Halftime Magazine Vol. 3, Issue 5, September/October 2009 by Halftime Magazine

September/October 2009

Volume 3, Issue 5 www.halftimemag.com $4.95

Marching Around the Globe Bands from Europe, South Africa and Mexico

2009 DCI Champions Band Day $4.95 U.S.

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ISSN 1939-6171

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Volume 3, Issue 5 September/October 2009 ISSN 1939-6171 ®

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Christine Ngeo Katzman christine@halftimemag.com

Advertising Account Executive Erich Steinert erich@halftimemag.com (310) 577-6104

Art Director Jana Rade, impact studios

COVER PHOTO Courtesy of the Field Band Foundation

Assistant Editors Catina Anderson and Gregory M. Kuzma

Editorial Assistant Elizabeth Geli

Editorial Intern Sabrina Lochner

Accounting/Admin Assistant Guido Jimenez

Contributing Writers Catina Anderson, Cassandra Nicole Austin, Mary Karen Clardy, Deanna Colasurdo, Dennis DeLucia, Michelle F. Dinesen, Carole Jacobs, Matt Jones, Kelly Koch, Gregory M. Kuzma, Chase Sanborn

Contributing Photographers Ken Martinson/Marching.com and Jolesch Photography

Web Developers Mike McCullen and Jeff Grant Integrated Communications

Advisory Board Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, University of Southern California “Spirit of Troy” Trojan Marching Band Tony Fox, University of Southern California “Spirit of Troy” Trojan Marching Band Anthony L. White, Los Angeles Unified School District Charles F. Whitaker, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism Peter G. Riherd, Entertainment Weekly Steve Goldberg, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business

Chief Technology Officer Joshua Katzman

Logo Designer Timothy Watters, Teruo Artistry Halftime Magazine is published by Muse Media, LLC, P.O. Box 661355, Los Angeles, CA 90066 Phone: 310-594-0050 Fax: 310-390-5351 Website: www.halftimemag.com

Subscriptions: Halftime Magazine is published six times per year. In the United States, individual subscription price is $14.95 per year, and group subscription price is $9.95 with a minimum of 10 copies. Cover price is $4.95. Printed by Royle Printing Company in Sun Prairie, Wisc. 4

eptember means it’s time to go back to school—with new teachers, new classrooms and new opportunities awaiting you. For marching band, it means going to band camp, learning new drill and music, and welcoming freshmen into the fold. By now, many of you have already settled into your new routines. But before the school term and the marching season get too far underway, we wanted to take this time to wish you a successful year. No matter what the outcome of your football games or competitions (or your classes, for that matter), we hope you have fun and grow from your experiences. As singer Billy Joel wrote in one of his most famous song lyrics: “This is the time to remember ’cause it will not last forever.” In this issue of Halftime Magazine, we celebrate the many ways that marching band has made a difference in people’s lives. In the co-sponsored “Claim Your FAME” Essay Contest between MetroGoldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., and Halftime Magazine, we asked high school students across the country: “How does being in a marching band inspire you in your life?” Read the winning essay, “Bringing Music to Life” (page 28), by Deanna Colasurdo. For Colasurdo, a color guard performer with Morristown (N.J.) High School, being involved in marching band has allowed her and her father a second chance to experience the passion of music. While music promotes a very personal connection for Colasurdo, thousands of high school performers receive an eyeopening experience at their local university’s Band Day (page 14). Interacting with college students and directors as An Official Media Partner of

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well as marching in a major stadium in front of enthusiastic crowds oftentimes inspire them to continue marching at this higher level. On a more global scale, music also has the power to promote global unity, provide otherwise unreachable opportunities and even prevent HIV. In the feature story “Marching Around the Globe” (page 25), we trace the experiences of three organizations whose goals have extended way beyond simply music education. Just like all of the students in these articles, may you always embrace your time in the marching arts and the life lessons you learn along the way. Keep on Marching, Christine Ngeo Katzman Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

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Halftime Magazine exists to serve you, and we look forward to more of your comments. Send your letters to christine@ halftimemag.com.

Readers’ Letters

I marched against The Cadets from ’76 to ’79 and to this day am probably their No. 1 fan who never belonged to the organization. Their approach to plain old hard work and their commitment to excellence have shown throughout the decades. One of my friends, a former corps buddy, had the opportunity to march with them and experience winning DCI, a thrill which we all here in Southeastern Connecticut share. Long live The Cadets!!! — Varnaud Shamsideen

I’m still in high school band, but I’m in love with music, so I have already decided to have a career in music education. I just recently started researching all the ecofriendly percussion products, and I am amazed. Not many people would think about making music eco-friendly, so that’s why I would like to say thank you for this wonderful idea (“Eco-Friendly Percussion,” May/June 2009). — Kim Bailey

I had been a volunteer with a show in Fairfield, Ohio, for some 15 years or so. This article about The Cadets (“Holy Name Cadets: Celebrating 75 Years,” July/August 2009) shows how much dedication and hard work it takes from all involved to run a program. … All of the corps involved are already winners in my book. Keep up the good work! — Steve Beason

Correction: For the article “Holy Name Cadets: Celebrating 75 Years,” we would like to issue the following corrections. • The Cadets’ three-peat was from 1983 to 1985, not 1984 to 1986. • The Cadets’ last name change occurred in 1999 while still in Bergen County, not after moving to Allentown in 2004. We sincerely regret these errors.

Congratulations on a terrifiC 2009 season!

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Features Band Day: Uniting Present and Future..........................................................................14 For one day each year, many high school bands travel to nearby universities to get a taste of collegiate marching band life. Although this event is generally known as “Band Day,” it appears across the country in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a competition, a clinic or a larger-than-life halftime show, Band Day is an event appreciated for its ability to connect college and high school band members. By Janel Healy

2009 DCI Champions.......................................................18 The Blue Devils made history by going back to “1930” while Carolina Crown showed that “the grass is always greener” when it comes to the sweet sounds of its horn line. Meanwhile, the Holy Name Cadets returned to the field to pay respects to Leonard Bernstein for its 75th anniversary. But those weren’t the only drum corps that turned heads. Halftime Magazine reviews this year’s top drum corps, award winners and special recognitions. By Gregory M. Kuzma

Marching Around the Globe....................................25 Throughout the world, marching organizations have sprouted up not only to provide music education but also to promote global unity and improve lives. By Elizabeth Geli

Bringing Music to Life.....................................................28 How does being in a marching band inspire you in your life? In a co-sponsored essay contest that celebrates the release of the new movie “FAME,” Halftime Magazine and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., asked this question to marching band students across the country. Here is the winning entry in the MGM & Halftime Magazine “Claim Your FAME” Essay Contest. By Deanna Colasurdo

Departments Publisher’s Letter........................................................4 Readers’ Letters.............................................................6 Noteworthy........................................................................8 “The Band That Wouldn’t Die”; VolcanoScore Lets Audiences Vote; Drum Corps Associates Winner

Sectionals...........................................................................10 Developing Breath Control; Practice Perfect; Q&A With Matt

18 Web Exclusives • The Troopers Return to DCI Finals • “Claim Your Fame” Essays • And More … Visit www.halftimemag.com/articles/web-exclusives.html. Also, check out Halftime Magazine’s Digital Edition, a web-based interactive version of the magazine.

Savage; Teaching Tips

Gear Up....................................................................................12 iSchoolBand; New CD by The Band of The Blues and Royals Regionals. .............................................................................13 Calendar of events organized by region Direct From....................................................................... 30 Tulane University Marching Band Behind the Baton....................................................... 32 A True Legend Fitness to the Max................................................... 34 Don’t Detox For Fun..................................................................................36 Crossword: It’s an International Thing

Next Issue • The Role of Band Boosters • Philanthropic Activities • How to Boost Morale • Bands of America/USSBA Preview • And More …

By Elizabeth Geli

“The Band That Wouldn’t Die” The inspirational story of Baltimore’s Marching Ravens will be featured in a documentary, “The Band That Wouldn’t Die,” which will be aired on ESPN on Oct. 13, 2009. Acclaimed director and producer Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” “Bugsy,” “The Natural”) directed the documentary as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” film series, celebrating its 30th anniversary and featuring sports-themed documentaries. The Marching Ravens, originally the Baltimore Colts’ Marching Band, were blindsided when the then-Baltimore Colts franchise quietly packed up and headed to Indianapolis. “Here is a band without a football team,” says band president John Ziemann, who has been with the organization for more than 45 years. “No sponsorships, no money, no home, and we’re going to stay together and be a major promotional tool to bring the NFL back to Baltimore.”

Photo courtesy of Shawn Hubbard.

