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The One with Black Female Band Directors
92 Plays8 days ago
🎙️ Hey everyone, and welcome back to On A Water Break! The podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are discussing at rehearsal—on a water break. This week, we have a powerful lineup of Black female musicians, each representing Black women band directors across all levels of education!
🔊 Listen in as we welcome:✅ Delisa Rufus – Band Director at Margate Middle School (Broward County, FL)✅ Jacqueline Hairston – Band Director at Franklin High School & TikTok’s @ThatBandTeacherLady✅ Dr. Devan Moore – Assistant Athletic Band Director at Florida State University Instagram: @dlm12_3
🎶 This week, we’re diving deep into: ✔️ The impact and mission of the Association of Black Women Band Directors (ABWBD)✔️ The journey of our guests – their inspirations, challenges, and victories✔️ Navigating the marching arts as Black women✔️ How to foster inclusion and mentorship in music education
📢 Special Segments!🎵 60-Second Tech Block – Trevor breaks down keeping your pep band in time, emotional drill writing, and how to survive the Midwest Clinic!💧 Water We Doing? – A rapid-fire round where our guests reflect on their experiences and what’s next in their journey.
📩 Join the conversation!📧 Have a question or want to be a guest? Email us at OnAWaterBreakPodcast@gmail.com🔗 Fill out our guest form (Find it in our link in bio on social media!) 📲 Follow us on Social Media: On A Water Break Podcast📺 Watch us on YouTube: Full video editions of our best interviews!
🚀 Support and Follow Our Guests!🎼 Delisa Rufus – Instagram: @derricious5890🎺 Jacqueline Hairston – TikTok: @ThatBandTeacherLady🥁 Dr. Devan Moore – Instagram: @dlm12_3
🎶 Association of Black Women Band Directors (ABWBD) – Website | Instagram | Facebook
🔊 Subscribe, rate, and share! If you love the podcast, leave us a review and share it with a friend! 🎧
🔥 Let’s close out Black History Month with a bang and lead into Women’s History Month with inspiration!
📅 New Episodes Weekly! See you at the next rehearsal – On A Water Break!
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Transcript
Introduction & Episode Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone 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, powerful African-American female musicians who are here representing Black women band directors and all facets of education.
00:00:17
Speaker
We'll find out what made Trevor say, you better watch that conductor. You better watch those hands, making sure you're following the pattern. but Why Jacqueline said, The next day saying, what day's the concert?
00:00:29
Speaker
What time do I have to be here? I said it. All 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. It's time for water break.
00:00:56
Speaker
Hi everyone, it's Nicole and this is our final episode of Black History Month.
Transition to Women's History Month & Engagement
00:01:01
Speaker
But it's fitting because we have all females as our clinicians tonight. And we have next month being Women's History Month, so it's a good lead-in. So let's call this just the lead-in to that, the lead-in to Women's History Month.
00:01:14
Speaker
Before we see who's on the sideline this week, I want you to go and subscribe, hit the notifications on all of your favorite listening apps, and write us a review and share us with a friend. You got a question or a good topic to talk about?
00:01:27
Speaker
Email us at onawaterbreak at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show. but We even have a form that you can fill out now if you want to be a guest. We love hearing from people on the podcast, so check us out on that link that's in our social media.
Trevor's Semester Insights
00:01:44
Speaker
All right, let's see who's on the sidelines. Trevor, how has the start of the semester been for you? I have been well, my friend. It's great to see you again. yeah The start of the semester has been wonderful.
00:01:58
Speaker
um Obviously, as a band director, you know you try to hit the reset button coming out of winter break. Sometimes it's easier than said. you know We've had our first spring concert you know like last week here at Northwestern State University.
00:02:14
Speaker
We are in the midst of show designing for the fall already. We have picking leadership, leadership applications are about to go out. It's just fast moving, but we do it because we love it,
Panel Introduction: Black Women in Music Education
00:02:28
Speaker
right?
00:02:28
Speaker
Right. You're doing all the things, all the things. And hopefully, please make sure you get some just rest. Oh, yeah. I love sleep. yeah Right.
00:02:40
Speaker
Please don't mess with my sleep. No, at all. All right. Well, i we have certainly kept these amazing women on the sideline for long enough. Please welcome from Margate Middle School in Broward County, Florida. It's Delisa Rufus.
00:02:56
Speaker
Next up, you may also know her from her TikTok as that band teacher lady. And she is certainly a friend of the pod. It's from, she's from Franklin High School, Miss Jacqueline Hurston.
00:03:07
Speaker
Hello. And finally, the assistant athletic band director at Florida State University. It's the amazing Dr. Devin Moore. Good evening, everybody.
00:03:19
Speaker
Hey. Oh, I'm so happy to have you all on. Oh, my goodness. Now, Jacqueline, you, lucky you, you get out of the whole 32 Count Life story because you already did it. But sorry, Delisa and Devin, you got to do it.
00:03:33
Speaker
It's what you do when you come in here. You got to play. Okay. So the way this works out is you get 32 counts on the Met, eight counts, and you're in. And you got to fit your whole life story in there.
00:03:45
Speaker
Just talk to us, y'all. Okay. Okay. So Delisa, you ready to Yes. I'm ready. Yes. You get eight counts and you're in.
00:03:59
Speaker
Hi, my name is Delisa Rufus. I'm originally from Tamarack, Florida. I went to Tamarack Elementary, Rambo in Middle School with John Nista. I also played softball at Rambo and Taravella. um I went to Broward College. I was in strike percussion from 2009 to 2013.
00:04:14
Speaker
I was on Vyves for two years, outside marimba for one year, two years on center three marimbas. I was a front ensemble technician for Hollywood Hills High School, Western High School, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. And I was a front ensemble technician for strike two and it's in its inaugural year.
00:04:27
Speaker
And I engaged to be married. Yay. Oh, she did it, y'all.
00:04:35
Speaker
yeah It's okay if you did. That means you're just prepared. Yes. Good. See, I love that. When people are, well, I'm just rolling off the dome. I'm like, no, not. Stop playing.
00:04:44
Speaker
She hit us with the elementary school and I just died. and was I know. That's what I'm I'm just going to clutch my drink
Association for Black Women Band Directors: Founding & Growth
00:04:50
Speaker
for a minute. Good job. All right. Doctor.
00:04:54
Speaker
so jar dr Yeah, hope you can follow up. This will be off the dome. All right, well, here we go. Eight counts and you're in.
00:05:05
Speaker
I'm from Tallahassee, Florida. I'm a second generation band director. My dad taught high school middle school band for 30 plus years. um I started playing a saxophone in sixth grade and went high school.
00:05:15
Speaker
I went to high school, was your major high school. Went to Florida A&M University where I was sectionated for three years. Graduated after not wanting to be a band director at all and somehow made it back there.
00:05:26
Speaker
Went to taught middle school band for seven years. Got my master's at Florida State University. Got my PhD from Florida State University. Went taught at Oklahoma State. Now i'm back at Florida State.
00:05:37
Speaker
Yes. That was good too. She got it right on the doctor. Nailed it. Nailed it. What a great release. Like off and down for doctor. Nice job.
00:05:49
Speaker
Oh, I love it. So normally this is where we do the news, but since we have such an incredible panel, um I told the producers that we were diving right in, if that's okay with everyone. Yes.
