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The One About College Band
157 Plays1 month ago
Join Nicole and the rest of the hosts as the dive into college band and homecoming. News, Water we doing and so much more!
Dive into the "Water We Doing" segment, where the hosts engage in thought-provoking discussions and provide insightful commentary on the various experiences and challenges faced by marching arts professionals and participants.
Celebrate the triumphs and achievements of the marching arts community during the "Gush and Go" segment, where the hosts enthusiastically share their excitement and pride in the remarkable accomplishments of their students, staff, and programs.
#MarchingArtsPodcast #MarchingBandPodcast #ColorGuardPodcast #PercussionPodcast #MarchingArtsEducation #MarchingArtsCommunity #NorthCarolinaState #WakeForest #MorganState
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Meet our Hosts
Jackie Brown - @spintronixguard
Stephen McCarrick - @stephenmccarick
Cindy Barry - @leandermomma
Nicole Younger - @o2bnpjs & @thecookoutcg
Trevor Bailey - @t_pain151
Trish O’Shea - @trishdish1002
Beth Beccone - @bether7189
Chris Rutt - @wildhornbrass1
Cynthia Bernard - @cynthiabern
Ashlee Amos - @famousamossss_
Theo Harrison - @harrisontheo07
Stephanie Click - @stephanieclick
Whitney Stone - @dancerwhit
Justin Surface - @J_dex07
Ashley Tran - @itsashleytran
Jack Goudreau - @goudreau_
Bill Woodward - @remoking100
Emily Nee - @tch.makes.art
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall - @ricardorrobinson
Austin Hall - @Austin_hall10
Jose Montes - @joeymontes57
Bobbey Biddle - @bobbeyboy107
Peyton Billhart - @peytonbrillhart
Music provided by leydamusic.com Follow him @josh.leyda
Avatars provided by @tch.makes.art
Keywords: Marching arts podcast, Marching band podcast, Color guard podcast, Percussion podcast, Marching arts education, Marching arts community, drum major, flourish, tatu
Thank you also to @guardcloset
#marchingband #colorguard #dci #podcast #onawaterbreak #wgi #drumline
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Transcript
Introduction and Humorous Quotes
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi, everyone. We're here with another week of exciting rehearsals. This week, we're talking college band. Also, we'll find out what made Ashley say, ah the world you come out and like, okay, here's your little baby, Tom. And white Trevor said, what made Trevor say, I hit snowflied. All this in the war. So get back out on the field and we'll see you back on the sidelines for this week's episode of on a water break.
Season 2 Welcome and Rehearsal Discussions
00:00:32
Speaker
Ate off the men and go. Welcome to on a water
00:00:49
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of season two on a water break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at reversal on a water break. I'm Nicole Younger.
High School Band Updates
00:01:00
Speaker
There have been lots of things that have been happening in the high school band world with VOA regionals and state championships happening all over the country.
College Bands and Alumni Events
00:01:08
Speaker
Well, one other thing that's going on is college band and its homecomings.
00:01:14
Speaker
ah With us this week, we have a great panel to discuss what College Band is like and more specifically, what comes with Homecoming and things like Alumni Marching Band. Let's see what we have on the sidelines this week. Ashley, hey, girl. Hey, how's it going? What? So hopefully you'll be here for the full rehearsal this time. Yeah?
00:01:36
Speaker
My battery.
00:01:40
Speaker
I'm so tired of this not working, my Wi-Fi and my computer. We're tech we're not tech people. It's totally fine. We do have a tech person. Somehow I'm the backup IT person at at work. Not sure how I came to be that, but... Maybe you just don't have a lot of tech network. I don't know. I'm actually not that bad everywhere else. It's just it's just right here. I don't know.
00:02:07
Speaker
Oh, goodness. Every outfit, Trevor. Trevor, I haven't seen you in a while, man. How's it going?
Trevor's New Job and Marching Band Contest
00:02:12
Speaker
Oh, man. As my grandmother tells me all the time, it's been a month to Sunday since I've been here. yes But I am so excited to be back here on the water brings, especially when I found out they were talking about college bands. Are you kidding me? I could not miss out on the opportunity. We're going to talk about homecomings later on. Yeah. that's Tell me what's going going on in your college band life.
00:02:34
Speaker
Oh my gosh, it is nonstop. I'm having the time of my life here at the new job here at Northwestern State University in beautiful Natchitoches, Louisiana. There's way too much seafood here. I'm back home and I forgot how much seafood exists in Louisiana, but ah it it is great times. We are doing things like hosting and a marching band contest event featuring 22 local high schools that are coming up next Saturday.
00:03:00
Speaker
Yesterday, we actually wrapped up our Homecoming Week activities. So I'll have a lot to talk about there. And then also we're getting ready to do preparations for our Christmas parade. So the fun never stops in College Marching Band. I'm sure all these things I'm talking about and we'll discuss further or going to be very familiar to my College Band or at their friends. So it's great to be here.
00:03:23
Speaker
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, it's good to see you back, and it's good to host a show with you. I haven't seen you in a while. And then the infamous, oh my goodness, we are not worthy. Jeremy, how are you doing? Oh, today, just doing the bridal stuff. And you're going to clean me to any trouble. I saw. I mean, we're going to talk about this later. You know what? yeah I'm just going to listen to this later. How are you doing?
00:03:47
Speaker
so right i I'm good. I did just do Homecoming yesterday with Westchester University's marching band. See, I am the incomparable alumni band here. It was like crazy. um It was the 55th anniversary of Color Guard.
00:04:04
Speaker
ah Westchester University. So, we had a big color guard. I mean, they already have a big color guard, ah but we, i I don't even know. There was like 40 or 50 of us, I think, in the alumni side of it. Like, just... So, father there are 55. 55. There are 55 alumni and 46, like, marching members.
00:04:25
Speaker
Yes, I will say there were a couple of members of the alumni band that didn't actually make it to the performance part because of tailgating got a little too involved.
00:04:36
Speaker
but um With we also had to bonus people who were on the field who were not spinning but inside of their mommy's bellies. So that was also sort of interesting. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's really, really, really nice. I mean, we live and then we had somebody from every decade. as Um, and like that was super cool. We came in on Friday, learned, you know, the, the show, the freaking show that we had to learn. Um, and then, and then performed it on Saturday. Like it was, it was great. And I kind of went into it trying to just be a member, like just do that part of it and not really like, you know, try and produce it or try it, you know, say we should do this and we should do that. I was like, I'm just going to be a member and enjoy the
00:05:27
Speaker
so That's what I did. And that was a great, great, great time. If you don't do college band, which everybody now we're going to talk about should. if you did college band, go back and do homecoming, especially on like a big year, like anniversary, like, you know, all the drum corps do it and stuff like that. Like I'm in it and I told them we're coming back for the 60th anniversary. That's going to be big, you know, big to do. And so that's the goal of the next five years is to grow the alumni color guard band at Westchester into something just massive. And it can very easily happen. So I'm excited to like talk about it too.