Working with a famed director such as Levinson was a great privilege for Ziemann and the Marching Ravens. “It’s a documentary, but it has the Barry Levinson touch,” Ziemann says. “If you’ve seen any of his movies, you know he has a gift of pulling at your heartstrings. And we’re hoping that inspires all the people who ever marched in a band or drum corps; it’s their story too.” “We’re hoping that this will show people around the nation and the world how important music is, that we keep it in our schools,” Ziemann adds. “Here’s a band that did not go out with a protest group but went out with their musical talent and ability, and they made a difference.” 8

VolcanoScore Lets Audiences Vote If you’ve been to a drum corps or marching band competition, you’ve heard the grumblings of the audience members. Everyone has an opinion on who should have won. Now those voices can be heard by using VolcanoScore, a system that allows audience members to vote or give scores for individual groups by sending text messages from their cell phones. “VolcanoScore does all the work to add it up and average,” says Dr. Phil Marshall, CEO of VolcanoScore and executive director of the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. “It just gives the show one more element of excitement with audience participation. Of course it doesn’t replace judges’ scoring, but it complements it very well.” This summer VolcanoScore was used at the Drums of Fire show in Eugene, Ore., and the Drums Along the Waterfront show in Buffalo, N.Y. VolcanoScore trophies were awarded to Santa Clara Vanguard and Bluecoats, respectively. Marshall is currently in talks to expand VolcanoScore to more events. “We’ve begun negotiations for 2010 with people from across the spectrum,” Marshall says. “We think that this audience-scoring system can be used by all marching music activities from drum corps to marching band to winter guard and indoor drum line.” For more information, visit www.volcanoscore.com.

Drum Corps Associates Winner The Reading (Pa.) Buccaneers dominated the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships, winning its fifth championship in a row and receiving a record score of 99.025 at the Labor Day weekend event in Rochester, N.Y. The Buccaneers also broke or tied four other DCA records including most consecutive victories (47), most consecutive world championships (5), most world championships (9, tied with the Hawthorne Caballeros) and most consecutive undefeated seasons (5). “This is a very special drum corps,” says director James Gruber on the corps website. “It was an incredible pair of performances under very difficult circumstances.” The morning of the preliminary round, the Buccaneers learned of the sudden death of Geoff Silver, 28, an assistant high school band director from Richmond, Va., and a third-year trumpet player. The Buccaneers and several other groups performed with black ribbons on their uniforms in his honor. His trumpet and uniform top were placed on the front sideline for both performances. “Geoff was a blessing to all of us,” Gruber says. “He was always at rehearsal with a smile on his face and made others around him better. We love him and will miss him very much. The corps performed for Geoff this weekend, so it’s no surprise that they delivered the two best performances of the year. Geoff wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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Developing Breath Control By Mary Karen Clardy

With any flutist, regardless of age or level, the first priority is understanding breathing. Breath control determines 100 percent of a flutist’s success with tone quality, phrasing, technique and intonation, so practice daily breathing exercises to develop control and capacity. Try these exercises. Increasing Capacity. With the metronome set on a quarter note equals 60 mm, exhale for four counts, then inhale for four counts. Use all of your air on the exhale and fill completely on the inhale. For a greater challenge, increase the length of the exercise by one, two, three or four counts. Breath capacity builds to fit the length of the exercise. Increasing Control. Since the flute lacks resistance, it’s important to control the release of breath through the phrase. The embouchure should be small and round, with firm corners and shaped like saying the word, “pooh.” It’s also helpful to think of blowing a kiss when forming the embouchure, with the bottom lip rolled forward in a pouting expression. Controlling exhalation involves more than embouchure, and here are some helpful concepts: • Imagine diving into a pool and swimming from deep to shallow, rationing the breath from start to finish as you swim. • Remember good posture when practicing, with a relaxed, full chest of air to support the phrase. Never collapse the chest or raise the shoulders. Building Confidence. Ten minutes a day devoted to developing breath control will improve a flutist’s phrasing, technique and overall confidence. When the breathing apparatus is working properly, everything is easier and better. Don’t be afraid of taking breaths! Especially for young players, mark every breath and be consistent with choices. Irregular breathing leads to physical tension and bad phrasing. By practicing these exercises daily, breath capacity and control can be developed in any flutist, regardless of age or ability.

About the Author Mary Karen Clardy, professor of flute at the University of North Texas in Denton, appears as a soloist, chamber artist and teacher throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and South America. A renowned author, Mary has published more than 10 books from European American Music, Leduc, Schott and Universal Edition. Her students are consistent prizewinners in international competitions and occupy prominent orchestral and faculty positions throughout the world. Visit www.mkclardy.com.

brass

winds

Leading instructors provide practical tips for each section of the band.

Practice Perfect By Chase Sanborn

At a recent International Trumpet Guild conference, some participants had the opportunity to eavesdrop on Sergei Nakariakov as he practiced. He is one of the finest trumpet players on the planet; indeed he may be one of the best who has ever lived. Although he can produce a technical firestorm, articulating notes at the speed of light, in the practice room everything was played slowly and carefully, striving for perfection on every note. This illustrates an old expression: Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. The body learns through repetition. When you teach your body to do something correctly, that’s what it tends to do. If you allow it to adopt bad or sloppy habits, the end result will be just that. In the Basket. Here’s an analogy: Two basketball players stand beside a pile of basketballs. Player 1 throws as many balls as possible, as quickly as possible. Out of 100 shots, 50 of them go into the basket (probably a generous prediction). Player 2 throws only 10 balls but takes time to concentrate fully on each throw. Eight of the balls go in the basket. Who has accomplished more? Player 1, despite getting 50 balls in the basket, has established only a 50 percent accuracy rate. Player 2 has established an 80 percent accuracy rate and probably learned more from the two shots she missed than player 1 did from the 50 he missed. Your notes are basketballs; get each one in the basket. One Note at a Time. This is a hard concept for young musicians (and some older ones) to grasp: Practicing slowly and carefully yields the most rapid and effective results. Slow down and listen to every single note you play with a critical ear. Accept nothing less than your absolute best on every note you play; don’t let sloppiness be your trademark. If you cuff an entrance or the tone is fuzzy, take time to improve that note before you move on to the next. Here is a recipe for perfect practicing: Practice one note at a time, and make sure every note is played to the absolute best of your ability.

About the Author Chase Sanborn is a trumpet player and a member of the jazz faculty at the University of Toronto. He is the author of “Brass Tactics,” “Jazz Tactics,” “Tuning Tactics” and “Music Business Tactics.” Chase plays Yamaha trumpets and CS Signature Model mouthpieces from GR Technologies. For more information about Chase, visit www.chasesanborn.com.

By Dennis DeLucia

Matt Savage received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at State University of New York at Potsdam and his Master’s in Performance from the University of Southern California. He played snare in the Watkins Glen Squires and the Bayonne Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps and performed with many jazz and “world” ensembles. He has taught the Velvet Knights, Bluecoats and the University of North Carolina (UNC). He is a WGI judge and sits on its steering committee. DeLucia: When did you start to play drums? Savage: I think in my mother’s womb! I’ve always been a drummer! Mickey Hart wrote, “To all those who feel the power of the drum and don’t know why …”—that’s me! DeLucia: Major influences? Savage: My early teachers John Sears, Jimmy Ahearn, Tommy Reitano; my corps teachers Len Carey, Herb Flower, Joe Wormworth, Bill Calhoun, Bob Dubinski as well as Tony Maiello and Jim Petercsak [Crane School]. And of course, my parents, who were so supportive of my aspirations. DeLucia: What attracted you to marching percussion? Savage: I went to a parade when I was 10 and was amazed at the power and uniformity of the drum line and the volume of the brass. I’ve been addicted ever since! DeLucia: Memorable experiences? Savage: Playing the National Anthem when the USA hockey team won the 1980 Olympics, winning high drums with the Bridgemen, teaching the Velvet Knights and UNC, writing “The Savage Rudimental Workshop” and designing my signature sticks from Pro-Mark. DeLucia: Any hip tips? Savage: As drummers, we shouldn’t play the drums; we play the sticks! A master drummer knows how to manipulate the sticks, how they react to the drum, fingers, wrists and arms, how they are an extension of the body. DeLucia: Any unfulfilled goals? Savage: I want to be the percussionist with James Taylor. I find myself incredibly affected by his music.

About the Author Dennis DeLucia is a percussion teacher, arranger, clinician and judge. A former member of the West Point Band, he is best known for his successes with championship corps and bands. He has been inducted into three of the major Halls of Fame: Drum Corps International, WGI Sport of the Arts and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.

guard

percussion

Q&A With Matt Savage

Teaching Tips By Catina Anderson

If you’re a veteran member, chances are you will get the opportunity to help younger teammates master routines. Here are some steps for success. Set Goals. When teaching new routines, set goals and stick to a schedule. Break your goals down into 15-minute increments to help keep things moving and make sure you finish in the allotted time. Communicate these goals to the group. Demonstrate. Use good technique and really perform it. Sell it to them, so they will want to learn what you have to teach. Chunk It. Break the routine down into easy-to-remember “chunks” (often four counts at a time with no more than eight counts at once). Chunks can be longer for easier routines and as short as adding one more “move” to what has already been taught for difficult sections. Lead, Then Look. Begin each new phrase facing forward, so performers can compare their spin to yours and watch you to learn. Use your peripheral vision (or position yourself in front of a reflective surface) to ensure the group is following. By NOT watching right away, you allow more timid students a bit of time before they feel judged. When it comes time to “look,” check for problems with hand placement, missing counts or confusion. Avoid correcting individuals, choosing instead to address the entire group. Repeat, repeat, repeat until all members feel comfortable. If you move on before the group is ready, you will end up with frustrated members who will find it difficult to continue learning. Divide and Conquer. Periodically divide into smaller groups led by other experienced members. Small groups allow performers to ask questions with less fear and leaders to check for more specific details such as hand placement or body angles. Most importantly, be sensitive to new members and try to remember how it felt your first season. Praise, praise, praise. They will gain confidence with every rehearsal, and you’ll feel great knowing you were able to help in that process!