00:06:03
Speaker
Also, before we even dive right in, Jacqueline, how do you think that, you know, compared to when you did your 32 counts? You know, I think I would have cracked into the pressure. It was really off the dome when I did it the first time. So congratulations. I would not have done that. so catch Fantastic.
00:06:21
Speaker
All right. So like I said before, I just wanted to dive in so we can get started. I wanted to start with the Association for Black Women Band Directors and how that got started. dr Moore, can you tell us about that?
00:06:34
Speaker
Yeah, I can. So in 2020, as the world was shutting down and we were all sitting at home trying to figure out what life means, you know, all these people are separated.
00:06:45
Speaker
ah tell this story all the time. They're like, I went home. It was the first year of my graduate degree, my PhD. And we went home and they said, we'll be back in a week, have a concert the week after spring break. And then we never came back. And some people literally told me that I couldn't do, I had just figured out what I want to do with my life.
00:07:02
Speaker
And people were telling me we can't do this anymore. So I imagine that a million people across the world are also feeling the same thing. And so ah Myra wrote in, it was at the time a high school band director down in Georgia.
00:07:16
Speaker
She put out a message on Facebook and was like, hey,
Podcast Initiative & Community Support
00:07:20
Speaker
I'm creating a space to just talk and exist as a, if you identify as a black female band director, here's a zoom link, show up and let's just, let's talk, show up however you want to come in your bonnet, come in whatever.
00:07:36
Speaker
And so we met on Sunday afternoons. We met consistently every Sunday starting in like May of 2020. And I think somewhere around July,
00:07:48
Speaker
we looked around and realized, number one, we didn't know this many of us existed. but Most of us are by ourselves in and whatever space we're in. And so it was really refreshing to be able to to just be in a room full of people that look like you that do the same thing as you.
00:08:04
Speaker
And so sometime around July, we've met several times and just gotten to know each other. Somebody put forth, hey, why don't we make this a thing? Like make this an actual thing for us, by us.
00:08:16
Speaker
And if for nothing else, just to be in the same space as us. We don't actually know what we're going to do beyond these social gatherings, but we know we need something in this space and time. It was really important for us to function in that way.
00:08:30
Speaker
And so we set up all the necessary things to become an official organization. um And we came up with the name Association of Black Women Band Directors. And we've been functioning and as an organization with the executive board, whatever the nonprofit, sta all of those things. We've set up a special projects.
00:08:49
Speaker
We're about to to release our first commission. And so it it's just it's been wonderful. We've been able to support a number of female band directors and help to get supplies for their classroom. We've done, we've sponsored student memberships.
00:09:06
Speaker
ah We've put on um ah professional development clinic. And so it, we've been doing the thing and just trying to let other people that look like us know we exist and we're here to here to help you. Because I know from personal experience that it can be very lonely out here in these band director streets as a black female.
00:09:29
Speaker
Man, that was just a lot of just really just great information. Like it feeds the soul that, you know, people have, ah you know, Black women have that outlet now or have another outlet, another resource to be able to, you know, meet people where they are, like-minded people, people who look like them who've gone through the same experiences most likely.
Delisa's Journey & Career Shift
00:09:48
Speaker
And that's just so encouraging to listen to as a Black man, you know, just making sure that the As my dad says, like the sisters are taken care of. It makes you feel good as a black man just watching your sisters like thrive, you know? So how do um I have a quick question, Devin? Like how do ah more black women get involved? Like in your organization, is there somewhat something they can do to get involved or a place where they can meet you or join a meeting or join the organization?
00:10:12
Speaker
Absolutely. So we have a Facebook page that's open. You can search us, Association of Black Women Band Directors. We're also on Instagram. um So you can find us there.
00:10:24
Speaker
as long as As soon as we've you've gone through the proper protocols and answered all the questions, you'll be accepted into that group. um And we do have members that are not Black female band directors, people that just want to support the call and the effort that we're moving towards.
00:10:39
Speaker
ah We also have a website where you can pay for membership. Right now, membership is $50 for active band directors. It's $25 for retired band directors. And there are couple of other levels of membership. Then we have student membership that is $20.
00:10:56
Speaker
So all of those forms of communication are viable ways to get us in touch. oh Dr. Moore, I do want to tell you that I have been a member of the Facebook page for a while now, because I will tell you the way that you formed ah the female black band directors page and how y'all got together was the same way I got together for the cookout. So it's another initiative that I've put together. So it's, it's funny how through the ether, through the, through the atmosphere, we're all doing the same thing. And oh, I just touched my heart when you were talking about it. Cause I was just like, oh,
00:11:33
Speaker
We were all there, but I just, I love this. But before I even go on anymore, Woody, thank you for coming. but eight Speaking of the cookout, somebody late to the
Career Paths of Jacqueline & Devin
00:11:46
Speaker
cookout.
00:11:46
Speaker
Right. Mr. Woody. i guess I was on CP time. No, he didn't. No, he didn't. Yeah, I did. I did.
00:11:57
Speaker
But what had happened was... Well, we're happy to have you here right now. Thank you, Woody. Good to see my brother.
00:12:06
Speaker
um I just want to kind of piggyback on what Dr. Moore said. um Honestly, i was on Facebook because I was a little lost just because this is my first year as a teacher band director um and everything. And I know there's not a lot of female band directors and there's not a lot of black female band directors.
00:12:24
Speaker
So I went online on Facebook and I was researching people band directors, female band directors. And I came across of the black female band directors page on Facebook. And I actually reached out to Dr. Moore, uh, recently and she helped me out through a really, really tough time. And I just wanted to thank her for that. Oh, that's what you do.
00:12:46
Speaker
That is what you do. That's gotta be a tough thing because, you know, uh, when I was an assistant band director, uh, my, ah guess you say my, uh,
00:12:57
Speaker
the the the woman who was a band director, we would always put it to the test. We'd get to show or a performance, whatever. And the person would run on the bus, and they look.
00:13:09
Speaker
And there's me, and there's her. And they're like, I don't know. And she was white. i was black. So that even made it even her. Well, but they would always choose me at the end.
00:13:22
Speaker
And she would be so mad. like Watch. Watch they pick you because you're just a man. yeah Just to hear your whole thing with the Black women's band director thing, I think that's fantastic.
00:13:37
Speaker
hey They help each other.
00:13:41
Speaker
So I have a question now. I want you to tell us more about this podcast and what it's been like getting that going. So, cause you know, we're no strangers to getting a podcast going over here and that's for sure.
00:13:52
Speaker
So tell us about that. Yeah. So probably about a year ago, um our, our communications manager, Jamie had the idea to just tell our stories, have a, have a space where we can put our, so get out of our circle of influence and,
00:14:07
Speaker
put our stories out into the
Impact of Representation & Inspiration
00:14:09
Speaker
into the world. And so she did just that. Jamie is is is great with putting together all of our visuals and anything that goes out to to to the public.
00:14:18
Speaker
And so she took that on herself. She actually had one of our student members as her co-host. So it's really cool. and They just ask questions and some of it is, you know, prescribed questions. But as one does with these podcasts, you get off on a tangent because they just want to get to know whoever they're interviewing, it's an opportunity to just get to know somebody. Maybe the people that people that they've looked up to it for a long time.