00:06:04
Speaker
It was really cool to watch. Yeah, but we'll get into that too a little later. So awesome. Well, you know what? Now that I've talked to you about what's going on, we're going to talk about what's going on in the news.
00:06:34
Speaker
All right. So I think this is Trevor. Yeah. You've got the first one. Tell us what's going on.
Controversial High School Band Shows
00:06:40
Speaker
Yeah. So we had Mr. Jonathan Lang recently write an article and really just ask a very important program question in regards to our high school band and in regards to show design and what is, you know, and but allowed or what should we allow our students to do?
00:06:59
Speaker
He said in the title of the article is called in any of those question, Kelly Walsh's Bloody Marching Band Routine. but Kelly Walsh High School is located in Casper, Wyoming. That school has been a prominent school for the the marching lots in the state of Wyoming for decades. There's a really great tradition of of high school marching bands there in that state. Great support among the community.
00:07:25
Speaker
The director is well known and well respected in the region and in his own personal school. And we just wanted to talk about the show they decided to perform. It's a show based on more satanic worshiping uplifting of spirits Kind of the the performers simulating that rising from above and there was color guard would you know fake?
00:07:56
Speaker
blood on their face and and the spirits are rising, it was very a very, very demonic story. And we want to we want to talk about, was that an appropriate thing for um but the director, for the staff to allow the students to do do we all had do? Does anyone have any strong opinions initially about these type of shows, just generally speaking?
00:08:23
Speaker
i think we all have very strong opinion so i of you really want to be honest that i know trevor iss like setting us up for this conversation because obviously he knows we have really strong opinions there's a group chat these hot water oh so and that chat will go off when we see shows like and put out on social media at one time on TikTok, I asked this question about these types of shows. And I kind of got a lot of pushback. But I also think the pushback that I was getting was from younger instructors and performers. And the younger instructors and performers seem to think that it's a good idea. And
00:09:03
Speaker
My statement about these types of shows is always, isn't there something else that we could be doing with the high school students? Like, you know, Vox Atrium did Bloody Mary, Independent World, and there was blood everywhere, and that was insane, and that was amazing, and that's what's inspirational, right? But that doesn't mean that world-class color guard should translate into a high school marching band, any type of way.
00:09:31
Speaker
Like it's just like you can't like you're not going to take a Broadway theater production of, you know, whatever it is and like whittle it down to a high school level and think that it's going to still translate the same. It it just doesn't. It just doesn't translate the same.
00:09:49
Speaker
I agree with your comment that it doesn't translate this the same, but I think as you know world-class color guards or drum corps really kind of take the chance to perform more risque shows like the ones that we're talking about right now, I think maybe yeah directors of smaller groups, they see the reaction, students see the reactions to those productions and see how well it it was accepted.
00:10:16
Speaker
And they want to try to do their own version of that. So those I think those older groups or maybe are um um with those maybe higher level designers, I think they should think about that because I think they have a responsibility to the art form because this is I think this is art form allows students both young and old to express themselves and a in a visual way, in a musical way, right?
00:10:42
Speaker
And I think that that should be kind of taken into effect maybe when these more advanced ensembles are creating these shows because other people are watching them, especially younger high schools, maybe younger band directors, younger color guard instructors, and they may want to mimic that because they want that applause. They want that acceptance from their audience. So I think that's something we they that that should be considered when designing these shows as well.
00:11:09
Speaker
but Absolutely. I'm going to chime in real quick with this because ah appropriate shows as far as that one and there was another one that actually happened.
00:11:21
Speaker
I can't remember the band's name, but it's at a show that I saw. Of course, I'm judging what is on the field. I didn't feel it was appropriate for me to actually say, do you think this is appropriation? But I did hear later on, actually yesterday, that they changed that.
00:11:41
Speaker
So, and it was at the benefit of the show that they did. And it, you know, ended up being a lot better. I think it comes from what you know, to be for real honest. Like if, and i I don't want to say common sense, because that's not, that's not it. But I think it comes from what you know, and what you're expecting out of your but out of your performers and out of your musicians before you put something like that and before them and to, you know, present it to basically the world because it's your, it's your you know, marching band circuit. And it's gonna live forever and everywhere and it's gonna be recorded and it's gonna be seen and I don't know, I just don't feel like we as marching band people
00:12:26
Speaker
We went to school for music or for you know anything. we did Most people do not have a trauma specialist on their marching band staff. And I think that's where it goes weird for me, is like you're dealing with ah adult ideas and themes with not adults. Drum corps. We've never experienced even that kind of trauma, so they can't even relate to it even.
00:12:54
Speaker
Well, what what the the the plot of the show, it says um um Jonathan in his article says the plot was simple enough. you know And he talked about how it was well performed by the members, by the way, like 10 out of 10. They did their job but because we're talking about it. And people are talking about it. If it was poorly performed, people are like, oh, what is this about? like We don't really know. The students nailed the performance, apparently.
00:13:18
Speaker
So he says the block was simple enough. A primitive people moves from the irrational and the emotive worship of an eclipse to giving up of its own body to human bloody sacrifice. Like, and he goes on to ask, was it a glorification of human sacrifice and pagan religion?
00:13:38
Speaker
or was it meant to paint religious people as baby basically whose religious favor inevitably leads to murder? And then he says, does a state-run school have any business promoting either message? So that's that's another thing. And then you and he needs talks about in the art of golf. What were the supervisors? What was the superintendent? What was the administrative arts person? What was the principle that they step in? I can say I've never been a high school band director. I have high school band director friends, college band directors, whatever. And they're almost never involved in our show design process. And I would like to. That's a really silly question.
00:14:25
Speaker
let but That's never a conversation, at least where where I'm from. Me neither. Me neither. Never. It need to. So the fact that you have to ask the question, why were they involved, should immediately tell you, wasn't the right show. Like, if there's like... There's a suspicious thing to do it. You don't have to do those things. There's so many other things you could do. I mean,
00:14:55
Speaker
Again, I'm not trying to like paint little high schoolers as like fragile little you know eggshell people that are gonna get broken at any single second, but do we have to do a sacrifice show? Do we have to do that? Or is there other yeah things that we could explore and and and get a performance out of our space? You're right. you're right and and ah And a part of it is the activity and the arts have the people who have touched the third rail of the arts. You know, there's a reason why, it' that in regards to politics, it's called the third rail. You know, you're talking about your different issues, your political issues, and that the taboo that's not supposed to happen, and people stay away from them.
00:15:39
Speaker
But that's also where the power is. that's sort that The third rail is where the power is. is work what When things happen, people talk about it. So if we go if we go to the edge as designers and want our performers to go there, or they're pushing us, like our performers are like saying, we want to do something different than the 80s Rod Show.