About the Author Catina Anderson has been involved in the color guard activity, first as a performer and then instructor, for the past 20 years. She is a consultant at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Va. She is also the founder/editor of www.colorguardeducators. com, a website for color guard coaches. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Towson University and a master’s degree in education from Marymount University.

September/October 2009 11

By Elizabeth Geli

ith social networks becoming an integral part of life, it was only a matter of time before a marching band version made its way onto the scene. iSchoolBand, a new social network system from BandFind Inc., allows directors to connect with students and parents in a whole new way. According to the website, iSchoolBand helps “students communicate, directors coordinate and parents participate.” After a band signs up for the service, the members can create profiles, similar to a service like Facebook or MySpace, and post thoughts, upload photos, participate in forums, send private messages or write comments on each other’s pages. Groups are created based on instruments, different ensembles and booster affiliations. Directors can send out emails to specific groups and also upload drill charts and music for easy access in the students’ “digital backpack.” “Having one place that all students can access their drill charts, sheet music, audio and video performances will be a tremendous timesaver for teachers,” says Ron Meers, former president of the Tennessee Music Education Association on the iSchoolBand website. Unlike other online social networks, iSchoolBand is private, so that parents can allow children to browse without fear of predators; directors and parents can also speak privately. Only the band’s profile page can be viewed by the general public. iSchoolBand is currently in beta mode and will launch soon. Check its website, www.iSchoolBand.com, for information on signing up.

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New CD by The Band of The Blues and Royals

on’t get enough of hearing marching bands on the field? Now you can take home some of high school marching band’s greatest hits on the new CD “High School Salute: A Tribute to American Marching Bands” by The Band of The Blues and Royals from Silva Screen Records. The Blues and Royals are a marching and horse-riding military group from Great Britain. Its history reaches back 350 years, and the band still uses solid silver kettledrums presented by King George III in 1805. This album highlights some of the most popular American high school marching band classics as well as some more recent popular melodies—from John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” to John Williams’ theme from “Star Wars” to a medley from the Disney Channel hit “High School Musical.” “[The band’s] multi-state, coast-to-coast tours of the United States are warmly received,” a press release says. “And this release is a salute to the generosity and kindness shown by their American hosts.” In the past, The Blues and Royals have released albums of famous Sousa marches and the music of London. This album is available for purchase on Amazon.com and other music retail websites.

Major Events by Region West

Northeast

Bands of America

Oct 31—Santa Clarita, CA—College of the Canyons Nov 7—St. George, UT—Dixie State College

Oct 24—West Chester, PA—West Chester University

U.S. Scholastic Band Association Oct 31—Carson, NV—NV Day Championship

Miscellaneous Nov 21—San Bernardino, CA—California State Band Championships Nov 22—Clovis, CA—Western Band Association Grand Championships Nov 27—Honolulu, HI—Waikiki Holiday Parade

Midwest Bands of America Oct 3—Centerville, OH—Centerville HS Oct 10—Ypsilanti, MI—Eastern Michigan University Oct 16-17—St. Louis, MO—Super Regional, Edward Jones Dome Oct 17—Massillon, OH—Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Nov 7—Indianapolis, IN—Lucas Oil Stadium Nov 11-14—Indianapolis, IN—Grand National Championships, Lucas Oil Stadium

Miscellaneous Sep 19—Waseca, MN—Waseca Marching Classic Sep 26—Luverne, MN—Tri-State Band Festival Oct 3—Sioux Falls, SD—Festival of Bands USA Oct 17—Ankeny, IA—Mid-Iowa Band Championship Oct 17—Vermillion, SD—USD Quad State Marching Competition Oct 24—Minneapolis, MN—Youth in Music Marching Band Championships Oct 31—Edmond, OK—Oklahoma Band Association 6A Championship Oct 31—Indianapolis, IN— ISSMA Marching Band State Finals Nov 7—Detroit, MI—Michigan Competing Band Association Championship Contests Nov 7—Beavercreek and Kings Mill, OH— Mid-States Band Association Championships

U.S. Scholastic Band Association Sep 26—Lancaster, PA—Central PA Regional Oct 3—Allentown, PA—Eastern PA Regional Oct 10—Upper Darby, PA—Delaware Valley Regional Oct 11—Jackson, NJ—Central NJ Regional Oct 17—East Rutherford, NJ—Yamaha Cup Oct 17—West Chester, PA— PA State Championship Oct 18—Hempstead, NY—NY State Championship Oct 24—New Britain, CT—New England States Championship Oct 25—Union, Sewell and Parlin, NJ—NJ State Championships Oct 31-Nov 1, 7-8, 14-15—Allentown, PA—Northern States Championship Oct 31-Nov 1—Union, NJ—The Q Event

Miscellaneous Oct 31—Erie, PA—Lakeshore Marching Band Association Championships Nov 1—Bridgewater, MA—The New England Marching Band Championships Nov 1 and 8—Hershey, PA—Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championship Nov 14-15—Hershey, PA—Cavalcade of Bands Championships Nov 14—Bridgeport, CT—Musical Arts Conference Championships Nov 26—New York, NY—Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

South Bands of America Sep 26—Louisville, KY—Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Oct 3—Houston, TX—Pearland Stadium (The RIG) Oct 10—Arlington, TX—University of Texas at Arlington Oct 10—Towson, MD—Towson University

Oct 23-24—San Antonio, TX—Super Regional, Alamodome Oct 30-31—Atlanta, GA—Super Regional, Georgia Dome

U.S. Scholastic Band Association Sep 26—Herndon, VA—Northern VA Regional Oct 3—Schertz, TX—San Antonio Regional Oct 3—Laredo, TX— Southwest TX Regional Oct 3—Burleson, TX—North TX Regional Oct 3—LaJoya, TX—South TX Regional Oct 3—Rio Hondo, TX—Deep River Regional Oct 10—Kyle, TX—Central TX Regional Oct 10—Early, TX—Heart of Texas Regional Oct 10—Spring, TX—Houston Regional Oct 10—Corpus Christi, TX—Bay Area Showcase Oct 17—Germantown, MD—MD State Championship Oct 17—Jefferson City, TN—Eastern TN Regional Oct 17—Virginia Beach, VA—Southeastern VA Regional Oct 24—Chattanooga, TN—Southern States Championship Oct 24—Towson, MD—Mid-Atlantic Regional Oct 24—Lynchburg, VA—Central VA Regional Oct 31—Wise, VA—Mid-South Regional Championship Oct 31—Conroe, TX—TX State Championship Oct 31—Salem, VA—VA State Championship Nov 6-8—Annapolis, MD—National Championship, US Naval Academy

Miscellaneous Sep 18-19—Orlando, FL—WGI Sport of the Arts Spinfest!! Oct 17—Kingsport, TN—Tennessee Valley Showcase Oct 31, Nov. 7—Columbia, Piedmont and Orangeburg, SC—South Carolina State Championships Nov 7—Louisville, KY—Kentucky State Marching Band Championships Nov 21—St. Petersburg, FL—Florida Marching Band Coalition State Finals

To list your event, email regionals@halftimemag.com. September/October 2009 13

By Janel Healy Photo courtesy of the Mississippi State University Famous Maroon Band.

“

y students always joke that there are two great holidays every year: Christmas and Band Day,” says Jay C. Rees, director of The Pride of Arizona Marching and Pep Bands at the University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson. Band Day, an event that brings high school bands onto a college campus to perform, compete or take part in clinics, provides benefits for all parties. High school students get to experience the excitement of a college campus and performance atmosphere, which in turn motivates them to continue their musical journey. As a result, Band Day turns into a great recruitment tool for the university bands.