00:14:46
Speaker
And so that's just an hour where they just get to talk to their hero or get to talk to, you know, somebody they looked up to or somebody they want to be like when they grow up. ah Speaking of, you know, someone that people can talk to, um can you walk me through are there any specific resources or programs that the organization offers to address like unique challenges that, you know, black female band directors deal with on a daily basis or there's something that kind of stands out.
00:15:12
Speaker
and people latch on to, um to kind of help them get to the day as we were kind of talking about earlier. um So our coordinator for special projects, Monica Fogg is, she's the music, music, fine arts director in DeKalb County.
00:15:27
Speaker
And she's put together a number of different efforts to help people in unique situations, be able to overcome those, those challenges. So we've got, uh, We've got classroom sponsorships that we've done. We've done a fundraiser to help books, to help buy books for the classroom.
00:15:46
Speaker
So we're working slowly but but steadily to have a greater impact on our music community, for sure. That's awesome. Like we said earlier, it's great to have those resources that help teachers out in the class, especially with simple things like the needed materials to have a successful learning atmosphere, something that you would think that would be kind of basic, but some of us don't have access to all the time or don't have that district.
00:16:10
Speaker
ah funding. It's great that an organization like this can step in and fill those holes. That's just awesome. but We were talking about the podcast earlier. I have one quick question about the podcast as well.
00:16:21
Speaker
Do you have your fondest memory of what you say you've been going for and for about a year now? you have a highlight that stands out about the po podcast or maybe a really funny moment or like an aha moment that you want to talk to us about?
Inclusion, Mentorship, & Networks
00:16:34
Speaker
So i don't necessarily run that podcast. I've been one of the interviewees, but I stay on the back end of the things. I just get to listen to it. Well, maybe something you've heard on there, they're like, oh man, that was inspiring. Or like, you know.
00:16:47
Speaker
You asked me to go through the Rolodex of all the stuff that's in my brain. i just got home from ah a week-long trip two days ago. So I'm still unpacking. I apologize.
00:16:58
Speaker
like I don't know that I can pinpoint one singular thing. Mm-hmm. Just the fact that it's there, I think is obviously important. So that's great that we're able to sit here and talk about it. So, yeah.
00:17:10
Speaker
Well, wait a minute, Trevor. Yeah. I'm going to call somebody to the table now. All right. Oh, Jackie. Good evening. Can you tell me anything about your experience?
00:17:22
Speaker
You're really kind of, you're making me curious because you're hanging in the background like Debra was talking about. You're hanging in the background. cause She's been here before. That's why. just taking it all in. Taking it all in, huh?
00:17:35
Speaker
Yeah. So I've actually, i've I've reached out and been a part of the association. I remember when it first started, I might not have been at the first meeting. I can't remember. I know there's a picture somewhere from like the first meeting that we did the Zoom group photo.
00:17:49
Speaker
So I did join when they first started. and it was great to see that there were more people like me. I mean, cause I know like where I am, there's not a lot of people who look like me doing what I do. So it was nice to be able to see that there was a group that we can like, you know, talk with and roll ideas off with and just chat. And especially during the time when it started, like, everyone was all isolated and alone and questioning, know, is this what I want to continue to do or just life in general? It was nice to be able to meet up with these ladies on Sundays every so often and just talk and chat and make sure that we were all okay mentally, physically, and spiritually.
00:18:22
Speaker
Yeah, I like that kind of stuff. It keeps you centered. Keeps you centered, most definitely. Let me hear Sean about checking in with people. I mean, honestly, Trevor, that's why I was like, hey, make sure you rest.
00:18:33
Speaker
But I have so much more to ask. But right now, we got to go pay some bills. So we're going go to a commercial.
Commercial Break & Personal Anecdotes
00:18:40
Speaker
Oh, not the commercial.
00:18:53
Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:19:47
Speaker
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00:19:59
Speaker
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Career Reflections & Student Success
00:20:00
Speaker
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00:20:15
Speaker
All right. And we are back. I do want to let you ladies know that once upon a time, was band kid. And one of my big dreams used to be to be a band director.
00:20:26
Speaker
Of course, we, you know, sometimes you keep going with your dreams. Sometimes you don't. I did not. However, wish that I had a band director that looked like me because it have been different, I think.
00:20:39
Speaker
But I still love band, but I love more that you are here and you are doing what you're doing. Now we're going to go on to the question. So what I want to know is from each of you, what was the moment that you knew that you had to be ah band director?
00:20:53
Speaker
Because I knew what mine was, but I want to know what yours was. and Lisa, yeah. Yay. Hello. ah So it's actually really funny, my story, because I was on the elementary school music teacher route up until May of last year.
00:21:10
Speaker
I went to school and I did my internship, my student internship at an elementary school. um I actually forgot to mention that my mother was a music teacher for 30 years. Wow.
00:21:24
Speaker
God rest her soul. She actually passed away January 20th, 2011, in the middle, like right a week before premiere night because I was um in strike percussion. So that was like a week before, but um she went to, she was from Ohio and she actually, she was the biggest supporter that I had.
00:21:42
Speaker
So I looked up to her a lot, but she actually showed me what it was like to like love music and the kids and everything. um And she actually wanted to become a band director. I was not ah very confident myself yet, even though I love music and i went to school at FIU, Florida International University down in Miami.
00:22:03
Speaker
Go, go Panthers. Yay. But I wasn't very confident
Challenges & Rewards in Teaching Band
00:22:07
Speaker
in myself because I didn't see a lot of people that looked like me. So when I graduated from FIU,
00:22:15
Speaker
I um was looking for a job um in the Broward County area and I was looking for elementary school jobs. And I was sitting on the couch with my stepson, who's 12, and he's in middle school now.
00:22:26
Speaker
But I'm looking and I'm just like, I don't see anything. I just, I don't see anything. And I was getting a little nervous because I graduated December, 2023. So it was in the middle of the year. But then he was just like, well, there's a band director job at Margate Middle. And i was like, i don't, I don't know. I'm not too sure.
00:22:43
Speaker
And he was like, but you know how to teach kids and they and they love you and everything. And I'm just like looking at him and I'm like, I mean, my let's just see what happens. Like, mind you, I'm thinking like there's there's no way that they're going to call me because I wasn't as confident yet in myself.
00:23:00
Speaker
But um a few days later, after I sent in my resume and everything else, I got a phone call back from the principal. And she wanted me to come on like an interview.
00:23:11
Speaker
I remember the end of May, because my birthday was the beginning of May. So like I just remember that whole month
Creative Teaching Methods
00:23:17
Speaker
of May being like, OK, this is of crazy. I went on the interview and and I was like, this principal looks familiar. I can't put my finger on it.
00:23:25
Speaker
And I went home, I looked in my my middle school yearbook, happens to be that this principal was my assistant principal when I was in middle school. Stop it. I was like, oh my God, this is so crazy and everything.
00:23:39
Speaker
And I remember she used to say hi to me every day and she used to call me like Miss Band or something like that. It's been like long, you know, it's just so I'm on interview and she was like, why should I hire you? And I'm just like, honestly, and know it's my first year.
00:23:54
Speaker
and know, but I work really hard at something that I'm not, I have never done before. So um this is all kind of like new territory for me. So then she actually was like, oh, we we'll we'll be in touch.