00:15:59
Speaker
Mr Bailey or a show about clowns or whatever we want to be we want to be more risky we want people to talk about us like what do you do as an instructor to to you know to to have that conversation and to maybe give them a little bit more ownership of their program is this the the direction that we're going Right? I feel like we we know the outside of it. We don't know the inside of it unless that article does go into it because maybe they did sit those kids down and say, listen, this is what we're doing. This is completely artistic value sake. You know? And I don't know why I went over in that area. Like, you know what I mean? Some of the stuff is regional. So I don't know how that went over in that area.
00:16:44
Speaker
And I would even say like something like a sacrifice show, like while I don't think it's the best choice, there's, it just brings up a bigger topic of action, like kind of really bad shows to choose from, like any sort of trauma. Like I don't think we should be doing shows about suicide. I don't think we should be doing shows about um abuse in any kind of way, right? Like those things just aren't necessary. And I don't, I'm i'm a,
00:17:13
Speaker
positive person in in a lot of ways, and I just think the marching
Director Responsibilities and Student Impact
00:17:17
Speaker
band, when you go there, should be joyous and happy, and the kids shouldn't spend hours going into trauma and coming out of trauma. I think Ricardo was talking about this on one of the previous episodes, about when he chose a show, you know and he's like, I'm a theater director, so I understand how to bring my students into that world, but then I'm bringing my students into that world two and three times a week at rehearsal, and then getting them out of it is like,
00:17:43
Speaker
Hard on me as the instructor, right? So like you as the person teaching also have to realize You're going to go through this crazy You've got to get yourself built up to that trauma place and now you've got to put on your students so they can do it That's a lot. That's a lot watch a really good point. Yeah. Yeah do I mean, it's like they're they have to put themselves into like a depression or like into a certain emotion multiple times a week. That's trauma itself. You want me to put yourself through that. So talk about like performing with authenticity, like that's what we want them to do.
00:18:22
Speaker
Oh, yeah. work Well, I guess do we have any opinions? I guess I have one and I'll share it just generally. I mean, because we could do it in concert band pieces because no one no one seems to be upset when, you know, like a composer writes a piece about, you know, suicide or loss of a loved one or someone that's heard or, you know, whatever thing can invoke, you know, a lot of emotion. Right. Or school shootings or whatever. Like those are very pieces that kind of stick with you. You remember or those winter guard shows that stick with you. You remember.
00:18:53
Speaker
What is an appropriate age to allow a student to go into that space? What if other schools around the country more dramatic? you know, ah schools with more access, teachers who have taught students that, who students may want to go out into that field and be artists and be, you know, emotional dancers or emotional theater people or emotional musicians, and they're able to put that switch on and off. And if we don't give them that opportunity at whatever age, and they want to do this later on in life or in college,
00:19:27
Speaker
are they going to be at a disadvantage because they want granted that opportunity maybe at a younger age to develop those skills, to be able to learn how to perform at these different levels, performing awards that maybe more we may consider more risque, but here we are. I agree. Well, in saying when and going in what you're saying, Trevor, you think it's a skill set thing.
00:19:50
Speaker
because a lot of times when the skill set is higher, the kids are a little bit more mature when it comes to something. If I'm just teaching a kid how to do drop spins tomorrow today, I'm not going to be like, so here's our show and here's everything that goes in with it, but don't forget your skill. You know what I mean? I'm i'm only going to Personally, I'm only going to put heavier subject matter on top of a performer that can handle it. Understood. Right. Right. Look, again, like, it's regional. I think there's something to be said about it, like you're saying, Trevor, exploring those things at those ages. But like you said, concert band, they're doing it in concert band. How many times are you performing that piece outside of rehearsal in front of an audience to where you have to really perform it? what's right like you're not going into this all this trauma so you want to do like a one act color guard show about trauma that's a one minute and 30 second piece that you're going to perform on stage at your spring talent show because that's what you want to explore do that I don't think we need to take the high school students especially you know
00:21:04
Speaker
the 90% of the population in the world that's listening to this, into those spaces. If you're at WGI and you're top BOA, you're at a staff and you're functioning at a high level, you probably do have somebody on staff that can work through the trauma. But if you're like a local state school that's going to state championships and that's kind of what you're doing, I just don't think you need to do anything. That's just me.
00:21:31
Speaker
No, like I got you. But I think we can all agree in the earlier point that the administrative principles supervise us. We do not necessarily want their hands like in our kitchen. We're talking about creating. That's what's going to happen.
00:21:46
Speaker
because we don't see we don't see them or I can hear about the principal saying hey we hey football because we gotta run that ball more we should run this play more or how can we took too many threes in in the basket in the basketball game state championship we ran the play that was called because we entrusted the coach who was a professional to to give out the information you know and it's based off an execution of said plays now the show was designed And that it sounds like those kids executed it. Now, you can have a preference on like whether you like it or not, or what you thought was appropriate or not. But the effectiveness of it was incredibly high because we're sitting here talking about how, you know, Mr. Rose and their students you know put that out there and we have people talking. So I just want to kind of if we're going to wrap up here, Jeremy, on this. Bravo to those students for being amazing artists and performers, for going out and and completing the assignment that they had to complete.
00:22:39
Speaker
I'm sure it wasn't an easy job to do, like it never really is. But maybe with this topic, maybe it was a little bit more challenging, I would bet. But it seemed like they persevered through it and found the resolve to really give out a stellar performance. So I would like to say bravo to those students at Kelly Wash, most remarkable brother.
UIL Eligibility and Performance Rules
00:22:58
Speaker
It was a great discussion. I think I love having discussions like this. I think I appreciate them often.
00:23:04
Speaker
Awesome. Well, I'm going to take it to like, cause we're doing different states here with our news. I love it. We're going to take it to text. Okay. So ah you're all aware of exactly. like You're all aware of the UIL. l you know, how that works out. And down in Texas, everything is governed by UIL. It's about your grades. So there is a, there's a school, a marching band, a flower bluff. And I want to say Corpus Christi. And if I find a difference, I will make sure that I say something about that. But a band has to forfeit their area contest after UIL evaluation. So I just have to tell you, first you go to region or is it area then region?
00:23:49
Speaker
Well, there's area, region, and then state. You have to advance to the next one to keep going. Basically, with UIL, l ah every three weeks they check on your grades, okay? And they don't really check on them. It's just that you know if you are within the parameters of being eligible and having passing grades, then you can do what you have to do. However, it's the whole ah ah no pass, no play policies of students who don't receive a grade of 70 or below in any class in order to represent their school or compete in any UIL competition. If they don't meet that, they're ineligible. So they can still practice, they can rehearse, but they don't have the opportunity to actually perform.
00:24:39
Speaker
so What happened at Pine Bluff is that Pine Bluff went on, they performed and they actually they performed at region competition that was hosted on Saturday at Gregory Portland High School. um and Their show was called Harmony Unbound, scoring high enough to qualify them for area. so Obviously, it goes area region sorry region area and to the next level of competition.
00:25:05
Speaker
So what happened is the superintendent, Chris Steinbruch, announced in the news Thursday after the district staff was made aware of the UIL's um eligibility policy standards, they were violated by this performance because there was a kid that was ineligible and they performed. So what happens after that is that they just forfeit the right to move on. So that was basically the end of their season.