Mass Performance Over the years, the basic meet-and-greet concept has evolved into a number of 14

For one day each year, many high school bands travel to nearby universities to get a taste of collegiate marching band life. Although this event is generally known as “Band Day,” it appears across the country in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a competition, a clinic or a larger-than-life halftime show, Band Day is an event appreciated for its ability to connect college and high school band members. forms depending on the needs of the college and its high school guests. Probably the most common format involves high school bands joining a college band in a football game performance. At the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in Amherst, for example, 60 to 70 high school bands play about seven minutes of music with the Minuteman Marching Band. Since approximately 3,500 students take the field at one time, no marching is involved. And it’s not just for spatial reasons—there’s not much time to teach drill when thousands of students need to be organized in only a few hours. “In two hours and fifteen minutes or so, we go from … meeting each other to breaking into sections and learning the music to getting spots on the field assigned to playing the show,” explains

Thom Hannum, associate director and percussion instructor for the Minuteman Marching Band. “It’s pretty spectacular to see it all take place.” Similarly, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 3,000 high school students pour out of the stands and tunnels of the Rose Bowl Stadium to join the UCLA Bruin Marching Band, “The Solid Gold Sound,” on the field. According to Dr. Jennifer Judkins, assistant director of bands, interacting with the college students is one of the most valuable experiences a high school student can take away from this kind of Band Day. And at Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville, 250 students from many different area high schools not only play with the Famous Maroon Band at halftime, but they also follow the band on its march into the stadium and gather

Photo courtesy of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.

in the stands to perform a fight song and cheer together. “This is more fun for them than sitting and waiting to perform at halftime,” says Elva Kaye Lance, director of bands at MSU. “We typically do a cheer with them that the crowd is with us on, which is something they might not experience at their high school.”

The Shift to Competitions Some college and university band programs believe that an adjudicated Band Day is the most meaningful for their high school guests. “[Many universities] have shifted from traditional band day gatherings to competitions, and that’s the shift that we went with,” says Chad P. Simons, associate director of bands at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque.

Now, UNM’s Band Day is a competition known as the “Zia Marching Fiesta.” Thirtytwo regional high school marching bands visit the university campus for the day to perform their shows and receive ratings and comments from nationally recognized band pundits. The groups get to perform their own music in a large venue, observe the musical and marching styles of 31 other high school bands and walk away with constructive criticism from the judges in the form of adjudication tapes. The University of Arizona hosts a festival-style performance opportunity where participating bands are judged in six professional categories. The university invites seven respected professionals from all over the country to adjudicate on Band Day. “I think the judging [at UA Band Day] is the best we receive throughout the

entire fall semester,” says Brian Wolfe, director of bands at Rincon/University High School in Tucson. The university band program benefits from this style of Band Day too. For instance, the UNM music education students get to see how adjudication tapes are made. And while the judges are deliberating, the college band performs an exhibition for the high schoolers, a crowd that’s in attendance solely to support the marching arts. At UA, this aspect is what makes its Band Day so special. “Band Day here at UA is a culminating event for our band program and for high school programs all around the state of Arizona,” Rees says. “It’s the biggest day of the year. Although we love supporting the athletic department, Band Day is an opportunity for us to take the field for September/October 2009 15

Photo courtesy of The Pride of Arizona Marching Band.

an audience that is there to see band. Everyone is there because they love the activity. It’s the best possible performance for the most appreciative audience in the best possible setting!”

Band Day Benefits Probably one of the most exciting experiences that high school marching bands can take away from any Band Day is the opportunity to play in a major football stadium for thousands of spectators. This is especially true for small bands. At Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Band Day attendees from the area tend to be groups with no more than 40 members. “The bands that come here are usually 16

really small, and suddenly they are in a Big Ten stadium playing with 1,500 people,” says Paul Popiel, assistant director of bands. “The students get to play for a big audience even though they’re a small part of a big band; it’s an exciting event for them.” Jordan Childress, a senior at Eastern Greene High School in Bloomfield, Ind., is one of only two snare drummers in his band, so attending the IU Band Day and participating in a 50-person drum line was eye opening for him. “I never really imagined how loud it was going to be,” says Childress. “It was very surprising to hear how together and tight it was and how loud it was compared to my high school’s drum line.” Even at a competition-style Band Day, small high school bands can get a lot out of the experience. At the UNM, for instance, bands with 15 or 20 members are able to compete against 250-piece marching bands; groups of all sizes are judged “on the same playing field,” according to Simons. In fact, a 45-person band won last year’s UNM Band Day over every large group in the competition. Band Day is also highly educational. Observing other bands’ styles and techniques can broaden students’ horizons and help them to be better musicians. They are able to improve their high school bands by bringing back and applying what they have learned. “From watching the MSU band, I saw that technique could be better in our band,” says Kayla Giles, a junior trumpet player with Wayne County. “I noticed that every person I looked at had their toes up, and when they were backing up, they were on their toes. They had really good technique. If everybody in our band would work on their foot technique, we would be a lot better.” Some universities also mix in additional educational opportunities through formal clinics. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, between 22 and 28 bands of all sizes perform their shows in the stadium. After each group performs, an expert brought in by the university whisks them away to a music clinic followed by a visual clinic, which includes viewing a recording of the band’s performance while the expert gives constructive comments. College marching band students benefit from Band Day as well, by having the opportunity to build their leadership skills. At a traditional Band

Day that begins with a group rehearsal or sectionals, college students can be an integral part of making sure that the high schoolers understand the music. And at UCLA, a member of The Solid Gold Sound may act as a guide for one of the visiting bands. He or she answers logistical questions, helps the group locate its correct spot on the field and helps coordinate the mass movement of students from the stands and tunnels onto the Rose Bowl field at halftime. “It’s a leadership role,” explains Judkins. “It’s particularly valuable for music education majors, but I think everyone benefits from the leadership and event management skills it takes to get thousands of people on and off the field quickly and to get them in the right place.”

Passing on the Torch Many college marching band students around the United States were first inspired to attend a certain university and be in the marching band there, thanks to Band Day. For instance, Olivia Boatman, a junior at MSU, attended the MSU Band Day for four years during high school. She says that participating in the game day environment made her want to attend MSU and be in the marching band. “High school students see that they can still continue in music at the college level even if it’s not their major,” says Reesa Jones, director of The Marching Gondoliers at Venice High School in Los Angeles. “This gives them something to strive for. They get to see just the sheer size of what is possible.” Meeting and working with a university band director at Band Day might also quell any nervousness a student has about auditioning for a college music school or band. “By attending Band Day, my students get to realize that the staff members at MSU are real people,” explains Andy Pierce, director of the Wayne County High School Band in Waynesboro, Miss. “When [students] go to auditions, this helps them with their nerves.” Overall, Band Day is an event that can leave high school students feeling incredibly inspired. At UA, Rees purposefully chooses unusual music and writes complex drill when he is creating the Pride of Arizona’s Band Day show because he wants to expand the horizons of the high school attendees.

“We’re always trying to push the envelope,” Rees says. “We want to do something the high school kids haven’t seen before. We want to open their minds. We want them to be inspired.” “The students’ energy before we perform is tangible,” Rees adds. “They remember being the high school student at the event who was inspired, so they have a great sense of purpose to put on an exhilarating performance that will speak to those high school students because those kids are the future of the band. My students are ready to pour their souls into the performance because it could literally make someone else decide, ‘I want to be in that band.’ It’s a powerful moment to know you are about to go out there and change someone’s life.” Most of the students in The Pride of Arizona, according to Rees, initially decided to march at UA when they watched the band perform at Band Day. Patterson is one example. “I’ve been attending Band Day since I was in high school, and that’s what made me want to go to the University of Arizona for sure,” he explains.

In fact, Patterson’s high school band director brought his students to UA because he was an alumnus of the band there, and both Wolfe and Jones were graduates of the universities to which they now bring their students year after year. Jones, who was a marcher, drum major and then teacher’s assistant for UCLA, enjoys experiencing Band Day now from a high school band director’s perspective. “As a director, I realize how much the high school students get out of going, which I didn’t realize before,” Jones says. “I didn’t realize that for them it’s very special—they get so excited. It is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity for many of them. … I am so grateful to attend Band Day after helping run it for so many years.” By bringing their high school students to Band Day, alumni directors help their

college or university marching band influence prospective members. “A lot of students who have graduated from UMass are now high school band directors and music teachers, and they really like bringing their bands back here,” says Hannum. “They know what Band Day is, they know what their kids will get out of it, and they want their kids to have the same exposure to UMass that they did. Our alumni have been very helpful in helping us to expand the program.” A line from the script that MSU uses at its Band Day sums it up. As both high school and college students march out onto the football field to perform together at halftime, the announcer declares, “We are proud to present the present and the future.”

About the Author Janel Healy currently works as a professional vocalist for Holland America Line. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with a degree in communication and a minor in American studies. While at USC, she sang alto in her a cappella group, the SoCal VoCals, which won first place in the 2008 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. She played trumpet and piano in junior high.

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The Blue Devils made history by going back to “1930” while Carolina Crown showed that “the grass is always greener” when it comes to the sweet sounds of its horn line. Meanwhile, the Holy Name Cadets returned to the field to pay respects to Leonard Bernstein for its 75th anniversary. But those weren’t the only drum corps that turned heads. Halftime Magazine reviews this year’s top drum corps, award winners and special recognitions.

istory was made and records were broken at the conclusion of what some called one of the most exciting junior drum and bugle corps seasons in recent memory. For the first time in its 37-year history, Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships took place in the state-ofthe-art Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The stadium, which has a retractable roof, houses a total of 63,000 seats and serves as the home of the Indianapolis Colts football team.