00:24:08
Speaker
So I go home to my fiance and I was just like, this is like the best sound you ever went on. Even if I don't get the job, I feel really confident. Like a week and a half later, she called me and was like, listen, I want to give you, i want to give you a chance. I want to give you this, this chance. And I was just like,
00:24:26
Speaker
I was speechless. I actually sat on the couch and I just, I hung up the phone. I was just staring at the floor and he was like, did you get the job? And I was like, yeah. lets tough What amazing story. I absolutely love that.
00:24:39
Speaker
It just made me smile the whole time. Thank you. It was, it was. It was kind of like I wasn't expecting it. And after I got the job, I'm now thinking of things I want to do and this and that. And I'm just like, oh, my goodness. I called every single band director friend that I know because I have been that person like on the outskirts, like a little bit behind everybody else just because I had to deal with a lot of things growing up.
00:25:10
Speaker
and everything. So um I didn't do like the four years of college or four or five years of college for music education. It took me, I want to say over 10 years to graduate with my bachelor's in music um and everything. So um it's been a long, long, a long journey, but god yeah, mad got i get papers i I'm really super proud of myself, but the moment I think I wanted to become a band director was like really just like in it. And I was like, I'm not never going elementary ever was after my winter,
00:25:47
Speaker
yeah after my winter concert ah this year. And I saw myself on video and I was like, man, that's somebody I don't recognize. And I'm like, hello, nice to meet you. My name is Mr. Fizz.
00:26:02
Speaker
So. I love the stories. Jacqueline, tell me about, you know, when you first knew, hey, I want to be a band director. So I enjoyed when I helped my section in other friends in high school.
00:26:16
Speaker
And I kind of got the inkling like, okay, maybe I want to go into teaching music or something. um It was already like the back burner of my mind. and When I went into college, I initially went in as a performance major. But at some point, I really can't say exactly what, but I was still helping people. I was still taking the ed classes.
00:26:31
Speaker
At some point, I just got tired of the idea of being a performance major. And I also have performance anxiety sometimes. was like, you know what, let's just put this to the side and go the music education route.
00:26:43
Speaker
But the kind cool thing is where I went, we had to get both. So I still have the performance major along with the education major. So it just was ah mix of helping other people in music and also but wanting to perform.
00:26:58
Speaker
You know, you did what was best for your mental health. I love that. It's kind of funny because, you know, uh, with my students, you know, they're in the 12th grade and they're talking to me, i want to be a performance major.
00:27:11
Speaker
And if they haven't really been out and about by the 12th grade, I'm like the harsh mirror of reality. I'm i'm like, listen, That's probably not for you because if you were going to be a performance major, this would have been going on about three or four years previous to the day you're talking to me about it.
00:27:31
Speaker
So you could do what you want, but I would suggest you look at another outlook. And some kids take it well. Some parents take Don't you think that's a little harsh? Later they come back.
00:27:42
Speaker
Thank you, Mr. Woodward. Yeah. but I understand your story. And you can always be a performer. i tell my students all the time, you can be an educator, you can be a performer, you can be a composer. i think getting an education degree for me It's just a more stable foundation in our profession, just historically, right, guys?
00:28:03
Speaker
But I know my music education friends are incredible musicians who who do the symphony thing or like they record, they have their own little social media pages where they record themselves playing or they're part of trio, jazz trios and whatever. And it's just...
00:28:20
Speaker
you can use education kind as the bedrock of everything and just kind of spread out everywhere in my personal opinion. So Jacqueline has actually done that, you know, that band lady.
00:28:32
Speaker
yeah
00:28:35
Speaker
It's funny. I still watch you. Okay. i follow Not in a creepy way. It's just that you're on social media. Anyway, Dr. Moore, can you tell us about the time when you were like, yes, I will be a band director.
00:28:49
Speaker
So i ran from it a long time. I mentioned earlier that my dad was a band director and I was like, um I don't want nothing to do with anybody else's kids. You can't pay me enough to do that. So I'm going to do the furthest thing away from that. So I started i started ah at FAMU as a computer engineering student and as one does at FAMU when you're a musician, you are in the March 100.
00:29:11
Speaker
And so I did that. I had a blast. And I'm supposed to be at the eSchool, you know, three times a week. And I slacked off. Quite honestly, the the moment I should have known that I was supposed to be a band director and not an engineering student is when I got a D in calculus. That should have told me right there that this ain't for you. You're not cut out for this life.
00:29:30
Speaker
So...
00:29:33
Speaker
um and But in all honesty, I was fortunate enough my freshman year to make the top ensemble at FANU, who was preparing for a performance at the American Bandmasters Association convention, as well as the HBCU consortium, the national national convention as well. So we're performing we were preparing for two national conventions.
00:29:52
Speaker
oh And I found myself, we were having rehearsals six days a week, twice a day with the Wynn ensemble. And I loved every second of it. loved I hated going to the e-school and I realized, Devin, stop playing.
00:30:07
Speaker
Like, just you want to be around all the people that are doing the same things that you enjoy doing. And so after a year, where i changed my major from computer engineering to computer science. And then that summer after my freshman year, changed my major to to to music education. My life got better.
00:30:24
Speaker
ah My grades went up. Everything became super easy. And here I am. There you go.
00:30:33
Speaker
And our in our profession is so much better for it. So I think Mr. Woody got a question for has a question for y'all. Yes, I do, because I find this one kind of curious, ah curious for myself.
00:30:48
Speaker
ah It's like a two part. First off, what music inspired you to want to be a band director? What kind of music? And then two,
00:30:59
Speaker
Do you take that same inspiration you had and introduce your kids to that music? Because you know what it did for you and how it opened up your mind to want to be a musician.
00:31:11
Speaker
Look at Woody being a journalist, Joel. That is a good question. Better than a, you know. I'm playing. That was good. Oh, I stumped the room, huh?
00:31:24
Speaker
Can you repeat one more time? Can you repeat that first part of the question? The first part is what type of music or piece of music inspired you to want to be a band director, love music?
00:31:38
Speaker
What set the flame? and I would have to say Michael Jackson, like Jackson 5 type deal when I heard Who's Loving You? like Okay.
00:31:52
Speaker
that one. I heard it and I was like, I remember, oh my goodness, I was like seven years old um in my room. I would record myself trying to sing like Michael Jackson. I was singing like, glory, glory, hallelujah.
00:32:06
Speaker
I was all into that. And I was just acting like I didn't know what I was doing. And I didn't even, i did not know I was going want to be a band director. I just love music. So any type of music that is from like R&B to like doo-wop to rock and roll to pop anything is just I kept caught my ear I just I adapted to it I just I didn't see any like like one thing for me so with the second part of that question all right you know the kind of genres that you like but
00:32:40
Speaker
Do you now try to introduce that to your kids? Because I feel like the music that you listen to is what dictates your style on the instrument. I constantly preach that to my kids. Like, well, you know there's no right or wrong way. It's just your interpretation of music.
00:32:59
Speaker
And I think a lot of that happens from listening. So do you open up that door for your students? I would have to say yes. I have to slowly open the door.
00:33:11
Speaker
There are certain students that are- Oh, most definitely. Yes, because they were like looking at me like, Ms. Rufus, Beethoven, Mozart, what are you talking about? And I'm like, it's funny because ah Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the last, what's it called? The Fourth Movement, Ode to Joy, it is one of, obviously, the most commonly played songs, same movements everywhere.