00:25:33
Speaker
So and I just want to know if you'll have any thoughts about this. I mean, I know that it's a great idea and everything. um And I guess I'm a little like.
00:25:44
Speaker
Because it's one of those things and when I was teaching in Texas, like I was on kids. On kids, on kids, on kids. Because I knew that, like especially now, by the end of the season, like you have three weeks to get those grades up. Even though you're rehearsing with the band and everything, like by the time your grades could be eligible, that's literally the show day. And then there could be ah there could be that instance that your grades don't come up.
00:26:14
Speaker
So then you have a whole big bowl. I would say this, and this is the Northeast boy coming out of me, having not taught in Texas or been able to make, I do make a full-time living at Color Guard now, but having to cobble it together, if you're in Texas and you have this many staff members that are paid to be there full-time,
00:26:38
Speaker
yours You should know what your students, I mean, I feel like that would be something that like would be my job on like Monday morning or Tuesday morning or Thursday, you know, like I'm going that stuff and going, do I am might have all my kids this weekend to be able to perform this? Like, have they done their due diligence to make sure because I need to do it that way. That feels like it's my responsibility.
00:27:01
Speaker
Um, as a full-time employee, if I'm a part-timer, you know what I mean? Like I'm not dipping in the aids or stuff, but like they're full-time employees. Like they give grades. Like I assume that that's stuff that they have, you know, can get, get a hold of or whatever. So like, I don't know. I mean, those are the rules. And if you're going to play by them, you live and die by them dollars. So, you know, that is what it is. But like, I don't know.
00:27:24
Speaker
Well, my biggest thing about all of this is like, bad grades are not a surprise. It's not unexpected. So if you know that if you if you know the kid, if you know that you're traveling down a path,
00:27:39
Speaker
That is not a good grade. Me as a teacher, looking at your grades, I know that you're traveling down a path that is not good. Like, I'm going to be on you like two weeks before they come out. Like, what are you doing? Do you need to stay after with this teacher? I'm okay with you going and missing like 30 minutes, 45 minutes of rehearsal so you can get your grades up. I don't know. the its yeah It doesn't make that much sense to me. that You know, oh, this was a... yeah But it did seem like it was an oversight as far as the article went on saying. Like, this is an oversight and, so you know, being more diligent, you know, in the years to come to make sure that, you know, this doesn't happen again.
00:28:24
Speaker
Yeah, it seems like it was a one-time oopsie kind of thing. But like up in the Northeast, like Jeremy was saying, i personally, I almost feel like we almost don't have to worry about kids' grades. I mean, there's no requirement, I think, really. I mean, if they're failing like everything, then yeah you probably shouldn't be in band. But but like we don't ever have to worry about their grades because the kids that are in marching band here are the kids that are doing well academically and like we don't have to worry about their time management skills or how they're going to make up their grades because they already they know how to do that like they have it taken care of. Yeah that's generally I that's how I feel about it too like that it's usually the good kids anyway and I don't know the Texas thing I've just not ever been a part of so I don't really have the insides of that but yeah same.
00:29:18
Speaker
It was new for me coming up and everything too, but i need just looking in on it, because like there's a day I feel like there's a different feel to it because it's a class. you know And once they find out, it at least in the band, like going to band class or going to hardboard class, they take a look at that and they're just like, oh, if I'm not you know getting an A or something like that, then I'm in trouble. And and you know there is something different about that, however,
00:29:46
Speaker
you know like teaching in the Northeast or the East Coast, I do believe that like we take a look and see those things like, why are you failing? Well, do you think it's right that you should be doing marching band and you're not passing your classes? right you know Let's get on this. Let's be on top of it. Yeah. one I don't even have access like to the kids' grades because I'm not paid by the school district, so it's not even something that I didn't have access to or look at. So I feel like if you were on the East Coast and that happened and you you've got a guard, like your band director is going to be the one to tell you like, hey, it was not passing. They can't come to the show. And like, you have to think quick on your feet as a as a color guard instructor to be like no alternates here.
00:30:36
Speaker
Yeah, we do. But just to go a little bit more into this, at UIO region marching band competitions, a panel of judges assigns a score of one to five for each school's performance. A superior performance corresponds with the score of one and then a score of five indicates a poor performance. Bands who earn a one at region advance to area.
00:30:56
Speaker
but At the recent Region 14 contest, so it was Alice High School, Gregory Portland High School, which was where it was performed, where the school, the show was. ah Victoria East High School, Victoria West High School and Corpus Christi King High School and Veterans Memorial High School, all earned ones.
00:31:13
Speaker
All bands competed who competed at this contest earned at least a two this year. So all the performances were were really good. I mean i think the the bright side to this is that they had a great performance and that they could end the season on this note, but like I guess it's the whole coulda, woulda, shoulda, not really knowing what more you could have done if you know this was taken care of.
00:31:40
Speaker
Yeah, I just feel just if I may, I just feel a little bit heartbroken for this there's one particular student. I don't know who, you know, they are, but and i'm imagine that her peer that their peers and the directors know. And I just imagine like that heartbreak, especially like we can probably all guess it's educated people. This is probably the clerical era. It's not like this high school is going out. It's like we have 10 ineligible players and and spins we're going to put them on the field. And it was revealed in this massive scandal. No, this is not large.
00:32:10
Speaker
And I could just imagine that how tough it was for these individuals to put in this hard work and to possibly have like an like an oopsie like we talked about and it just pop up and and these things happen. It could have been a late and you know eligibility thing that someone didn't get the email and and verify our grade or maybe there was ah some assumptions made. it It was really close and you know, we're going to go ahead and roll the dice, whatever it was, but yeah Ultimately, they like I said, in regards to good performances, that this this school you know obviously performed their tails off and and got their deserved rating, got their deserved rating, and it's just unfortunate they weren't able to advance because of this administrative guideline that has put, as you said, Jeremy, everyone has proved to, everyone signed up for it, so you have to kind to go by it. so
00:33:01
Speaker
My biggest thing about all of this too, and sorry to interrupt you, Trevor, but like there are so many rules with UIL. like It's not just this, like eight hours a week? Yeah, eight hours a week.
00:33:15
Speaker
That's all you got. And I know that some, like but you said that scandal, my goodness, like don touch don't touch the schedule of eight hours a week, because that's a scandal. That is a scandal. And so like there's just a lot that goes into it. And yes, I think that something like this, like you said, Trevor, an oversight, it's bound to happen.
00:33:38
Speaker
bound to happen with as many rules there are. But yeah, I do feel bad for that one student. And I think it's a double-edged sword. I feel bad for that student, but also happy that they went out and did the job that they had to do to get the rating that they got and end on a high note, at least. All right, let's get to another
Music and Arts Partnership with Pearl
00:33:56
Speaker
story. I think mine is next. I have the music and arts is partnering with Pearl to give away some marching band equipment, concert band and wind instruments and percussion instruments. $50,000 in free equipment to upgrade your band room. Okay. The applications are due by Halloween. So by the time that this goes out, I think it will be over. I actually just, I, we were going over the news of like who's getting
00:34:33
Speaker
which was your article. I texted my dad this real quick. I was like, hey, you should apply for this because we actually, he applied for the the Ravens Marching Band, which we've had a couple of people from there on the podcast before.