About the Author Gregory M. Kuzma (www.gregorymkuzma.com), who simply goes by “GM,” is a freelance writer and the author of the book “On the Field From Denver, Colorado … The Blue Knights!,” which highlights his 1994 summer tour adventures as a drum corps member.

The Blue Devils Win No. 13 t was a finish for the record books on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, as The Blue Devils wrote its own history with “1930” when the corps won the DCI World Championships for a record 13th time. The Blue Devils from Concord, Calif., successfully held off Carolina Crown and the Holy Name Cadets throughout the last three shows in Lucas Oil Stadium to remain undefeated for the entire season. Its score of 99.05 is the second highest ever for a championship performance. The Blue Devils also took top honors with Color Guard Performance, General Effect Visual and Visual Ensemble categories. Carolina Crown, which placed 2nd overall, took the High Brass caption and Music Ensemble.

Making History From heartbreak to history, The Blue Devils have done what no other drum corps organization has: to win at both the World Class and Open Class levels in the same season. The season was particularly special after 2nd place finishes for both The Blue Devils A and B corps in 2008. “It’s an incredible organization,” says DCI Hall of Famer Pete Emmons, who is the corps manager and tour director for The Blue Devils A corps. “The Blue Devils’ vision and direction is what

drives the success of this talented group of members.” The Blue Devils’ 2009 production, “1930,” featured songs popular in the first year of the Great Depression.

Overcoming Hardship And just like the difficult times of that decade, several members of the drum corps also faced financial hardship. Ryan Bettencourt, a euphonium player, nearly missed out on marching a second season with the corps. “It was a hard decision for me to march this year due to financial issues,” says Bettencourt, who also marched in 2007. “My dad’s business was slower than usual, and my mom is disabled; I was faced with the possibility of not being able to participate this past year.” Bettencourt presented his problem to the staff. “They were very understanding and gave me some grace with the payments,” he says. “So I started off the season by sending out 50 sponsorship letters to all the surrounding businesses in my area, and by the end of the season, the dedication of the staff, members and volunteers saw us through to the outcome we all had dreamed of. I still have a long way to go before I’m out of debt, but I could not be more proud to have been a part of the 2009 Blue Devils.”

World Class Scores 1. The Blue Devils 2. Carolina Crown 3. Holy Name Cadets 4. The Cavaliers 5. Santa Clara Vanguard 6. Bluecoats 7. Boston Crusaders 8. Blue Stars 9. Phantom Regiment 10. Glassmen 11. Blue Knights 12. Troopers

99.05 97.50 97.20 96.15 95.65 93.15 90.70 90.05 89.90 87.75 86.45 85.10

World Class Caption Awards Brass Performance: Carolina Crown Percussion Performance: The Blue Devils Color Guard Performance: The Blue Devils General Effect Music: The Blue Devils General Effect Visual: The Blue Devils Visual Performance: The Blue Devils Music Ensemble: Carolina Crown Visual Ensemble: The Blue Devils

September/October 2009 19

Top Brass Lifts Carolina Crown A

nother drum corps that has steadily risen through the ranks made history in 2009 as well. Carolina Crown not only achieved its highest placement ever (2nd) but also scored a 97.50 (the highest in corps history). “Jim Coates [program coordinator and staff coordinator] and our great design team put together a tremendous program for the members to bring to life,” says director Kevin Smith. “A first-ever top-3 finish and a record high score for the corps ... what’s there not to like?”

Fan Fave Photo by Jolesch Photography, www.jolesch.com.

“The Grass is Always Greener” show, a multifaceted program with music ranging from Aaron Copland to Elvis Costello, also received the DCI Fan Network “Fan Choice” Award “We could not be any more proud of our members, staff and volunteers who created, supported and lived the experience,” Coates says. “For Crown to continue the development within DCI and be acknowledged by the fans as one of their favorites is certainly one achievement that sits high on the list of many.”

Special Recognition

Bouncing Back

Drum Corps International gave several special awards on finals night as the corps wrapped up their 2009 seasons.

But the season had its set of difficulties that faces nearly every drum corps— illness. After the DCI Orlando contest,

Director of the Year

Most Improved Drum Corps World Class: Not Applicable Open Class: Legends

Outstanding Drum Major

World Class: Stephanie Lee, Santa Clara Vanguard Open Class: Kelly Koch, Legends

World Class: Fred Morris, Troopers Open Class: Ibe Sodawalla, Legends

more than 20 members were too ill to perform, and Crown was forced to pull out of a show for the first time in its 20-year history. According to Coates, the sickness took its toll on the rehearsals and performances for about a week. By the time it ran its course, nearly 60 members had lost some rehearsal time or the ability to perform their best. “Some important changes to the design were delayed, and therefore the finished production was a little late from what was planned, but all in all I’d say the members and staff faced the challenges with unbelievable persistence to achieve the level of excellence and performance shown the final week of the season,” Coates says. First-year member Nathan Skinner, a marimba player, says having to overcome that type of adversity was all worth it. “The tour, work, lack of sleep, frustration, are all worth it when you see and hear the crowds’ response; it is like nothing you will ever experience,” Skinner says. “The success of the season can be credited to our amazing administration and support staff [who] made sure that our tour went smoothly. Our staff pushed us farther and harder than ever before. And our members made it their responsibility to be the best they could be—every rep.”

Top Brass congratulations! Lifts Carolina Crown Another drum corps that has steadily risen through the ranks made history in 2009 as well. Carolina Crown not only achieved its highest placement ever (2nd) but also scored a 97.50 (the highest in corps history). “Jim Coates [program coordinator and staff coordinator] and our great design team put together a tremendous program for the members to bring to life,” says director Kevin Smith. “A first-ever crown top-3 carolina finish and a record high score for the corps ... what’s there not to like?” [SUBHED] Fan Fave “The Grass is Always Greener” show, a multifaceted program with music ranging from Aaron Copland to Elvis Costello, also received the DCI Fan Network “Fan Choice” Award “We could not be any more proud of our members, staff and volunteers who created, supported and lived the experience,” Coates says. “For Crown to continue the development within DCI and be acknowledged by the fans as one of their favorites is certainly one achieveBoston crusaders ment that sits high on the list on many.”

marimba player, discusses what it took to overcome that type of adversity. “The tour, work, lack of sleep, frustration, are all worth it when you see and hear the crowds’ response; it is like nothing you will ever experience,” Skinner says. “The success of the season can be credited to our amazing administration and support staff [who] made sure that our tour went smoothly. Our staff pushed us farther and harder than ever before. And our members made it their responsibility to be the best they could be—every rep.”

Holy name cadets

santa clara Vanguard

Blue stars

Blue KnigHts

to all oF tHe Vic FirtH world class Finalists!

[SUBHED] But the season had its set of difficulties that faces nearly every drum corps— we also tHe Following corPs on anotHer great year illness. After thecommend DCI Orlando contest, more than 20 members were toomandarins ill to colts Vanguard cadets racine scouts perform and Crown was forced to pull the academy Pacific crest Velvet Knights spirit of newark/ out of one show for the first time in its madison scouts Jersey surf colt cadets new Jersey 20-year history. According to Coates, the sickness sPecial congratulations to took its toll on the rehearsals and performances for about a week. By the time oriente, it david Blue stars — snare drum champion ran its course, nearly members some Velvet Knights — Fastest drummer competition Joseph had manuel, rehearsal time or the ability Boston to perform crusaders — Percussion ensemble champions their best. madison scouts — Bass drum ensemble champions “Some important changes to the design the academy — cymbal ensemble champions were delayed, and therefore the finished production was a little late from what Be sure check VicFirtH.com for exclusive behind the scenes rehearsal was planned, but to all in all I’d out say the members and staff faced the challenges footage, photos from the field and more! only available at with unbelievable persistence to achieve the level of excellence and performance shown the final week of the season,” Coates says. First-year member Nathan Skinner, a

VicFirtH.com

Photo by Jolesch Photography, www.jolesch.com.

Open Class Scores 1. Blue Devils B 2. Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets 3. Citations 4. Teal Sound 5. Capital Regiment 6. Raiders 6. Revolution 8. Oregon Crusaders 9. Velvet Knights 10. Legends 11. 7th Regiment 12. Memphis Sound

95.50 94.70 91.75 91.25 89.95 88.25 88.25 87.95 83.65 81.95 81.35 80.65

Blue Devils B Captures First Title T

he Blue Devils B from Concord, Calif., captured its first-ever DCI Open Class Championship with a score of 95.50 and went undefeated all season long. The corps maintained its dominance by sweeping all the General Effect captions (Visual Effect and Music Effect) and all three Music captions (Brass, Ensemble and Percussion). The Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, which took 2nd place overall with a 94.70, took first in Visual Ensemble while the Citations (placing 3rd overall with a 91.75) captured the top spot for Color Guard.

