, I guess. But like, you could also find, you could add the MDV drum majors on Instagram, I think. I think that's the one. I'm going to go follow that page today.
01:38:58
Speaker
And Christian, what about you? You can find me on Instagram at ChrisXDrums, C-H-R-I-S-X-D-R-U-M-S.
01:39:10
Speaker
I love it. Thank you so much, my friends. Hey, got a question or a good topic to talk about? Email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
01:39:23
Speaker
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01:39:40
Speaker
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01:39:58
Speaker
Follow us on social media at On A Water Break, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal on A Water Break. Now go practice.
01:40:09
Speaker
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. And until next time, thanks for tuning