00:34:49
Speaker
They had like some giveaways of their past used instruments, like drums, ah horns, I don't know, like a whole bunch of stuff. And we actually ended up getting a Sousaphone and four trumpets. So, it's really exciting. thought So yeah, getting $50,000 worth of instruments, that's like, that's a whole thing. That's like a whole new set of everything.
00:35:18
Speaker
But imagine, imagine the color guards actually getting anything. Hey, hey, just $50,000, $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at. And like in today's economy and yeah with school districts, you know, maybe not fully support supporting the arts program, $50,000 is a lot of money. Let's not kid ourselves. So bravo and ah' to music and arts for putting this campaign together and the poor old and blah well to me these corporations were for really trying to make
00:35:49
Speaker
things better we need currency you on on a water break for more votes to do that We want more companies, more businesses to partner up to to to donate more money to these students who are working really hard, who may not have top quality equipment.
00:36:04
Speaker
who may need that equipment to put on that stellar performance, that provoking performance that we've been talking about. And so, bravo to them, as a bad director man, like $50,000 can really enhance the program pretty quickly.
Young Percussion Talent in Varsity Band
00:36:20
Speaker
Yeah. with new color guard equipment, with new instruments, percussion equipment, whatever it is. And those performers, we will take care of that equipment if the community goes out and supports them in the way that the music and arts in Pearl has in this case. Yeah.
00:36:38
Speaker
really, really great opportunity for any high schools to get out there. But hey, music and arts, if you're listening, projects in high school, send it our way. That'll stop. but Well, I do you want to talk to you about here in my area. And when I say area, I mean yeah Ohio.
00:36:56
Speaker
And ah that if there's and actually, it's in just whole grove. So if you look at all the marching band members, and like they look younger and younger every year. So you just see them all with their uniform dot it was like crazy with their uniforms on and and things don't quite fit because they're just bigger. And it's just a you know they're i if you know, whatever instrument they're holding just looks like, well, maybe they'll grow into it.
00:37:22
Speaker
or their drum, maybe it's just a little too heavy, it's okay, they'll grow into it. like just So what's happening right now, the Cole Grove Hornets game you know was happening. The music prodigy, his name's Griffin Lackey, a fourth grader, Dawson Bryant Elementary, but basically is a standout percussionist for the marching band, for the varsity marching band on Friday nights.
00:37:48
Speaker
um He says he can play multiple instruments, including the bagpipes. Okay. His band director is Karen Jarvis. This is her first year in this role. But she says that she's delighted to inherit a nine-year-old yeah who vowed the precious teacher or the precious director hu with his ability to be beyond his years. Basically, he's just a drumming prodigy. that And it's so cool to, I mean, like I can only imagine the snare line like, oh yeah Here's everyone. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.
00:38:25
Speaker
bear well but yeah you are very musical very si hard very all of those good try and produce it or try like and playing you air drumm and the marching band each year i like i don't think he be a member joy that's insane that's what i did and there was a great great great time Well, let's see, like a lot of people, or his parents, it's like he was just starting coming home. you did calm and go back and Coming home after rehearsal, like a v and he was showing interest, and the previous director was blown away like by the school level. Why don't you come and hang out with us on Friday nights? Not exactly like coming through the marching band. This kid is already saying, band is my life. Oh, I like it.
00:39:12
Speaker
It could very easily happen. On social media, TikTok that are like the little drum majors for the Ohio State, I think we set that around in the group chat or like the little girl that's standing on the side of the parade and like marching and like all of that, like that's like insane. of And he just, this is a quote from him. He says, well, the band director says, to have a little guy like Griffin come out and find his joy and passion in music, it makes me super proud and happy.
00:39:42
Speaker
And then I know that's really, feeling it's adorable. This is so best. So this is so cool that ah Griffin, that superstar Griffin gets this opportunity to perform and that I bet the crowd just eats it up the cold.
00:39:57
Speaker
I'm sure they do. I'm sure they eat it up in the stands. I'm getting vibes of, there was a Sinner Snare player at Blue Devils who like started when he was 14. Am I wrong? Am I right? No, you're right. You're out for a few years ago. Yeah. Yeah. If the shoe is fitting.
00:40:19
Speaker
Just the same. Here's a perfect example. The twirlers of the world, and Ashley can speak to this, the the younger you start, obviously the better you're going to be. Like, they start those twirlers that, you know, like, you know what I mean? Out of the womb. You come out and like, okay, here's your little baby baton. Griffin did add at the end of this article that next week for Trick or Treat, he's going to be dressing up as the founder of the state of Georgia, James Oglethorpe. Of course he is.
00:40:49
Speaker
I think that we are going to just go ahead and take a break right now and we'll be right back.
Guard Closet's Role in Band Programs
00:41:06
Speaker
Hey, this is Christine Reem and Chris Green. Guard Closet was founded as a consignment business in 2000. Since then, it has grown to include Winter Guard, band, percussion, and other genres. We can help you with custom flag and costuming designs. Our consignment inventory has plenty of great looks for your color guard, drum line, and marching band. Pay it forward. When you purchase consignment, you help other programs. Last year we sold over 400 sets of consignments and returned over $125,000 in payments to our consigners for their skills. Additionally, Guard Closet offers custom and pre-designed costumes, flags, floors, and formal wear, full or partial showwriting, educational programming, and other services.
00:41:50
Speaker
Max out your rehearsal time and set up a microsite for easy student ordering for shoes, gloves, and other equipment. The Guard Closet team is here to help you get everything you want and need for your season. Check us out at guardcloset.com and follow us on social media.
00:42:18
Speaker
All right, it is time for what are we doing?
Full Episode Presence and Alumni Joys
00:42:22
Speaker
What are we doing? What are we doing? All right, so who are we starting with first? Ashley, since you just looked at me. What are we doing? What are we doing? Man, I don't know. You might have to come back to me. I can't think of one right now.
00:42:48
Speaker
Which is rare. That's rare that I don't have something to complain about. I'm just glad to be here for the whole episode this time. Yes! What are we doing with Ashley on the whole episode? That's why. We don't know. She don't know. I know. We haven't even gotten this far before for me to even think about it.
00:43:09
Speaker
She doesn't get to usually do, what are we doing? the Internet's done. ah downplay this I will start. I will start because we're coming. Obviously we're coming off of like having this, you know, college band discussion or whatever. And I will say, like I said from the beginning, what are we doing?