Storybook Season The Blue Devils were founded in 1957 by Ann and the late Tony Odello, who still have ties in the organization through their son Rick who is the current director of the B corps. “This season has been especially amazing,” says Odello, who is in his fifth year

as director. “This was the first time one organization has won at both levels of competition. It was a storybook season; everything seemed to fall into place.” Last season, Blue Devils B narrowly missed its first-ever Open Class Championship title by just five hundredths of a point. The Vanguard Cadets finished with a final score of 96.825 as Blue Devils B took the silver medal with 96.775 in 2008.

Ideal Environment As with the World Class competition, the Open Class drum corps also performed in the new Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday and Saturday afternoon. “Performing in Lucas Oil was pretty spectacular,” Odello says. “The environment was very comfortable, which allowed the members to perform their best; no sun, heat or wind to distract them. It always seemed like we were on in the evening under the lights.”

he defending champion Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets from Santa Clara, Calif., secured the second spot in the DCI Open Class Finals. The Vanguard Cadets, who won in 2000 and 2008, had another landmark season, according to Director Rob Ripley. “The corps set itself a new standard of excellence in rehearsal and performance quality,” Ripley says. “It was wonderful heading into quarterfinals with so many corps in the Open Class competitively positioned; it made for an exciting season.”

All for Love In the corps’ program, “Love,” every performer characterized a wide range of emotions, from the joy of first love to the disillusionment of loss. “It was not an easy task, but the membership dove right in and never wavered, embracing every opportunity to perform,” Ripley says. 22

A Young Corps Although the Vanguard Cadets placed well, the corps overcame the challenge of membership turnover from the previous season. According to Ripley, first-year members comprised nearly 73 percent of the corps due to many of last year’s members moving up into the Santa Clara Vanguard A Corps. “It was the biggest challenge, one we are always thrilled to have to deal with,” Ripley says. Dana Baba, a mellophone player for the Vanguard Cadets, thought the firstyear members adjusted quickly. “The corps had so many rookies compared to the number of returning members, yet the dedication and effort put in was still outstanding,” Baba says. “We know we achieved greatness, no matter what the results were. I learned so much about musicianship and vast amounts about the Santa Clara Vanguard family.”

Photo by Jolesch Photography, www.jolesch.com.

Vanguard Cadets Earn Silver

Open Class Caption Awards Brass Performance: Blue Devils B Percussion Performance: Blue Devils B Color Guard Performance: Citations General Effect Music: Blue Devils B General Effect Visual: Blue Devils B Visual Performance: Blue Devils B Music Ensemble: Blue Devils B Visual Ensemble: Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets

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By Elizabeth Geli

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ound the Photo courtesy of the Field Band Foundation.

Throughout the world, marching organizations have sprouted up not only to provide music education but also to promote global unity and improve lives. September/October 2009 25

rom the kindergarten bands of Japan to the flower parades of Europe and the drum corps of South America, the marching arts have become an important activity throughout the world, even in places where football is far from the dominant sport. In many countries and almost every continent, marching bands, drum corps and other performing groups have inspired their audiences and changed the lives of their participants. Halftime Magazine profiles three international marching organizations: the World Music Contest in The Netherlands, the Field Band Foundation from South Africa and Aguilas Doradas Marching Band from Mexico.

World Music Contest Every four years, musical groups from across the globe gather in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, for the World Music Contest (WMC). In 2009, participants totaled 282 bands with close to 21,000 musicians from 34 different countries spread across all five continents. The WMC includes competitive circuits for brass bands, harmony/concert bands, percussion ensembles, fanfare bands, marching bands, marching parade bands and show bands. “It all got started in 1949,” says Harrie Reumkens, artistic manager for the WMC. “A time when people everywhere tried to forget the atrocities caused by the Second World War by working on international fraternization, in this case through music.” Two of the larger bands in Kerkrade invited a famous English band for a joint concert, and during the celebration afterwards, the organizers decide to form a worldwide contest every four years. “All kinds of marching bands are in the contest as long as they are made up of wind and percussion instruments,” says Reumkens. Two years before each festival, there is a smaller wind contest as well as solo and ensemble contests, conductor courses, and contests and workshops for individuals. The number of international groups has increased in recent years. Previously U.S.-based groups such as The Blue Devils, 26

Photo by Christine Ngeo Katzman.

Phantom Regiment and the Hawthorne Caballeros have competed. Unlike in America, bands in Europe are rarely connected to educational institutions. “Most bands in Europe are community bands, with sometimes very long traditions of more than 200 years old,” Reumkens says. “These bands are independent from schools or other institutions. Funding for these bands comes from municipal grants, sponsorships and their own fundraising. “To the Dutch and in fact all European bands, the WMC Kerkrade is the most important contest of all,” Reumkens says.

Field Band Foundation Know yourself. Manage yourself. Protect yourself. That doesn’t sound like the mantra of your everyday marching band, and it’s not. For the Field Band Foundation (FBF) from South Africa, music is important, and winning means a lot, but teaching values and gaining life skills are of greater priority. “We work with young people who are living in really tough circumstances,” says Scott Morgan, chairman of FBF Inc. “Imagine yourself going down a highway, and for 20 minutes you’re just driving through shantytowns with no water, bathroom or electricity—these are the townships where most of these kids live. There is some art in the schools, but this is really the only opportunity for them to

participate in a regular music activity.” The FBF has 17 field bands totaling close to 4,000 members. “They don’t have to have any musical background; the only thing that they have to do is be enrolled in school and be making passing grades,” Morgan says. “We do have a ton of kids, and we have long waiting lines. We’re constrained by the number of instruments.” Funded mainly by corporate and individual donors, the organization prevents the students from joining violent gangs, promotes gender equality—a paramount issue in South Africa where women are frequently abused—and also provides HIV testing and treatment. “South Africa is one of the most prevalent countries in the world for HIV; one in five persons are infected,” Morgan says. “We make that a centerpiece of what we do because if our kids don’t stay healthy, they won’t be able to do this.” The bands practice year-round and compete in an annual championship. “What the kids and the leaders try to do is take the drum and bugle corps model and infuse it with the culture, music and vibe of South Africa,” Morgan says. “So the dance, music and drill charts are all very uniquely their own.” The FBF also operates an exchange program with students in Norway. Aspiring music instructors go to South Africa to help teach, and the top FBF students learn in Norway for six to nine months, then return to give back. “It’s one of the most successful partner-

Photo courtesy of the Field Band Foundation.

ships that we have going on,” Morgan says. “It really gives these kids an opportunity that they would never get to do in their lives.” Overall, the FBF is about helping kids succeed in life; 61.1 percent of the students have unemployed parents, and 92 percent had no access to music or arts education before joining. “What we really try to do is take people as they’re growing up in the foundation to mold them into people who can manage sections of the band or become band leaders and then eventually become staff members,” Morgan says. “Do we prioritize musicianship or teaching young people values? It’s really teaching values, but music is complementary and is what keeps them there.”

Aguilas Doradas Marching Band The Aguilas Doradas (Golden Eagles) Marching Band from Puebla, Mexico, has traveled all over the world—including tours in Germany, Italy, Vatican City, Spain, Switzerland, France, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States. “Golden Eagle members must be committed to this program,” says Luis Alberto Mendoza Gómez, director. “We are famous internationally, for not only participating in the world of the marching bands in the tradition of American bands, but at the same time celebrating the joy of Latin music and the cultural richness of Mexico.” The group’s distinctive golden eagle helmets attract attention and also help

shape the band’s ideals. “We have adopted the ‘Caballero Águila’ (Eagle Knight) as our band symbol because it represents the honor of the ancient Aztec warriors who were chosen for both their courage and intelligence in battle,” Gómez says. The group is connected to one of the most prestigious schools in Mexico, Centro Escolar José María Morelos y Pavón Scholarship Center (CEM); however, most of its funding comes from elsewhere. “Here in Mexico few people support this type of artistic discipline,” Gómez says. “That is why each of the students and teachers has to pay their airfare, lodging and meals in each of the trips we have done. Most of our equipment has been gradually purchased with funds raised at concerts and performances.” In general, music education is not well established in Mexico. “There are no plans or standards that require students to learn to play an instrument in the right way from an early age,” Gómez says. “The teachers or schools that have such programs are minimal and very difficult

to access. It is difficult to achieve quality results. This is why the results of our Golden Eagles have been so significant; the successes we have achieved mean a lot.” Founded in 1992 with 15 members, the band now has about 300 members. On staff since 1990, Gómez incorporated many musical styles as he rose to the position of arranger and director. “This has placed us in the public taste of all the places where we have been, and it is really an honor to recognize all styles,” Gómez says. “Our music ranges from traditional Mexican folk bands (‘Sinaloa’ style) to concert band programs. ‘Trojan-style’ music is my favorite, but we also include mariachi, salsa, merengue, quebradita and samba numbers, all with a personal touch.” Aguilas Doradas’ crowning achievement has been its four trips to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, most recently in 2009, Gómez says. Gómez hopes that the success of Aguilas Doradas will make an impact on music education across Mexico. “I hope that in Mexico, there will be more efforts to promote the formation of marching band programs within education,” Gómez says. “The importance of this whole movement is demonstrated by how much it has grown even without the necessary aid.” Beyond helping hundreds of students over the years, he says that working with the band has helped him grow as well. “My band means a lot to me because it is here that I learned the value of teamwork,” Gómez says. “I can reach each and every one of my students from the beginning when they start without knowing anything. As we create music, they advance in their skills, and we see them perform complete works, achieving higher performance levels until at last we are marching together, giving a concert, winning competitions or traveling the world.” Interview translated by Daniel Geli

About the Author Elizabeth Geli is an editorial assistant at Halftime Magazine. She began playing the flute 13 years ago in Placentia, Calif., and marched in the Valencia High School Tiger Regiment. She earned a degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California (USC) and marched in the Trojan Marching Band (TMB) for four consecutive Rose Bowls and Parades. Now she is working on a Master’s in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) at USC and is a graduate teaching assistant and band librarian for the TMB. September/October 2009 27

Bringing

Music to Life

By Deanna Colasurdo Morristown (N.J.) High School

How does being in a marching band inspire you in your life? In a co-sponsored essay contest that celebrates the release of the new movie “FAME,” Halftime Magazine and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., asked this question to marching band students across the country. Here is the winning entry in the MGM & Halftime Magazine “Claim Your FAME” Essay Contest.