00:33:35
Speaker
like the first beginning band plays it and everything. um But the second movement, I'm a huge wrestling fan, by the way. So we watch that Monday, every Monday, every Friday, every pay-per-view, ever since I was eight years old.
00:33:47
Speaker
So I love the theme songs every every single time. And one time we we're just watching, you know, me my fiance and my stepson. And I heard this like song and I was like, I know that song.
00:33:58
Speaker
And it was the second movement um in the Ninth Symphony and everything, or Beethoven's Ninth. And then they put rap to it. So it was just like, I got a vision I see in my head, Melody. I was like, oh my God, that is crazy.
00:34:11
Speaker
So I actually introduced that to my kids. And I was like, do you know what that is? And they're just like, no, like you, Miss Rufus, it's some classical stuff. Then they started hearing the rap part because I didn't just play for them. I actually rapped it for them. And that's when they got interested.
00:34:27
Speaker
you know, funny you should say that. I wait till the applause is over because that's important. But hey I have a young percussion program, and we're doing Beethoven.
00:34:38
Speaker
And we're doing selections for the night. And for the Older Joy, I'm actually, i wrote it with a jungle music feel behind it. And the kids are loving it.
00:34:50
Speaker
Because they couldn't understand how that was all going to work. But you sing the Older Joy, and you just think, you know, any kind of music jungle music kind of groove, it fits in there like a glove.
00:35:05
Speaker
It does. It does. I actually, so sorry, but like, I actually wrote a school song to Ode to Joy just because I like to like write down, like I journal and everything just because I like to do it.
00:35:18
Speaker
And I just started writing down these like lyrics like a while ago, I think during the pandemic and stuff, and I had nowhere to put them. And I'm just like, there's no, there's no, I don't have a job yet. I'm still like trying to get through school.
00:35:31
Speaker
And then I wrote down these lyrics when I got the job. I put them all together and I put it to Ode to Joy and stuff. And it just, it works because my drum set player, he's in seventh grade. He plays for church. He's just laying down these fat beats. And I was yo. Nothing like a church drummer.
00:35:48
Speaker
the yeah Anybody else? Okay. It was good to hear that. So I'll ask, we'll start with Ms. Jacqueline. I'm going to ask you a question.
00:36:01
Speaker
How about, can you talk to us about, you know, maybe your biggest, aha moment as being an African-American woman, um a Black woman in the profession, maybe a moment where you feel like but maybe you connected with a certain student or you realized, you know, you know, ah some, a big ah achievement or a big light bulb kind of went off. It just, wherever your aha, your latest aha moment was, could you talk to us about that, Ms. Jacqueline?
00:36:32
Speaker
Sure. I'll say, I can't speak for everyone, but I know certainly for myself, again, in the area that I am, I'm one of only a few that look like me, even whether male or female. And as isolating as the job is, and of course being who I am and what I look like, you always have those questions, am I doing this right? um going to be accepted by everybody else.
00:36:52
Speaker
I'm teaching my students the right way. My aha moment has been recently within the last couple of years, ah now that my program has grown and my students, their level of achievement has also grown, is seeing that I'm actually doing the same things that my counterparts, no matter what gender or what race that they're doing and they're being successful in their programs, because for the longest time, because I've been teaching now for like 12 years, for too long, I was questioning if what I was doing is right.
00:37:19
Speaker
And now that I'm seeing my students are able to get up to the same level or they're on the right path or the same path as the bigger schools or the like super successful schools, it's like, oh, I've been doing this right the entire time. it was slow, but it's been right.
00:37:32
Speaker
So, i mean, that's kind of, in a way, a selfish aha moment, but it's still an aha moment. Like, I know what I'm doing, and I don't really have to question as much anymore what I'm doing. Exactly. Let that imposter syndrome go somewhere else.
00:37:45
Speaker
Yeah, get out of here. you're in You're in the spot you're supposed to be in, and this moment is for you, Ms. Jackie. Yeah. What about the marching arts? We can't we can't leave without talking about challenges of being ah black person and trying to lead the marching arts, especially a black female leading the march marching arts. Dr. Moore, very but what are some of the biggest challenges that you run run into? You be as real as you want to. I'll be right there with you. Let's go.
00:38:12
Speaker
So for me, know people see me in a position. and i tell them I work with the marching man of Florida State. If they don't know any better, their first question is, so y'all about to be doing the stuff that the March 100 did?
00:38:25
Speaker
No, no. There is space for everybody to do the type of things that they do in their respective spaces. Like the marching chiefs, we play talking out the side your neck. A lot of people, their first introduction to Marching Chiefs was five years ago when Chandler Wilson had the same position. that I was good friend of mine who is now the director of bands, but they assumed that Chandler brought it.
00:38:46
Speaker
Well, no, Marching Chiefs have playing and talking out side your neck for the last decade. Like, let's relax and not assume that just because I'm black, I'm going to introduce a dancer team.
00:38:59
Speaker
Can I do that? 100%. Did I do it for five years at a very high Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm in a new space and I got to understand him understanding my audience. um And so, so with that, understanding your audience, the audience that you are, that you're performing for and making sure that you are, you are not while yes, introducing some of, some of your thoughts and ideas, understanding that like,
00:39:24
Speaker
every audience isn't receptive to everything. And so making sure that you're you're doing the necessary things for who is in front of you. And that might be different from this halftime performance over here or this pep band performance that we have over here.
00:39:38
Speaker
So I think that's the biggest challenge for me currently. Also, my background in middle school band. It's taken me on an interesting journey. I taught middle school band for seven years. I didn't have my own high school band.
00:39:52
Speaker
And now I've landed myself in this athletic band space at the collegiate level. And it's because I had, I worked very closely with a high school band. I was an assistant band director record. I never, I did not spend eight hours a day on a high school campus. and And that is my choice. I never wanted to.
00:40:08
Speaker
Those students from age 14 to 18, they got a little something special going on. And those not my people. students from 11 13, we can rock.
00:40:21
Speaker
And so that's another challenge for me. And that's something that I had to get out of my head is that like, it's still band. It's still just band. So like my first time running own marching band, I did a Marching Honor Band in Oklahoma.
00:40:39
Speaker
My first summer my first summer i out there, right. It's like and all these rural schools from Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, they meet up somewhere at Northwestern University.
00:40:50
Speaker
Yes, Northwestern University, middle of nowhere, Oklahoma. The sweetest kids, but it's like two it it's like a marching band of 250, right? it's crazy and they meet for three days and you it runs just like an honor band like we had i had to write drill for them had to choose choose music for them but that was my first time running it running running a marching band and just before that experience like i got that imposter sy syndrome set in and this is after a year of me working with a college marching band like i've been doing the job um
00:41:24
Speaker
But that imposter syndrome set in is like, Debbie, you ain't never done this before. Well, I've been doing marching band since 2000, 2003. Like it's, it's all still banned and I know how to do band.
00:41:38
Speaker
And so let's, let's go get this job done. And we had a great time. The students had a wonderful time. And then after that experience, I went back to Oklahoma state cowboy marching band. It was like, let's rock folks.