00:43:25
Speaker
not doing alumni band if you went to a college or university and did the marching band there. If you are not doing alumni band at your schools at homecoming, you're missing out. Because first off, Trevor, Ashley, you all know, as I do, Nicole missed out on this because she did not do college band. College marching band is the best thing in the entire marching arts period, full stop.
00:43:53
Speaker
You're never going to convince me of anything else otherwise, right? I am the most competitive person. I love going to WGI. I love watching DCI. I love all of that stuff. But in terms of like actual enjoyment of the thing that you are doing, there is nothing better than College Marching Band. And you can't say anyway if you haven't done it, but then to come back and do it as an alumni,
00:44:17
Speaker
Oh my gosh. It is like, I have just have to say it is like literally the best thing because first off you're treated like a rock star the whole time, right? Like you are it. It doesn't like every band member is all about you. Every staff member is all about you. I had, there were three of the former, well, the current and the two former marching band directors at Westchester there, you know, for the whole weekend, they come up to you that, you know, they, their job is to make you feel like a rock star. And.
00:44:45
Speaker
and you get minimal rehearsal. You get to hang out with your peeps most of the time you're tailgating and or going to another social and or rehearsing while having just tailgated, whatever the case may be, you're fully like having the best time. I mean, it's family oriented, like bring your kids, like they have bounce houses, you know, it's just like a whole, and it happens on like a lovely fall day. So what are we doing not doing alumni college band, especially if you were in that? Absolutely.
00:45:21
Speaker
You got the sound effects. I just want to add quickly um to your what are we doing, ah Jeremy. So I mean, if you don't have that established, create alumni association for your band, alumni band meeting group consisting of people from different generations of the band. And really invest in it. Create a board of directors for your college band under under the supervision of your university.
00:45:49
Speaker
and the and the director of bands of the bread of athletic bands and The performers, the current members, really want to meet you know those folks. They stand on the shoulders of giants, is often said. They're building that legacy. They want to see you. They want to engage with you. But if if you're not out there um ah you know engaging with them and and doing your part of telling them about the traditions or reliving the glory day ah glory days and telling those old stories, then they're going to forget those moments. And they're going to forget the history of the band program that they're a part of.
00:46:21
Speaker
that That was my little my little part to the ad. That was a really good. group It's true. It's exactly what it was. I mean, they wanted us there. We each got a buddy. I mean, we had 55 Color Guard alumni and 46 members of the of the Color Guard. So like we were we were more than the actual Color Guard, which was cool. um And we were on the field and we performed and you know we rehearsed with them and the whole thing. and They're, they're like thrill. They're like, like standing, you know what I mean? Like I'm having a conversation with a girl who just graduated high school. This is her freshman year at Westchester. She went to a local high school.
00:46:57
Speaker
I also teach a university band. So I'm having conversation. Oh, you know, Rebecca, she's in my band that I teach. And she's like, Oh my God, you're teaching my friend. Like it just was, and you're standing next to me and I'm, you know, like we're spinning together. Like this was like mind blowing for her. And she just like had the most, like the biggest smile on her face the entire time we were interacting. It was like just wonderful. Like she was just like, and all of them around us, like all the, ah all the undergrads that were around us were just like.
00:47:28
Speaker
And you got a T-shirt. Yeah, and I grew a t-shirt yeah like I but have one more funny anecdote to your comment, Jeremy. So I have my family, my brother, my sister-in-law, my two nephews in town yesterday. And they came to all the band alumni events, so the honorary NSU band members. And what someone who used to be in my euphonium sessions, named Josh. Hey, Josh Ritz.
00:47:53
Speaker
um he He was at the event, um and I was his baritone section leader, comes to find out Josh Ritz and my sister, Liz, a sister-in-law Liz, are from the same hometown here in in Louisiana, a small rural town called Church Point, Louisiana. And Josh's mother was the English teacher of my sister-in-law.
00:48:15
Speaker
And they realized that at the event from randomly talking to each other. Actually, my sister-in-law walked into the alumni social, and Josh yells out, well, hello, Liz, after 25 years of not seeing her. And and it was so, I'm like, when what? How do y'all know each other? And so, its expand and i don't yeah and they had no other connection but it you know to the band besides me. I thought that was pretty cool. You never know. It's a small world out there.
00:48:43
Speaker
It is. Yeah. Trevor, you just go right on ahead. and like what do What are we doing? I'm staying on college bands.
College Bands: One or Multiple Halftime Shows?
00:48:50
Speaker
What are we doing with putting out three or four or five halftime shows a year?
00:49:00
Speaker
Is that too little or too much? I think, is it too much? That's way too much. I've been having a conversation some designers out there, students from around my region, directors. What if college bands just did one college band show a year? And that was the norm.
00:49:19
Speaker
What did could audience audience members handle it, you know, a more thought out or more produced ah one, one show similar to, um you know, maybe a JSU or Western Carolina or help me out. Who else does it? who else my sister says deware does it yeah delaware mayor What if that was the norm? Because, you know, we'll give our audience some things, so you know, a longer process to maybe link themselves to. Maybe we could use more musical material, more thoughtful ideas instead of maybe just a 30 second hit of like a hook of a song. Maybe we can, you know, maybe it'll be a longer arrangement in regards to our music education students who may go on, who probably go on to be marching band directors. How many shows are they going to teach at the high school level during the season?
00:50:08
Speaker
One. Just that one. it's a small It's always a small rehearsal time. and you know It's always that. I mean, we ah we know where it comes from right we because the the college band's job right is to supply entertainment for halftime and be their best crowd cheering for the football team and you know and the school itself. Be a school representative out in the community and all of those things. So I'm a big proponent of... ah I guess it doesn't even have to say one show, but ah one idea and maybe that idea develops over the season. Like for example, I teach Widener University and um they're a small school, you know, um I don't know, 10, under 14,000, something like that at the school is very small. The band is like a hundred, you know, which is really great actually, but they, they
00:51:00
Speaker
we take the time to develop a show that is crowd pleasing. That is the number one. Like it has to be crowd pleasing for everyone. Like I don't want to buy into Trevor, the idea of a college band creating one show and we get into the discussion we were having earlier about why are they doing show about blood or why are they doing a show about travel? You know, like like one show it's fine, but I think it needs to have that sort of expansiveness to it in terms of audience appeal.
00:51:28
Speaker
Now the thing that we do at Widener, which I think is just like phenomenal, is we do have this idea, this theme or whatever, sort of generic, like this year's vinyl at heart. So it's anything you know sort of associated with records and CDs. And I go on this journey of like, here's some records on the flags and now here's some CDs. you know So it's like a whole thing. But it it gives us an open door to kind of do whatever we want with it. right So we put on productions a minute and a half long a minute and a half to two minutes at the most, like production numbers. Now we could technically interchange those and move those around for a second, third, whatever, because within there we build our transitions that kind of are chaos in a way to like get you to the start of the next song. We also add in layers throughout the season, right? Like we have a pride pack dance team that we will add that we add into our show in the third song. Like they're not coming out in the first song. They're not coming out in the second song.