About the Author Deanna Colasurdo is a sophomore at Morristown (N.J.) High School. She performs in the color guard with the Marching Colonials. She has also played trumped for the past six years and has a twin sister in the band. 28

eing in a marching band inspires me in many ways. Ever since I can remember, I have always loved the idea of bringing music to life. Many of us seem to take the power of hearing the passion of music for granted; however, I look at this a little differently. In addition, marching band has taught me the true essence of hard work, teamwork and passion and how rewarding it can be.

To See and Feel

At a very young age, I fell in love with music, and I always thought of different ways that I could bring it to life. Once I heard about marching band when I entered high school, I felt instantly that this is where I belong, and I went for it. Yet instead of playing my trumpet, I joined the color guard because it helped fulfill my dreams of bringing music to life and allowed me to help my father understand the music. This is a huge reason that I joined marching band, and I am extraordinarily happy to say that this is just one of the ways that being in a marching band has inspired me in my everyday life. When I was 7 years old, my father suddenly went deaf. He got a cochlear implant, and he can hear now but not the way that he used to. To this day he says to me and my sister the one thing that he truly misses is being able to hear the music the way that he used to and hear the passion behind it. That is a major way that marching band has helped me through my life—to help my father see the emotion and passion of the music and help bring to him some of my love and passion for music.

Working Hard

Marching band also inspires me because it helps me understand the true essence of hard work. While most people are working on their tans and savoring the last month of summer, we go to school and learn at band camp. Working long days to learn the music and routines of the show requires dedication and passion. Through those long days, we develop a sense of teamwork and the beginnings of the precision required to perform our show effectively. It is very much like the production of a stage show, learning the music and the choreography and working with the props; it is truly a rewarding, hard experience once we perform in front of an audience. In conclusion marching band has inspired me in so many ways. I hope to share the inspiration I have come to know with more people in our upcoming season. I hope to change the way some people think about music through the musical and visual performance that is the heart and soul of marching band. Maybe if more people experience the power of this medium of music, then their lives may be a bit more inspired as well.

Other

Prize Recipients Congratulations to these additional prize recipients: Second Place:

Cassandra Nicole Austin Carmel (Ind.) High School

Band inspires me to reach higher until whatever I’m working on has achieved perfection. Through hard work and determination, I can do whatever I want. ... Music has literally changed my life. I’m a whole different person since I’ve been in the marching band. It has inspired me to always do my best, work hard and continually reach for the stars until I can achieve greatness. Third Place: Carole Jacobs Loara High School Anaheim, Calif. I have participated in two marching seasons thus far and have learned many lessons along the way. Marching band has inspired how I think more than anything else. I have learned never to doubt my potential and my talents. They have taken me farther than I ever would have imagined. Michelle F. Dinesen Yellow Medicine East High School Granite Falls, MN At the end of every practice and parade, however well we do, our band director says, “You did a great job today.” In a group he tells us to be proud of all the progress we’ve made. Feelings of inspiration, teamwork, goal setting, happiness in learning and pride in hard work carry into the rest of my life. They cause me to work harder, be creative, follow, lead, accept change, respect others and live an overall better life. Note from the Editor: To read the full essays, the judges’ bios or other information about the essay contest, visit www.halftimemag.com/articles/claim-your-fame.html.

Note from the Editor: As the Grand Prize winner, Deanna will receive a private pre-release screening of the film “FAME” for herself and members of her marching band, other “FAME” merchandise and a 1-year group subscription to Halftime Magazine for her band. Congratulations! September/October 2009 29

By Janel Healy

Photo courtesy of the Tulane University Marching Band

Did you know that there is only one collegiate marching band in the greater New Orleans area? Maybe you didn’t know there was one at all. The current Tulane University Marching Band—TUMB for short—is only four years old; however, being a young band has its perks.

ew Orleans is a city teeming with culture and a strong musical tradition; however, no college band existed in the area until recently. Here, Director Barry Spanier from Tulane University talks about the joys of rebuilding a university band program and the challenges of doing it in the face of Hurricane Katrina.

Halftime: What brought you to Tulane? Spanier: I attended [New York University] for my Masters, and after I graduated, a job opening came up there for a new office called Center for Music Performance. The directorship position was open. I worked there for eight years. Our daughter was born in ’99, and as she was reaching ages 3 and 4, my wife and I thought about where we could buy a house. New York City was not the place. We wanted to be someplace interesting; we had gotten used to good food and culture and architecture in New York. An opening came up at Tulane, and New Orleans offers so much in the way of those things—and the music scene is great here! Haltime: Tell us what it was like to build up the Tulane band, especially during Hurricane Katrina? Spanier: Tulane did not have a marching band for 30 years, but there was a student-run pep band formed in 2003 that had been doing basketball games. They put themselves, their friends and

some alumni together and did this one Homecoming 2003 football game. The band also did a Mardi Gras parade in 2004. With that momentum from the volunteer band and with alumni support, the university agreed to start up a proper marching band program. My first year was mostly about laying the groundwork—getting uniforms, purchasing equipment, working out our rehearsal and field space. The first band camp was in August of 2005. We had 25 members, but it was a very enthusiastic and well-balanced group. We had a oneweek band camp that finished less than two days before Katrina made landfall. The last day of band camp was the day everyone evacuated. Students spread out and took classes all over the country. School started back up in January ’06. Since we did not have a football season in ’05, our first public performance was in February ’06 at Mardi Gras parades; we did four. We had 25 people that first Mardi Gras, but the next few months were about recruitment for the following fall, and we increased from 25 to 43. So, for the first football season, we had 43.

We do a lot of conditioning in January because it is such a marathon. … We march 20 miles in those four parades! To train, we march in parade block around the university track. The first week, we do one mile every rehearsal. During the second week, we do two; during the third week, three. We work up to four to five miles for each rehearsal. This builds endurance, so we can be just as strong the last mile of a parade as we are the first. Halftime: What are you most proud of regarding the band? Spanier: We are teaching not only marching band but also life skills and leadership in the process. This is what I learned from my mentors. The big picture is teaching students to grow up, have responsibility and learn new skills.

The next year, there were 47. Last year, it was 63, and this year we have 83. We continue to grow, and we expect another couple of years of growth before it will level out a bit. Halftime: Could you tell us about marching in the Mardi Gras parades? Spanier: It’s a parade environment like no other! I’ve done Rose Parades and competition parades, but Mardi Gras is just wild. There are mobs on both sides of the street, just inches away from you. They are cheering, slapping you high fives—it’s a real party atmosphere. It’s exhausting but completely exhilarating as well. Our students are able to experience Mardi Gras from the inside out, and it’s an experience they will be able to take with them their whole lives.

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Behind the Baton By Kelly Koch

Photo by Ken Martinson/Marching.com

Confidence doesn’t always come easy, not even for this year’s Drum Corps International Open Class recipient of the Jim Jones Leadership Award. But courage overtook early uneasiness, resulting in a fantastic season for the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps from Kalamazoo, Mich.

ome people have told me that they feel the most alive when they are performing. It’s honestly just a blur for me. I remember bits and pieces, mostly from the pre-show preparations, which are surprisingly clear. I climb the steps of the podium, praying that I don’t fall. Suddenly, my uniform feels too tight. My hands are shaking. I make eye contact with a few of the members, and their confidence assures me. In the jumble of the announcer’s booming syllables, I hear my name: “Drum Major, Kelly Koch, is your corps ready?” I salute and force myself to smile as I nod to the audience.

The anticipation is always the most nerve-wracking part of the show, kind of like the long climb up the first hill of a rollercoaster. After the downbeat, however, all of my uneasiness fades. Muscle memory takes over, and we settle into the practiced, familiar patterns of our show. The rest is a blur of energy. All of the sudden, I hear applause. We made it.

A Tentative Start This is my third year as a member of the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, and my first year as drum major. My two previous summers were spent in the front ensemble.