00:41:51
Speaker
Let's go. And now I get to do it here back at home. If you, if you love it, then you know what? Let it go. However, I know kind of seeps in sometimes. So I completely get it.
00:42:04
Speaker
You got to be the one to like be your biggest cheerleader. Sometimes I do want to ask this question of all three of you being a band director, what's your favorite thing or what do you love the most about the marching arts and the about band?
00:42:21
Speaker
Oh, come on now, people. she's This is easy for me. ahead. If you want to take a couple seconds to think, Delisa. it For me, it marries the best of both worlds for me. I played basketball growing up, and so like and i'm just i'm into I'm super into athletics. um so i It marries band and athletics. like I get paid to go to football games and go to basketball games, and you it That's the part that I enjoy. and the type of social engagement that you get to have with students, that you're expected to have with students in that space, top tier.
00:43:02
Speaker
Okay. So um the best thing about being in the marching arts and being a band director, honestly, is this right now, connecting kind of the dots and everything, because um Dr. Moore, you mentioned Chandler Wilson.
00:43:17
Speaker
He actually gave me my first job and everything. And um I think I just came out of t J.P. Taravella High School, Coral Springs. And again, there's not a lot of people in the marching band that look like me or in the concert band. And I'm like the only one.
00:43:34
Speaker
and the Wind Orchestra which was like the highest band that we had at the time and like I my band director at the time Neil Jenkins gave me a solo xylophonia and wanted me to perform it at the John Phyllis Souza concert for at Brower College and so I was like at rehearsal and I'm practicing because I went there for like two half years and I just see some guys on the side just kind of staring just like like this and I just look up and I was like hello And I'm 18 years old. I have no idea what I'm doing right now.
00:44:07
Speaker
um And he was just like, you got a job? And I was like, well, I'm an after school, like child monitor and everything, you know, and I'm also working at Terravella, like after I graduated with the front ensemble, but I mean, not really. He's like, i want to come work for me.
00:44:22
Speaker
And um I saw a different side of marching band. So like, it was very like, awakening for me because I'm like, why haven't I been seen this before? why This is so much fun.
00:44:34
Speaker
um my goodness. So I got both of those worlds like in the same year. But like, I just think it's funny that we all kind of maybe know somebody that knows somebody and we all are kind of connected.
00:44:47
Speaker
but i oftentimes say that the Martin Arch is like West Virginia. Everybody's related.
00:44:55
Speaker
That is the reason. I love it. Jacqueline. Jacqueline, what you got? It's kind of a two-parter.
00:45:08
Speaker
One, I love the inclusivity of the marching arts. Come as you are, no matter what, what you can and you can't do, there's going to be spot for you. You don't know your left from your right here. Join the front ensemble of all the triangles. We can do something for you.
00:45:20
Speaker
And then I also like the fact that it can challenge like your perceptions of not only yourself, but other people. like What you think that you can do or should do. just you come out of it as a totally different person.
00:45:31
Speaker
I love that. I love think still that. for sure Okay, everyone, let's get back on to the floor so our guest clinicians can get into sectionals.
00:45:52
Speaker
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00:46:13
Speaker
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00:46:26
Speaker
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00:46:39
Speaker
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00:47:02
Speaker
Okay, everyone. We are starting a new segment called the 60-Second Tech Block. Each week, one of our hosts or guest clinicians will be forced to give a 60-Second Tech session ah with the section needing the most after the last run.
00:47:18
Speaker
Okay? So basically, our special tech this week has ah to choose three topics, and then they have to think of something to say for 60 seconds nonstop, like a nonstop speech about it, and maybe help some people out there.
00:47:30
Speaker
Maybe. But this week we're bringing in Rever to do some old school teaching. Okay. Trevor, you said your best topics were going to be one, keeping your pet band in, keeping your pet band in time during a basketball game when other music is playing at the same time.
00:47:52
Speaker
Correct. Then the other is describe the emotional drill writing process. Ooh. Yes. And then three, how to successfully get through the Midwest clinic in Chicago.
00:48:05
Speaker
Got it. Yep. I'm ready. I'm ready. All three of those. I can do it. But okay. But everyone, what topic do we think Trevor should do? Like start, you know, coming at me with things.
00:48:17
Speaker
The basketball game. That man. The basketball game. Yep. I heard basketball a bunch. Yeah. So I guess you're doing it. After the director, he should be shot.
00:48:29
Speaker
yeah Balling. Balling. Oh, no. Oh, Woody. Okay. So Trevor, you ready? I am ready. Okay. So we are going to do keeping your pep band in time during a basketball game with another with other music playing at the same time.
00:48:46
Speaker
Woody, do you have 60 seconds on your clock? 60 seconds on your clock.
00:48:55
Speaker
ready
00:48:58
Speaker
oh my gosh so how do you keep your band in time your pep band in time with other music playing loudly in the background it happens people welcome to the world of pep band now djs like to play there's house speakers those speakers gonna be louder than your band usually this is what you have to do first of all you better watch that conductor you better watch those hands making sure you're following the pattern making sure you're checking into your flip folder, your music on beam and checking into the hands.
00:49:27
Speaker
The second thing in pep band got to do, we all know got to listen to that drummer. Feel those strong beats and lock in. That's what you got to do. You got to watch. You got to block all the noise out, the cheering, people hyping you up, that loud, annoying music in the country, music in the back.
00:49:44
Speaker
Just shut it off. It's all about the pep band in that moment. playing to the best of his ability. you gotta watch. You gotta listen. got list those ummer You gotta You band, you're awesome.
00:49:56
Speaker
That's how you do it. I'm out here.
00:50:01
Speaker
I like how tag me in. He's like, yes, I'm on it.
00:50:07
Speaker
Lock in. I thought this was a game, huh? This is me. This what I do. I pay dozens of dollars a year to do this.
00:50:17
Speaker
You know, that wasn't bad. you know that that what bad Hey, I'll take it. And and yeah you're right. You better watch that dog on You better watch the conductor. You better listen to that dog on drummer.
00:50:31
Speaker
And I'll add, you got bass player. Lock in with them. If Dr. Morris says I did a good job, that's good enough me. I can retire a happy man.
00:50:43
Speaker
yeah other It's always so amazing to listen to the rest of the country because our Northeast Corridor, we just don't do these kind of things like that. It's just amazing to hear the different responsibilities for you versus for us here. Like they may ask you to come to a playoff basketball game. That's it.
00:51:04
Speaker
That's it. Like the football game. You can play if you want, but we'd rather not have you play. We just want you to be there because... It's one body.
00:51:15
Speaker
Yeah, it's one body. Ooh. If you show any things, you can shine in a light. Hmm.
00:51:22
Speaker
Well, y'all, I think that this is a perfect time for us to talk about what are we doing. What are we doing? Ooh. You
00:51:31
Speaker
like that one, huh? What are we doing? What are we doing? flavor, right? Yeah, right there. look at that. So with what are we doing?
00:51:42
Speaker
You can do, you can just sound off about anything in the band world or in the marching arts that, you know, kind of grind your gears. So tongue in cheek, you can go off about it. Let us know.
00:51:53
Speaker
Trevor, what are we doing? What are we doing? We know that I'm i'm involved with the drum corps, with DCI, still teaching the mandarins. ah But still, I say it every year.