00:52:26
Speaker
But by homecoming week, or you know whatever, that we're finally ready to do three numbers, because the first couple of weeks we just did one, or we just did two, or we did one in the fight song, or we did one at a standstill, or something like that, we build up to it. We're building up to a four-number show, essentially. We're building up to the typical four songs for a marching band. But it's taking its time. it's It doesn't need to feel rushed.
00:52:53
Speaker
Like that's the beauty of college band. You present two songs and they're killer and the audience is watching it. Yay, it's over. We're not telling a story. I don't need to get to the closer, right? Like that's what I would worry about when we would talk about taking one show, like one idea and doing it as like a through line of a show for a college band is then like, what if you never get to the closer?
00:53:16
Speaker
Because, you know what I mean? Like, there's just that idea, right? I mean, you're dealing, like, North Carolina was dealing with hurricanes in Florida, you know, whatever. Like, rehearsal can be gone instantly. You lose, it's a rainy week at your school, and you only get to rehearse three hours a week because of, you know, whatever. Like, you don't get to rehearse that week. You're inside. You're not learning that next song. So that's where, for me, the college band thing, I think, needs to be almost more modular, I guess.
00:53:46
Speaker
in its and his thing, but I like the idea of like one solid thought. I also do love a Mizzou or whoever like doing all these crazy like shows that they have to immediately turn around. yeah I don't know, it's kind of fun on that way, too. so yeah you know it Yeah, I love the explanation.
00:54:06
Speaker
I was thinking about the other weatherway about it because ah for a very short stint, I did um help with ah University of Dayton's marching band. I had to give a couple of different things because they had like four different shows in the one week that i was there that they're putting together not a lot of sets but it's just like okay we had to as far as the color guard concerned it's just like okay i did divided up amongst the members and say okay we're gonna name this this and we're gonna add it into this and you have to start from here you know what i mean you come with ways to like kind of lego the stuff together but as far as when they're performing all these things like they don't have to just think about like.
00:54:50
Speaker
the football team, they have to think about alumni and what alumni wants to see. Those pre-games that they do, they spend more time, well, at least when I witnessed spending more time on the pre-show than anything, or pre-game than anything. Pre-game. Yeah. Pre-game is becoming a big deal. I don't think it was always a big deal. I think it's starting to become a big deal and I see more and more college bands having a pre-game show.
00:55:18
Speaker
At Widener, we have a pregame show that we did for four years, I think, like the same two songs or whatever. And so I think that's kind of the goal is every like three or four years. I think the goal is now every three years, we change our pregame so that as a, as a person in the band, like you will always get to do two different shows in terms of pregame. But then also like you're coming back the next year and like pregame's done. And you know, in some instances, like This year was a new pregame for us, and we'll keep this pregame, like I said, for like two more years. So next year, going into the fall marching band, we don't have to do a lot of pregame learning. We just have to do learn the show, right? This year, we had to do pregame. So it's always it's always going to be a balance. but
00:56:01
Speaker
Yeah, the pregame thing is the preing thing is when you're telling everybody, all right, sit down. and you know It's all about starting. There's a lot of people on the stand. So there's usually like a lot of energy around it. And in our pregame involves the band, the the the color guard, the pride pack who are the dancers, the cheerleaders come out. The mascots are involved. So it's like it's a you know it's a pregame. like it's It's all of those things. And so I love the pregame, actually.
00:56:27
Speaker
actually Yeah, our pregame is more of like a traditional like, we play ah like one of our fight songs, we play Delaware forever going across the field like eight to five in blocks. And then we play the all modern end zone national anthem, come back and do the fight song and end in like the the interlocking UD.
00:56:49
Speaker
um And like, it's very traditional. I don't even remember the last time that they had, have changed it because it's just been the same for, for so long. And that's, I feel like that's how a lot of schools do it sometimes. I mean, I guess it depends where they are, but it's like, i think the bigger every I think that sort of is like, you get more locked into those traditions at big 10 schools, uh, you know, that you do in some of the smaller universities and whatever. I think there's a little bit more freedom there. Like.
00:57:20
Speaker
those alumni at those big 10 schools and things like that, like they're like, you're going to play the fight song. You're going to do that. Yeah. Well, and that's fine, but we, we have people that, um, have been complaining that we're not high stepping.
00:57:36
Speaker
oh I'm like, I would, I would, I would, I would high step. I wouldn't put high step in my band, but at some point they would ask me to demonstrate in the way that my hips are working right now and my age. yeah great These hips don't lie. So what makes Trevor say my hips don't lie? There you go. get there I mean the sound bite there it is.
00:58:03
Speaker
there is Ashley, do you have a one are we doing? Yeah, I think I've thought of one now. I'm going back to my, I call them the twirlers. I call them twirly whirlies. But what are we doing sticking the twirlers in the end zone and just like, go do your thing. Okay, bye.
00:58:26
Speaker
I and really can't stand that. I mean, being at Delaware, the twillers are like fully integrated in the show, just like the color guard would be. And and beautiful and amazing and expressive. yeah and and and these are the phenomenal
00:58:42
Speaker
Thanks. so They still like do ah like their choreography to the music. It's not just
Utilization of Twirlers in College Bands
00:58:50
Speaker
like, okay, go out there and do your solo, which would be like your inside competitive routine that wouldn't have anything to do with the music at all. um That's another, that's a whole separate issue. What are we doing twirling to music that isn't musical? like The routine doesn't match.
00:59:10
Speaker
what Yeah. Okay. Go on and on and on about that one. But Ashley is right. Ashley is right, especially, and I'm glad she's a part of this conversation to talk about college band is because twirling is a big thing in college bands. Like there's usually a feature, term I have a feature twirler at Widener and there's, you know, we're a small band. I have a feature twirler. And if you're not using your twirlers, especially a feature twirler in the right way in your show, what are you doing? What are you doing? Yeah. yeah they can create some effect. Like when you're talking about like a moment where the band is gonna play loud and you want that saber toss, like that's gonna catch and nail it. No, give it to the future twirler who's gonna give you like a high three illusion, turn around three spin, do a cartwheel, and then catch it backhand and keep going. Like please, those sabers and those rifles and the rest of the color guard ain't nothing on these twirlers. So much more impactful, so much more effective, but then if you've got them out there in the end zone, what are you doing?
01:00:11
Speaker
Yeah, it's just like, ah it's just really sad. Makes me sad.
01:00:18
Speaker
Well, all right. um I guess it's my turn. um I do not have something that pertains to college band. um Wow, do I have, hmm, maybe, hmm, I don't know. What are we doing? Hmm, maybe. What are you doing not teaching a college band? How about that?
01:00:42
Speaker
I don't know. what What was I doing not doing college band? I i was doing drum corps and indoor winter guard. Yeah, we're done. Great job, everyone. Set your equipment down. Gush and go.
01:00:59
Speaker
Let me start with the gush and goes, though, because I'm excited. um ah it And this is my first. free, free weekend from doing band. Um, and I did not know how much I needed it until it happened. Um, so there's that I have two more shows left, but I still have like another week, another weekend to, you know, rejuvenate and get excited about it. All right. So gush and go, uh, Trevor.