I did not seek this drum major position. In fact, the idea of being a leader of such a talented group of musicians scared me to death. Who am I to tell them what to do or how to perform? I was worried that no one would listen to me. I was afraid that no one would go to sleep when I turned the lights off and that they would tar-and-feather me for dragging them out of their slumber. I can clearly remember the first time a staff member asked me to hurry the corps along at the end of a water break. I was terrified. I did not want to say anything that might cause them to resent me or to suspect that I saw myself as superior to

them. I think I said something along the lines of, “Um, hey guys, I think that the staff is about ready to run that exercise again. So, um, if you’re done drinking water, we should probably hurry back.” The memory is almost comical to me now. The pressures of my new leadership role, combined with the enormous weight of my musical responsibilities, kept me awake at night. I worried about tempos, conducting patterns and listening guides all the time. Being drum major of the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps was one of the most mentally and emotionally stressful experiences of my life.

No More Fear I am not exactly sure how it happened, but throughout the course of the season, I became significantly more comfortable acting as a drum major. Of course, the members were more than receptive to my new role. They were incredibly supportive and encouraging, which allowed me to build confidence. On several occasions before a show, Landon Ewers, the percussion caption head, said to me, “No fear.”

That phrase kept bouncing around in my head because fear was exactly my problem. At some point I just had to decide to stop being afraid, a feat that became easier as the ensemble grew in confidence. The courage of my peers allowed me to walk a little closer to the edge of the cliff myself.

A Season of Accolades Among my proudest moments this summer was when Legends was named “Most Improved Open Class Drum Corps.” What began as a small brass ensemble out of Portage Central High School in 2001 has now exploded into a finalist open class drum and bugle corps. This past summer was merely our second year competing in DCI championships.

I am amazed by the growth that has occurred since I joined in 2007 when Legends traveled as an exhibition group. Additionally, our director, Ibe Sodawalla, was named “DCI Open Class Director of the Year,” which speaks volumes toward Legends’ incredible transformation. I am proud that I can be included in this group of amazingly talented, dedicated, persistent people. This “Most Improved” award was only achieved by the group’s hard work and willingness to adapt and overcome each new obstacle. Every one of us evolved in our own way. By this point I figure that personal growth is inevitable with drum corps. It changes the way you look at life. For me, the whole world seems a lot less scary now. No fear.

About the Author Kelly Koch received Drum Corps International’s Jim Jones Leadership Award for her role with the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps this past season. She is a graduate of Parchment (Mich.) High School where she participated in the band under the direction of Beth Jonker. Kelly is currently attending Indiana Wesleyan University in pursuit of a degree in music education. Her primary instrument is the flute. She has four younger brothers, all of which have marched in Legends.

Fitness to the MAx

By Karen Jashinsky

Don’t Detox Despite the seemingly fabulous results we hear about detox diets, these types of cleanses may be unsafe and counterproductive. Karen Jashinsky is the founder of O2 MAX, a fitness company that teaches youth how to integrate fitness and nutrition into their day-to-day lives. Karen is a Certified Fitness Trainer and the recent recipient of the first “Emerging Female Leader” Award by IHRSA, the fitness industry’s professional organization. O2 MAX also operates a fitness training studio in Santa Monica, Calif. For more information, visit www. o2maxfitness.com.

oung adults are all about following trends, and the tabloids are filled with articles about celebrities attempting various diets and detoxifying. As a trainer to teens, I am often asked what the fastest way to lose weight is and what type of detox diet they can do to accelerate weight loss. My answer is always that there are better weight-loss techniques that are safer, more effective and will actually help keep the weight off than a liquid cleanse. Additionally, as per the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, detox diets and cleanses are not recommended.

How Cleanses “Work” Colon cleanses or all-liquid cleanses only cause a temporary weight loss, likely due to water loss and dehydration, and not a true weight loss. Fasting for long periods can also slow down metabolism, resulting in muscle loss and making it harder to keep weight off or lose weight later. When teens starve themselves or restrict caloric intake, they are depriving themselves of vital nutrients needed daily for proper growth and physical and mental development. 34

The Natural Cleanse The ideal “cleanse” for growing teens is to eat lean protein with a vegetable or a fruit every three hours, suggests Amanda Stein, a registered dietitian in Westwood, Calif. Increased water rather than soda, juice or energy drinks helps create a feeling of fullness and satiety, especially if drank before meals, according to Dr. Tanya Arora of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Teens can also keep a healthy snack like nuts or sunflower seeds in their backpacks to avoid purchasing junk food. Teenagers need to make sure they consume enough calories and protein to support rapid growth and development. For teens that are involved in sports and physical activities, cleanses do not provide enough fuel. To recap: A clean, healthy diet of vegetables, fiber and lots of water is not a bad idea. But teens need to make sure they are getting all the nutrients needed, including protein and calcium, from other foods. A detox diet or stopping to eat from any major food group without talking to a doctor or a registered dietitian is not recommended.

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• 2 0 U S •S •

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By Matt Jones

It’s an International Thing 1

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Across 1. “The ___” (Mr. T’s 1980s show) (hyph.) 6. Word on an octagonal sign 10. ___ chi (relaxing martial art) 13. Multiple Tour de France winner Armstrong 14. Valve ___ (lubricants for brass instruments) 15. Reverse an action in word processing 17. Headwear called a Tropenhelm in German (2 words) 19. Brass instrument called a туба in Russian 20. It’s between the W and R on laptops (2 words) 21. “Here ___ nothing ...” 22. Express audibly 23. Word often seen with “neither” 24. “The Raven” writer Edgar Allan ___ 25. Greek letter that’s also an abbreviation on car tires

42 45

31 38

51 58

24 26

26. One who gets paid to play 28. Controls on an amp 31. Initial public offering, in the stock market (abbrev.) 34. Event called a défilé in French 37. Wind instrument called a klarnet in Polish 39. Marching group 40. “One more time!” 42. Opener of a Shakespearean play (2 words) 43. Percussion instrument called a bombo in Spanish (2 words) 45. Brass instruments called signalhorns in Danish 47. Sault ___ Marie, Ont. (abbrev.) 48. Fudd who chases Bugs Bunny 50. Debt note given when you can pay later 51. United ___ (non-profit charitable organization)

52. 1997 U.S. Open champ Ernie 54. “Uncle” on U.S. posters 57. India’s northern neighbor 60. Place to start on a jigsaw puzzle 62. Use as a reference 63. Auxilliary item called a lipp in Estonian 64. Brass instrument called a szárnykürt in Magyar, the language of Hungary 66. Disney’s “___ & Stitch” 67. “Harry Potter” actress Watson 68. DNA segments that carry information 69. C.P.E. Bach, to J.S. Bach

70. Rope-a-___ (boxing strategy) 71. Where ships are located (2 words)

Down 1. Prefix for a long “horn” played on Swiss mountaintops 2. Japanese drumming with large drums and thick wooden sticks 3. “Star Trek” ship 4. “___ Breaky Heart” (hit Billy Ray Cyrus song) 5. “It’s OK, but not great” expression 6. Played by oneself 7. 2/4 ___ signature (pattern used for marches) 8. Cheers at some soccer stadiums 9. Wintertime time zone in Los Angeles (abbrev.) 10. ___ frutti (ice cream flavor) 11. “Sometimes you feel like ___, sometimes you don’t” (candy jingle) (2 words) 12. “___ delighted!” (2 words) 16. Canoe paddle 18. Inflated in narcissistic people 22. World’s largest country, once (abbrev.) 24. Pea’s enclosure 25. It’s used when your original scheme doesn’t work (2 words) 27. They’re like mice, but larger 29. “___, I saw, I conquered” (2 words) 30. Boxer Muhammad once called “The Greatest” 31. Flaws inside a diamond 32. Fall Out Boy lead singer Wentz

33. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” singer Redding 34. British taverns 35. Med school subject that studies the body (abbrev.) 36. At daybreak, perhaps 38. “Aladdin” parrot named for an “Othello” villain 41. Chewable stuff usually not allowed at band practice 44. Pass out the cards 46. “___ for Undertow” (2009 Sue Grafton novel) (2 words) 49. Bob Marley’s genre 51. Four-wheeled toy with a handle 53. Director Spike 55. “___ Grows in Brooklyn” (1943 bestseller) (2 words) 56. High IQ organization 57. League with the Giants and Titans (abbrev.) 58. Yale students, slangily 59. ___ Alto, California 60. Red Muppet 61. Throw out 62. Jazz trumpeter Baker or country musician Atkins 64. Gave a meal to 65. N.Y.C. airport near the former Shea Stadium (abbrev.) Solution For the solution go to Halftime Magazine’s website at www.halftimemag.com. Click on “Current Issue,” then “For Fun.”

About the Author Matt Jones is a 1998 graduate of Willamette University in Salem, Ore., where he majored in music education. Since 1994, he has also written crosswords for venues such as The New York Times, Games Magazine and Stagebill. He currently writes a syndicated weekly puzzle for more than 50 alternative newspapers across the country.

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