00:52:04
Speaker
what are we doing with these high tour fees? Like, drum corps, yeah, boo. Drum corps is such an exclusive activity already.
00:52:15
Speaker
i would love to see us... You to help sponsors, some members to get these tour fees down, to to have corporate sponsors to to participate, help students partic participate and try to bring down their tour fees so more students can have an opportunity to participate in drum corps. I marched drum corps for a couple of years at the Troopers and have taught over 12 years, dedicating my summers because I think it's a valuable thing.
00:52:41
Speaker
But we got to get those core fees down so more students can participate in DCI because it's a valuable thing. Trevor, I will tell you that as an on a water break host, you and me, ah we're working on that.
00:52:54
Speaker
Not for all of DCI, but we're trying to work on that for some of the performers. that We're doing our part. That's right. Yes. You're never going to get it back down to the $600 I paid. No, sir. No, sir.
00:53:08
Speaker
no sir no Woody, what are we doing? I'll tell you what we're doing. you know As I mentioned earlier, I have a young percussion program and was inspired with the whole indoor drumline thing because I was a color guard person.
00:53:25
Speaker
had a color guard in high school. i I taught color guard for years. And so I always watched color guard. I'm taking these kids to the Philly Regional this weekend.
00:53:36
Speaker
They don't get to complain about, well, we're drummers. No, you need to know how to move. And none of you can move. So you are going to a Color Guard regional so you can see how it's properly done.
00:53:47
Speaker
Stop praying. Good for you, Woody. i stand by that, being a Color Guard person on this call. I stand by that 110%. So good for you. So they know what it is you are asking them to do.
00:54:01
Speaker
what you not no guy want movie things They've never seen it. They don't understand, you know, at that middle school, I had middle school and high schoolers. They don't really have full control over all their limbs yet.
00:54:16
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. All of that. My arm up? Yes. Why am I staring at my palm? Because. Just stare at your palm and run around. so
00:54:30
Speaker
Oh, my goodness. Because I said so.
00:54:36
Speaker
What are we doing about not teaching? I feel like the younger generation doesn't know. like Because, again, I'm a strike percussion. Woo-woo. Woo-woo. next and I was in the front ensemble and everything, and I left it all on the floor every time during rehearsal.
00:54:53
Speaker
I performed my heart out. I have been watching recently different groups and everything, and I just don't i i don't see the performance, but everyone's trying to make sure they keep their composure, which I get, and control.
00:55:08
Speaker
But it's just like, I want to see that you're having fun, maybe. Yeah. crack a smile like something like a lot like fun COVID a yeah you love this let us see you love it like for real yeah yeah I think oh honestly I really do think that some performers are so in their head and they're just like if I don't get this and this and this together if I don't hit this beat on this beat and then you know it's gonna ruin my whole show and it's just like you were thinking about something that's like 0.25 seconds long
00:55:39
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. but Your whole show and your performance through that whole show is going to be as long as your show is. So what, you know what I mean? ah fun. It's going to come together. Got to come together.
00:55:51
Speaker
Jacqueline, what are we doing? So I'm pretty sure we all. can relate to this and I'm going to call my students out and students all across the world. So my students look at me and I say, this why are you not checking the band app when I post things or checking your mind or the calendar and then coming to me the next day saying, what day's the concert?
00:56:09
Speaker
What time do I have to be here? sent at five o'clock. Oh my God, can't stand that. Oh, Jeff. Look at it. Send it to your parents. Oh, oh That's a good one.
00:56:20
Speaker
That's a good one. Dang, it's true. Check If you send it out, you're going to take the time to put that together. yeah If take five minutes to put it together, do it.
00:56:32
Speaker
Right. I spent hour on a document just for you, and then you ask me what time are we meeting? Are you out of your mind? yes Yes. What are you wearing? What are we wearing?
00:56:44
Speaker
I'll have to make your itinerary and then be like, what time do have to be at awards? It's right there. Like, check the app. Look at it. Don't ask me. Don't bother me. I'm like, get out.
00:56:56
Speaker
I'm like, get out. Yeah. That way. Oh, goodness. dr Moore. What are we doing? I will piggyback on that one a little bit. Why are we waiting until December to join the remind that I created in August that you should have been checking for the last four months?
00:57:14
Speaker
I literally just got a notification, an email for somebody join the remind for marching chiefs that hasn't met since November, since Thanksgiving.
00:57:26
Speaker
You've missed everything already. People of America, what are you doing? What time is the concert? ah Should I bring my instrument? Yeah. What are we doing at halftime?
00:57:40
Speaker
I love it, Nicole. I love it.
00:57:46
Speaker
I always just tell him walk away. Great job, everyone. set your equipment down. Touch and go.
00:57:54
Speaker
Delisa, I love that you love all of these little inserts. I watch you this time, you're like, oh! love it. They're so cute. I just like, I want to perform. like like um i tell yeah We actually have someone that wrote all of that, like specifically for us. So we make sure to let him know. Josh Lida, Delisa, love it.
00:58:15
Speaker
Can we ask our producer to play the one with the flavor again? She really loved that. yeah Hit the flavor. Hit the flavor. What are we doing?
00:58:27
Speaker
yeah It's just like, it's right there. As a percussionist, I can't not do it. What are we doing? Oh my goodness. Okay, but we're now on what we call gush and goes.
00:58:39
Speaker
So with this, y'all, you can be braggadocious about anything you want to. If it's in the marching arts world, band world, in your personal life, you just want to brag. You can do that right now.
00:58:50
Speaker
So ah we're going to go with Trevor first. Brag on me. Well, so we had our band banquet at the end of January after fact the culmination of our year, my first year at Northwestern State University.
00:59:03
Speaker
I'm my alma mater. So it great to be back to the school that went to, Forkham Demons. Yeah. And we got to tell them in January that we're one of the bands, one of the limited bands, high school and college bands that were selected to march um in the St. Patrick's Day a Parade in the spring of 27, the spring 27, 26 already full.
00:59:24
Speaker
But we're we're taking the band to Dublin, Ireland and in the March of 2027. And most of those kids have not been outside the state of Louisiana or Texas. And their mouths dropped in incitement. And they were cheering and and doing the Lucky Charms dance and all this other kind of thing.
00:59:42
Speaker
And they're so excited, especially the the younger members who are going to be able to take part in the trip. Even the older members going to be able to come back as alumni and participate. so i just wanted to gush and go over like my band um please let me know if you need a chaperone yes ma'am yes ma'am okay i will go i'm down too woody actually you're next tell me what you're gushing and going about oh man you know i hate this part nicole because i told it's okay
01:00:15
Speaker
um right so it's okay I'm a humble man. I'm a humble man. You know, I will brag. As you know, I have this new young program. And as a matter of fact, this weekend, all three of my programs came out and the goal was to get them to at least half of the program by the first show, all three groups.
01:00:39
Speaker
And for me, that's amazing. A year ago, they were still learning drill and music a week before championships. So, yeah, I know.
01:00:51
Speaker
I know. It doesn't happen in lot of places, but this is a major step. And they didn't believe it could be done, staff and kids, and they did it, and I'm very proud of them. I just have to say, too, i'm so I know that you are already completely on the mend. I knew you were down and out for a little bit, but like you look good, you look well-rested, and you've got young kids that you're chasing after.