01:01:38
Speaker
Yeah, I just want to gush and go first about Nicole's sound effects, the different sound effects in that last topic. That was really awesome. And I also want to gush and go about, um we're coming to the end of Bandtober. So so i just we I just wanted to give good vibes, good thoughts, good energies out to those high school band, going into their final competitions, their final performances, their final exhibitions. and really, really get after it and just realize that you will never perform this show with these individuals again. So every rehearsal opportunity you have, every practice session, every performance, take advantage of it and and think about creating a moment that's going to last forever. um So it's it's a special time in your lives.
01:02:26
Speaker
um You had a staff and directors who worked really hard to put together um the show for you. um You worked very hard and and and putting it out there and and executing each and every every week. Now it's time to celebrate um all those all those great things and celebrate your excellence. So I just want to gush and go about those performers and directors and staff members who've been working really hard all year. All right, Ashley.
01:02:53
Speaker
My gosh, and go I always have trouble picking like one or the other of like, if I'm going to talk about my high school group or, or Delaware, because they're both just so, so good this season. Like both of the new directors are just like a dream to work with. So that's lovely. Um, I think I'm gonna talk about my high schoolers though. The amount that they have improved like over the past year is just like totally mind blowing to me. So we did indoor last year. Yes, they deserve it. We did indoor last year for the first first time ever. um And the work that they put in during indoor is totally paying off right now. I was like, I don't know that this is gonna like do anything. I mean, the equipment's in their hands, but I don't know.
01:03:47
Speaker
It's totally making a difference. I say that so much, like even like when I'm talking to um like guards when I'm on a tape and just like um and when I find out that they don't have a winter guard, I'm just like, even if you put out a small winter guard, like that's gonna that is going to help your program immensely. That's what they do.
01:04:09
Speaker
That's what Ashley did. It was a small little thing. They did a couple little shows. It was not a big deal. They just need to be doing it, you know? That's how the band has, um you know, concert band time. They're still playing, you know? So the garden needs to keep spinning. So kudos to them for keeping them going. Their dance skills, their, like, spinning skills, it's just so much better because of it.
01:04:35
Speaker
And Ashley and deserves a lot of credit. And I think that her and her family, especially with this high school, um you know, it's where I went to high school um and now they're like, you know, just in it, running the whole program pretty much.
01:04:50
Speaker
and have really taken you know our high school into a really great place. Sometimes kicking and screaming, sometimes the Amos family has graed has dragged that marching band kicking and screaming into the ah modern world, but now they're there. and it's like And it's like really like starting to be a thing. And it's so cool as an alumni, as we're talking about it, as an alumni to see, first off, my family. But like you know everybody else is like so involved and happy and excited to like be a part of that program. Yeah. And I have to gush and go. one One quick thing. I have a seventh grader in my guard right now. And she's been she's danced, like I guess, throughout elementary school and middle school.
01:05:38
Speaker
I have to gush and go about her. Her name's Emily. She is amazing. she's She starts out the show with like a dance solo. And I'm like, can you just do this? Can you do this, this, this, this? And she's like, yep, got it. And then just does it perfectly. Maybe 20 of you.
01:05:59
Speaker
Nice. Jeremy, what are you gushing and going about? Well, I will continue to gush and go about college band. I will continue to gush and go about the time I had at homecoming yesterday.
Indoor Color Guard, Scholarships, and Recruitment
01:06:10
Speaker
um I just love every bit about it and every year that I'm teaching and being a part of college band. It just gets more and more fun and exciting and um you know, we have an indoor, this will be the second year of Widener's indoor coming out this year um with the, it's a college, you know, and I say this, yes, Nicole, high school band, start a indoor color guard in the winter, but side note, college bands, do an indoor color guard or an indoor drum line on your campus, um because to to gush and go about that for a second,
01:06:51
Speaker
The indoor process, having an indoor color guard at a college or university, I've taught independence for a really long time. I've taught scholastics for a really long time. Teaching independence is always hard for one reason and one reason only, rehearsal facilities. And you are talking about a college band where all of the people are on campus. They're on campus. You don't even have to rehearse only on Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays because they're on campus.
01:07:21
Speaker
We could have a dance class at two o'clock in the afternoon on a Tuesday in the dance studio in front of the mirrors. And guess what? We're going to be exponentially better. But it's two o'clock in the afternoon on a Tuesday. You know, like there's just many better ways, I think, to do independent band, independent color guard from the university perspective that like, especially the universities themselves, like They're so into it. They're like, you're going out into the community. If you think about it, we're the one activity, the marching band, the color guard, the drum line of a college that goes into community and performs to bring members into it. That is not doing that. That volleyball team is not doing that. Like the basketball team is not doing that. The basketball team is going to another college to compete against another college basketball team. And who is in the audience?
01:08:14
Speaker
the parents, the other players, maybe some alumni. There's not like the high school kids are going to the local college basketball games to watch it. But the college the college bands are going to the kids performing at local high school shows, performing in parades, whatever, to bring them in. And the college color guards,
01:08:37
Speaker
I mean, it's the perfect recruiting tool. It's literally like the best. You go to a marching or an indoor color guard show, you say, hey, high school A, B, and C, you have to help us get on the floor. I'm gonna buddy you up with every single person that is in the color guard. They're gonna talk to you about Widener, and you're gonna get to come there because you think it's so cool that you now met somebody. And I'm bringing in more people. I gained three members this year. My color guard was six last year in the winter from Widener. i I had three additional who all came because they saw the indoor color guard.
01:09:07
Speaker
And they were like, well, we're just going to go to school here because that'll be easy. And I get to do Color Guard. And at Widener, they pay you for it. At Widener, you get a scholarship to do marching band and indoor. You get $1,250 to do marching band and $1,250 to do indoor. Could you imagine getting paid $1,250 to do Color Guard inside? The dream. I feel like Cuba Gooden Jr. right now. Show me the money. Yes. And they give it to you. The college will give it to you. like He will give it to you. Start a program at your college or university. like Do it. Do it. Do it. And Northwestern State University gives out scholarships as well. Go to Widener. Go to Northwestern State. Let's go.
01:09:58
Speaker
where they Go to Delaware. Oh my goodness. Well, I want to thank everyone for a great rehearsal. Special thanks to our hosts, Trevor, Ashley, and
Episode Wrap-Up and Social Engagement
01:10:10
Speaker
Jeremy. um And thank you to the other guest clinicians. But one more thing, just don't forget,
01:10:16
Speaker
um That we have our YouTube channel now and that has many of our interviews coming out as full video edition So go and subscribe so you don't miss any of those And before you close out of your podcast listening app go subscribe write us a review and share it with a friend So follow us on social media at on a water break calm. Sorry at on a water break. No calm And we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break
01:10:44
Speaker
The On A Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit ridamusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning in.