01:01:13
Speaker
I will tell you, I don't live that life anymore, but good for you, man. You know what? The Woodward family has some kind of like unbreakable genie in their own.
01:01:26
Speaker
I am Samuel's little cousin. I'm his reverse I'm this reverse person.
01:01:37
Speaker
ah What are you going to gush and go about? Oh, me? Yeah. Okay. So I'm going to gush and go about, honestly, this, I've been gushing about this. I've been so excited about coming on this podcast just because, you know, there are my students and everything.
01:01:52
Speaker
They're like, you're going to be on a podcast. That's so amazing. And like, I, again, wasn't really confident in coming into being a band director, but it's just like, I had to take a look at my life and everything that I have achieved after losing my mom, my grandma, my, my stepmom, my grandpa, like I've lost a lot of people.
01:02:12
Speaker
And I thought I wasn't going to get back on the horse just because, you know, like I've been in Florida down here, like, like by myself since I've been like 20 years old, 21. And it was really difficult to try to find guidance.
01:02:27
Speaker
Cause my mom got biggest supporter, but I'm going to gush and go about, the journey that I've like, that's led me here to you guys. Alicia, I'm going to ahead just put it out there. We just met and we haven't met before, but I can tell by the way you hold yourself and how articulate you are and how smart you are and bright you are.
01:02:47
Speaker
All those people you talked about, I know that they are darn proud of you and they're looking down at you and they're so proud. And I just want to say bravo. And I'm glad we got to connect and got to meet and whatever you need moving forward, let me know. You have another advocate here. So congratulations to you. Keep doing your thing.
01:03:03
Speaker
Absolutely. Absolutely. Oh my goodness. um Let's see. Jacqueline. Do you got anything to gush and go about? I do. We're kind of in the beginning yet middle of our winter season out here. And, you know, we've been rebuilding for both our guard and our percussion. And I am happy to say my guard for the first time in a while, if not ever, maybe.
01:03:24
Speaker
They got second place ah last weekend, and my percussion concert percussion, they've been getting first place these last competitions. They're ready to go up against the other high schools and a really good middle school that competes against high schools.
01:03:36
Speaker
Like, they're they're ready to go, and this is going to be our first year also going up to WGI, so we're just, like, we're ready. Your perfection is going to WGI? Yes.
01:03:47
Speaker
We're going to be at the Union City show, hopefully. We're still working at finances, but we're still going Union City show. Okay. Well, honestly, I will keep an eye out for when that comes out on um social media.
01:03:59
Speaker
Oh, good for you. I'm so glad that you are that band director. That's, you know, you're, you're in it with your guard and you're in it with your percussion. That's, yeah that's awesome. That's awesome. All right.
01:04:10
Speaker
And then we have Devin. Oh, sorry. Then we have Devin. What are you gushing and going about? Yeah, I'm working on finishing a wonderful year at Florida State. Coming back home has been really, really special for me. I got two degrees from Florida State. I get to work with one of the best colleagues that somebody could ask for, my partner in crime, ah David Flack. He's incredible. He was one of my favorite teachers while I was here.
01:04:35
Speaker
I stuck to his hip while I was in grad school, and now I get to call him friend. And yeah.
01:04:42
Speaker
and get to work with them and watch him work and interact with students. And that's awesome. good. oh good Well, I actually want to gush and go about, one, this episode, because honestly, it's a long time coming.
01:04:56
Speaker
And like, honestly, I'm probably older than you all are. I was born in the 1900s. So, but when I was in high school, I played clarinet first, obviously. Everyone plays clarinet first.
01:05:11
Speaker
But then I saw that all of the solos were low brass players. So then i started to play baritone. Played baritone all through high school, yes. Made all state, made all region. Then I went to a drum corps. I'm not going which one. And it kind of shattered that for me. And I was just like, I don't want to be that person anymore.
01:05:27
Speaker
However, like I did have really good band directors when I was coming up. But I just always wondered how different it would have been if I had... female black woman standing in front of me.
01:05:39
Speaker
And now you are actually being that representation to a lot of younger kids. And I'm all about that. The influence starts when they can see themselves in front of you and you are actually doing it.
01:05:53
Speaker
And the way that you're doing it, because all three of you have such different personalities, but it all works for what you're doing. And honestly, you don't need me to say this, but please sisters, keep doing it.
01:06:04
Speaker
please keep doing it because you're going to influence the next group coming in. um I also want to gush about just like this whole month episodes. so We've had such a good time just connecting. And I'm serious. Every time I connected with somebody new who was black in the marching arts, I never knew.
01:06:21
Speaker
So I'm just meeting all these new people. And it's just like, Oh, Gosh, I just wish it was just so much. ah wish they i wish so much. But honestly, think my heart is full for this month of what I have been able, of who I've been able to meet.
01:06:34
Speaker
And I'm very happy and thankful to have met you all. I'm with you there. It's called Gush and Go, not Gush and Stay. Let's go. All right. Well, I want to thank everyone for a great rehearsal this week.
01:06:48
Speaker
And what a great way to wrap up Black History Month and kick off Women's History Month. ah Thank you, Woody and Trevor. I want to thank Ricardo for helping out all month long too with the programming for Black History Month.
01:07:00
Speaker
um Also, thank you to our GLESS clinicians this week and good luck with your seasons and the rest of the school year. Actually, but we want to know what your socials are. So Delisa, where can we find you on social media?
01:07:11
Speaker
Well, you can find me on Facebook, just Lisa Rufus, or you could find me on Instagram. I believe it's dericious. and Okay. Jacqueline, I know we always ask you this, but ah where are the other places that we can find you? you can always tell us that the obvious one is too, again.
01:07:30
Speaker
So I'm on a TikTok, Instagram, low-key kind of Facebook, still not officially yet YouTube, but it's all that band teacher lady. some sort of variation. So that underscore fan teacher underscore lady.
01:07:42
Speaker
I've been a little bit off right now because I'm in my master's program, but I should be back soon. But you can find me at any of those places. Okay. All right. And Dr. Moore, where can we find you? So yeah, on Facebook is DevinL.Moore.
01:07:55
Speaker
um On Instagram, either as DLM12 underscore three or at TheChocolateMaestra.
01:08:09
Speaker
Either one of those, you can find me. And then give a quick shout out to where we can find information on the Black Female Band Directors page or website.
01:08:21
Speaker
And so on Facebook, if you search Association of Black Women Band Directors, our page should come up as well as on Instagram. On Instagram, the name is Association of Black Women Band Directors.
01:08:34
Speaker
And we have a website. So if you Google Association of Black Women Band Directors, that should pop up as well. You got a question or a good talk you want to talk to us about, you email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
01:08:50
Speaker
We even have a form you can fill out now if you want to be a guest. We love having people on the podcast. So check that out. The link is in our bio on social media. ah You could just take a phone out and video yourself and then send it to us and maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon.
01:09:05
Speaker
One more thing. Don't forget, ah we have a YouTube channel now, so that many of these interviews will be full video editions. So go and subscribe so you don't miss those. Also, before you close out of your podcast listening app, go subscribe, write us a review, share it, you know, start with a friend and then follow us.
01:09:23
Speaker
um You can follow us on social media at on a water break and we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break.
01:09:34
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Rehm. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
01:09:46
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning