Halftime Magazine January/February 2012 by Halftime Magazine

January/February 2012

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Roses How to Stop Hazing NCAA Movers and Shakers

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Volume 6, Issue 1 January/February 2012 ISSN 1939-6171 ®

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Christine Ngeo Katzman christine@halftimemag.com (310) 594-0050

Art Director Jana Rade, impact studios Elizabeth Geli

Editorial Interns Jeremy Chen and Lydia Ness

Marketing Intern Jonathan Harrison

COVER PHOTO Courtesy of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Long Photography

Contributing Writers Lane Armey, Nick Carrillo, Chris Casteel, Jeff Coffin, Haley Greenwald-Gonella, Matt Jones, Chase Sanborn

Contributing Photographers Fred Boyd, Ed Crockett, Glen E. Ellman, Tom Emerson Photography, Al Graff, Rose Johnson, Michael Laverty, Long Photography, Ken Martinson/Marching.com

Web Developers Mike McCullen and Jeff Grant Integrated Communications

Advisory Board Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band Tony Fox, University of Southern California 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

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 now only $1 per student per year with a minimum of 25 copies sent to the same address. Cover price is $4.95. Send subscription orders to: Halftime Magazine P.O. Box 15247 North Hollywood, CA 91615 Halftime Magazine is published by Muse Media, LLC P.O. Box 428738, Cincinnati, OH 45242 Phone: 310-594-0050 Fax: 310-390-5351 Website: www.halftimemag.com Printed by Royle Printing Company in Sun Prairie, Wis. 4

Assistant Editor/Web Editor

few weeks ago, we finally decided to convert some VHS tapes to DVD. The 1996 Rose Bowl video from my marching band days at Northwestern University became my first selection. Though the production looked terrible compared to today’s high-definition television, it sure did bring back a lot of great memories. Very little can compare to the Tournament of Roses experience, which typically includes Disneyland, Universal Studios, down time at the beach, pep rallies amid movie stars and America’s New Year’s Celebration—the Rose Parade itself. Then, of course, there’s the game—The Granddaddy of Them All. With all of these highlights, it’s amazing that the trip could even be edited down to a 1-hour tape. This January/February 2012 issue presents our 5th annual coverage of the Tournament of Roses (see page 18), including photos from the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Though a lot of bands were making return trips to Pasadena (being officially allowed to re-apply for an invitation every four years), some bands were

new to the scene. The Siloam Springs (Ark.) High School band (see page 30) was one of those that made its Rose Parade debut, fulfilling a dream that took many years to achieve. On a sadder note, the band world witnessed a terrible tragedy on Nov. 19 with the death of Robert D. Champion, Jr., 26, a drum major at Florida A&M University. Champion died as a result of blunt force trauma from an alleged hazing incident. Our deepest sympathies go out to Champion’s family and friends. We want to do our part to stop hazing incidents like these from happening again. Read “How to Stop Hazing” (page 14) to find out what you can do to identify, report and prevent hazing. Whether you are a student, parent or band director, you can make a difference. We hope 2012 brings you brighter days and wonderful musical moments.

Halftime Magazine is proud to partner with the following organizations:

Musically Yours, Christine Ngeo Katzman Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

We’re Moving: The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is just one of several schools that have switched NCAA conferences, bringing changes and opportunities for the sports teams and the band. © Al Graff, UMass Band Parents Association.

Features How to Stop Hazing . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The death of Florida A&M drum major Robert D. Champion, Jr. brought hazing within marching bands to the national spotlight. How can students, directors and administrators unite to prevent hazing on their campuses? By Elizabeth Geli

Smell the Roses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The 2012 Tournament of Roses set a number of records: warmest day, longest parade float, highest-scoring game and longest touchdown run. For the participants, each moment of the trip to Pasadena, Calif.—especially the 5.5-mile parade—marked a personal highlight. Enjoy Halftime Magazine’s 5th annual photo spread, featuring sights from Bandfest, the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Photos by Fred Boyd, Tom Emerson Photography, Ken Martinson/ Marching.com and Pasadena Tournament of Roses/Long Photography

NCAA Movers and Shakers. . . . . . . 25 In the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (previously Division I-A), schools are moving east and west. As many athletic teams change conferences to position themselves for a chance at major bowl games, the marching bands will be confronted with change, too—new travel plans, new rivals and even new stadiums. But sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. By Jeremy Chen

Departments Publisher’s Letter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Noteworthy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 OSU Director, Dr. Jon R. Woods, Retires; Fall Band

25 Web Exclusives

Want more marching band material? Sectionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Read online-only articles at Yoga and Sound for Winds; Gear Talk for Brass; College Drum Championships; System Blue in Malaysia; Bad Month for Bands

http://halftimemag.com/articles/web-exclusives/index.html

Line; and Winning for Guard

Gear Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ErgoSonic Marching Bass Drum; Remo Clear Emperor Crimplock Tenor Heads; Pat Petrillo’s Instructional Rhythm DVD

Regionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calendar of events organized by region Direct From. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Pride of Broken Arrow; Siloam Springs Behind the Baton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Blogger Fitness to the Max. . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter Skin Care For Fun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crossword: University of … Follow us on Twitter

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Next Issue • Happy Anniversary to WGI, DCI, PASIC and Others • Honda Battle of the Bands • Music’s Power to Heal • And More ...

OSU Director, Dr. Jon R. Woods, Retires Dr. Jon R. Woods, director of The Ohio State University Marching Band, has completed his 28th and final marching season amid a number of tributes from students, alumni and colleagues. Woods, with university president E. Gordon Gee, announced his retirement at the band’s “Skull Session” (pre-game rehearsal open to the public) before the first home game of the 2011 season. “I’ve been here for 38 years (the first 10 as assistant band director), and I feel like the time had come for me to step aside and play my trombone a little bit more and enjoy life— not that I wasn’t before,” Woods says.

Script Woods and Dotting the I

In the tradition of the famed “Script Ohio,” coincidentally celebrating its 75th anniversary, “The Best Damn Band In The Land” surprised Woods by creating a “Script Woods” during halftime of the Nov. 19 game against Penn State. “It was fun because that week I wasn’t supposed to know,” Woods says. “In the last half hour of practice, they said I was needed on the telephone. They did that three times that week, and what was really going on is that once I would go out of sight, they’d practice it.” The band and sousaphone section unanimously voted to give Woods the greatest honor the band can bestow—an invitation to “Dot the I.”

Photos by Ed Crockett.

Additionally, the band played a surprise concert at Woods’ home, a tradition for the retirement of top university dignitaries. Woods heard the cadence approaching as he and his wife placed the star atop their Christmas tree. Honorary dinners were held both on campus and at this year’s Midwest Clinic, and Woods has received countless letters, emails and calls congratulating him on his illustrious career. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and these events have had a tremendous impact,” Woods says. “I knew people would respond, but I had no idea of the numbers or volumes of people that would take the time to send a note or call and say congrats.”

Favorite Moments

Woods cites his favorite game as the 2003 National Championship overtime win against Miami and the three presidential inauguration parade performances as a career highlight. He will complete his duties as director of athletic bands and a professor in the School of Music this semester. For retirement he plans to play his trombone, travel and enjoy as much live music as possible. “Being in front of that band every week is such a thrill,” Woods says. “Every time you step in front of them, they play so well; it’s a great experience. The most important legacy is a great passion for continuing upon a tradition of excellence. I think our band works hard to be the best we can be, year in and year out.”

By Elizabeth Geli

System Blue in Malaysia

Fall Band Championships It was an extra merry holiday season for 2011’s marching band champions. Congratulations to these winners and all of the competing bands. Broken Arrow (Okla.) High School took home the title at Bands of America Grand Nationals (see page 28), breaking the three-year streak of Indiana’s Avon High School. U.S. Scholastic Band Association (USSBA)—which recently rebranded itself as USBands—named one champion for each of its six open class groups: Group I, Monsignor Farrell H.S. from Staten Island, N.Y. ; Group II, Frank W. Cox H.S. from Virginia Beach, Va.; Group III, Montville (N.J.) Township H.S.; Group IV, North Penn H.S. from Lansdale, Pa.; Group V, Bassett (Va.) H.S; Group VI, Munford (Tenn.) H.S. The first-ever USSBA Class A championships also named six champions: Group I, Joseph Case H.S. from Swansea, Mass.; Group II, Lenape H.S. from Medford, NJ; Group III, Perkiomen Valley from Collegeville, Pa; Group IV, Madison County H.S. from Danielsville, Ga.; Group V, Elizabeth (NJ) H.S.; Group VI, New Providence (N.J.) H.S. Regarding its name change—announced in January 2012—CEO George Hopkins said: “We are at a place in our organizational history where it is important for us to make it easier for people to understand what it is that we do in supporting the wonderful educators and magnificent young people through USBands.” For the Tournament of Bands, Triton Regional High School from Runnemede, N.J., won division 1A and Pennsauken (N.J.) H.S. in 3A. In the Atlantic Coast Championships the following schools reigned superme: Open Class, Timber Creek H.S. from Sicklerville, N.J.; Group 1, Governor Livingston H.S. from Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Group 2, Southern Regional H.S. from Manahawkin, N.J.; Group 3, West Deptford (N.J.) H.S.; Group 4, Spring-Ford H.S. from Royersford, Pa. Pennsylvania’s Cavalcade of Bands crowned Open and A Class winners in four divisions. Independent division: A, Archbishop Wood H.S. from Warmister, and Open, Pittston Area H.S. from Yatesville; Yankee division: A, Wilson H.S. from West Lawn, and Open, Upper Darby H.S. from Drexel Hill; American division: A, Rustin H.S. from West Chester, and Open, Haverford H.S.; Liberty division: A, Red Lion H.S., and Open, Southern Regional H.S. At the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) Marching Percussion Festival, many individuals took home accolades for drumming. In the group competition, Texas A&M Commerce led the college division and Sandra Day O’Connor High School from Helotes, Texas, won the high school division.

Photo courtesy of The Blue Devils/System Blue.

The Blue Devils (BD) System Blue Educational Series went all the way to Malaysia this winter to teach a World Band Championship International Band Camp in Kuala Lumpur. The three-day event, hosted by the Malaysia World Band Competition and Zi Productions, featured 30 members of The Blue Devils teaching master classes. “Getting to see how much of an impact we really had on these kids was fantastic, as were the students in general,” says Casie Connolly, a four-year BD color guard veteran. “I had such a hard time leaving after three days; it was almost heartbreaking.”

Most of the participants were high school students along with some instructors from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. The camp was open to brass, woodwinds, percussion and guard. “Dancing and stretching was very new for them,” Connolly says. “Color guard just started there in 2000, and it’s very militaristic. They’re very fast learners. We wish we had a whole month to spend with them!” The goal of the camp was to show the students and instructors The Blue Devils’ method of teaching and learning—and for the participants to perform a small routine on the last day. “Music and color guard and spreading the knowledge of dance is a great thing,” Connolly says. “I think it’s so important to keep this activity alive.” While in Malaysia, the BD members also visited the city center, business capital and a mosque. The color guard girls even went to a spa where fish eat off your dead skin. “The trip itself was fantastic,” Connolly says. “I’ve never been out of the country before, so it was interesting to see how others live.” This camp marked the first international System Blue Educational Series event but just one of many performances abroad for the 14-time Drum Corps International World Champion Blue Devils. January/February 2012 7

Bad Month for Bands November 2011 may have been one of the most tumultuous months in recent college marching band memory. In addition to a tragic hazing death and scandal at Florida A&M University (see page 14), the month included two band suspensions for inappropriate singing and band members being injured by football players.

Columbia Reprimanded

The Columbia University Marching Band (CUMB), an Ivy League “scramble band” from New York, ran afoul of its athletic department after singing an altered version of the school’s fight song. Following a 62-41 loss to Cornell, bringing the team’s record to a lackluster 0-9, the band sang a version of the century-old fight song “Roar, Lion, Roar,” with disparaging alternative lyrics ending in, “We always lose lose lose; but we take solace in our booze.” “The Athletics Program welcomes the band to our football games to promote school spirit and provide fan entertainment,” said an athletic department statement to the Columbia Dispatch. “We believe the actions of the band on Saturday, Nov. 12, were inappropriate and embarrassed our studentathletes, coaches, parents, and fans.” After two days of widespread online media attention and an apology from the band, the athletic department reversed its decision, allowing the band to play at the year’s final home game against Brown. Subsequently, the football team had its first win of the season in double overtime.

Queen’s Bands Suspended

Similarly, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, suspended its band—the oldest and largest in the country— from all parades and activities for distributing a songbook with explicit lyrics deemed degrading to women. “This should be the most up-to-date, dirty, and complete songbook you’ll find,” reads a copy of the songbook published online. The band was banned from all remaining performances for the year. The university will monitor the band as it follows a plan of action to review its behaviors and practices, including human rights training. “The materials, and the behaviours they promote, are unacceptable,” said Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean of student affairs at Queen’s in a statement to the National Post. “They point to a sub-culture within the Bands where explicit, disrespectful and degrading language marginalizes community members who may remain silent for fear of exclusion.”

Toledo Musicians Injured

In other news, four members of the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band were knocked over by the Northern Illinois University (NIU) football team. A miscommunication caused the football team to run out prior to the completion of the band’s pregame show. A mellophone, piccolo and two clarinet players sustained possible head injuries and were examined by medical personnel. The incident was caught on camera and quickly went viral, leading to a one-game suspension of NIU player Jamal Bass, who appeared to purposely shove band members. “I want to publicly apologize to the Rocket Marching Band and to the University of Toledo,” said NIU Head Coach Dave Doeren in a press release. “We are embarrassed at what occurred and take full responsibility for the situation. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that something like this never happens again.” 8

Yoga and Sound By Jeff Coffin

In the last number of years, I went from having nearly constant major back issues, where it was difficult to be on tour and walk for more than 20 minutes, to now having very minor issues that are infrequent and easy to remedy. What changed? In a word, yoga. Muscle Alignment. As musicians, we deal with a lot of repetition (posture and playing), and most of us suffer from repetitive stress syndrome in one form or another. I have found tremendous relief from practicing yoga. Yoga not only helps to make the muscles in our bodies symmetrical (side to side and up and down), but it also strengthens our posture, expands our lung capacity, relaxes our mind and reduces stress. Yoga can also help relieve carpel tunnel syndrome as well as tendonitis. Breath Control. Overall, from practicing yoga regularly, I feel much better. It seems I can think faster (or maybe the world is slowing down?!). I notice a difference in my breath support, my dynamic control, my sound and my clarity of ideas. My sound has changed because I know “how” to breathe and how best to naturally fill my lungs with air (from the bottom up!) and to get the most efficiency from my breath. I have also spoken with singers who say they notice a difference in their voice as a result from their yoga practice. How great that we can improve our sound (our voice) and tone through yoga! A few minutes of daily yoga is usually sufficient for me although you can go much longer, of course. All in all, I don’t feel there is a more complete exercise than yoga. You can practice on the road, in a bus, backstage, by the side of your bed, in a class, in a field … nearly anywhere it seems. Find yourself a yoga teacher you are comfortable with, and remember, as with music, through repetition comes magic. By the way, my yoga of choice is Svaroopa Yoga.

About the Author Jeff Coffin is the three-time Grammy Award winning saxophonist of Dave Mathews Band and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. In addition, Jeff leads the Mu’tet. As a clinician, Jeff has presented worldwide in places from Farmington, Maine, to Perth, Australia. He is a Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist. Jeff recently released two new CDs: “‘Duet’ by Jeff Coffin & Jeff Sipe”(check iTunes and stores) and “Jeff Coffin & the Mu’tet—LIVE!” (at www.earuprecords.com). Visit Jeff’s website at www.jeffcoffin.com.

brass

winds

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

Gear Talk By Chase Sanborn

In this issue’s column, you can get answers to a few common questions about selecting your ideal instrument. Question: What is the difference between student and pro model horns? Answer: The differences between student and pro horns are subtle but significant: complexity of tone, secure slotting of notes, more refined intonation. Improved design and manufacturing capabilities means that most instruments produced today by a reputable company are eminently playable, so for a player just starting out, a good student horn will do fine for quite a while. A Yamaha student trumpet, for example, shares many of the characteristics of the pro horn, thanks to the design philosophy of vertical integration. Intermediate models exist, but at that point, I recommend taking another step up the ladder. A used pro horn is an excellent option if you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of shine. Brass instruments can actually improve over time, particularly in the hands of a good player. Question: How do you assess a new horn? Does the playing style (lead, jazz, classical, etc.) have a lot of bearing on your choice? Answer: Aside from smooth mechanical action, two things I look for when trying out a new horn are clarity of sound and evenness of scale, e.g., whether each note sounds and feels like the notes next to it. The application doesn’t play much of a role in my choice. I play two main trumpets currently. One was designed for a classical player, and the other was designed for a lead player. I’ll happily use either horn in any situation. Question: Do you change horns often? Is there an adjustment period when you get a new horn? Answer: I like changing horns from time to time as it causes me to reassess and adjust the way I play. Every horn is unique, particularly in tone quality and in the placement of notes. When trying out a new horn, I’m likely to miss notes (even more than usual) as I search for the center slot of each pitch, where the note feels secure and the sound is resonant. I have to learn to work with the horn, rather than fight it.

About the Author Chase Sanborn is a jazz trumpet player based in Toronto. He is on the faculty at the University of Toronto and is the author of “Brass Tactics,” “Jazz Tactics,” “Tuning Tactics” and “Music Business Tactics.” Chase is a Yamaha Artist. Visit his website at www.chasesanborn.com. Questions about all things brassrelated can be sent to info@chasesanborn.com.

By Lane Armey

In the world of percussion, a lot of attention has been given to high school and drum corps drum lines because of how competitive they are. The competition aspect is (usually) fun, and with so many videos now posted online, it’s easy for anyone to be a fan. But what’s often lost in the shuffle is the college drum line. Most of my experience has been teaching at the high school and drum corps level, but I’ve also been fortunate enough to have played in and taught college drum lines. The high school kids I teach have very limited visibility into the world of college percussion, and so I’m often asked, “Should I march in my college band?” To which the answer is a resounding, “YES!” Shared Passion. Band students—drummers or otherwise—tend to hang out together and are used to having a big group of friends who all share a common passion. Well, guess what—it’s no different in college! Except the college band is usually larger, connecting you to even more friends. As a freshman in a new situation, potentially far from home, nothing is more “normal” than to have that band or drum line experience to immediately share. Different Skills and Goals. The other concern I sometimes hear from high school students is how the college drum line experience will be different than high school. Will it be good? Is it serious? I think for a lot of students, it’s a mystery because there isn’t the same access to college drum lines online. Every school is clearly different, but what makes the college experience so good is the diversity of the students. Everyone is coming from a different school and bringing different skills. There is a lot to learn in a college program that will ultimately make you a better drummer. Just because the band may not compete does not mean it’s not serious. Plus some bands—namely those in large football conferences—learn different shows for every game! And the drum line is asked to learn several cadences and scores of beats to entertain fans. Is it different than a competitive high school or drum corps? Absolutely. But potentially in all the right ways … more notes, more fun, less worrying about trophies.

About the Author Lane Armey is the battery percussion coordinator for Homestead High School in Cupertino, Calif. During the past 10 years, he has worked with various groups including Northwestern University and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.

guard

percussion

College Drum Line

Winning By Chris Casteel

As we say “hello” to a new season of winter guard, let’s take a look at the attributes that determine winners. Most people believe that winners have been predestined with talent, intelligence or simply being in the right place at the right time (luck). However, NONE of these attributes apply all the time in every situation. Kind of shocking, huh? Winning is not some sort of predestined phenomena that only happens to the chosen few. If that were the case, how can one possibly explain late bloomers who work hard and become World Class performers? Get this: Winning is an acquirable and developable ability, just like spinning a flag, rifle or sabre! Here are some common actions that winners undertake. Maximize. Performers constantly maximize their potential. Improve. They never settle into a comfortable level of achievement whether in rehearsal or in competition. Improvements are constantly being made. Raise the Bar. The bar of expectation is continually raised by their own desire to do better. This includes all aspects of the winter guard program: staging, equipment, movement and performance. Focus. Performers have the ability to focus on the details covered in rehearsals without getting distracted by the big picture. And they are then able to apply that same focus in the details of the bigger picture. Be Responsible. Performers take responsibility for their own individual role in the total program. These people do not rely on anyone else to make the team better but determine to be the best in everything they do for the betterment of their team. Prepare. Performers dedicate themselves to the process of preparation, for preparation breeds confidence, and confidence is the precursor to success. As you embark upon this new and exciting winter guard season, I wish you the very best, and remember, according to leadership experts: “... Winning behavior is a skill which anyone can learn, practice, acquire and improve ...”

About the Author Chris Casteel has been involved in the color guard activity since 1981 as a performer and an instructor. She has a master’s degree in education. She has instructed several medaling guards for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC). Currently, Chris is an adjudicator for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and the WGASC as well as a guest adjudicator for many other circuits. She also holds the position of education coordinator for the WGASC.

January/February 2012 11

Pat Petrillo’s Instructional Rhythm DVD

Remo Clear Emperor Crimplock Tenor Heads

ErgoSonic Marching Bass Drum

By Lydia Ness

ewcomer ErgoSonic Percussion has changed the face of the bass drum— literally. The ErgoSonic Marching Bass Drum has a unique angled wooden shell that features a horizontal playing

esponding to a need for greater projection and durability, especially in drum corps activities, Remo produced the new Clear Emperor Crimplock tenor heads. The Clear Emperor Crimplock heads are more durable and louder than standard tenor drumheads today. In recent years, most drum corps have added an additional tenor player (five instead of four) in order to gain more volume and articulation from the section. The increased projection of the Clear Emperor Crimplock responds to this need as well as benefits the performers,

Check out the following cool products before your next practice, show or competition.

surface, allowing the instrument to be played with the same vertical stroke as that of snare and tenor drums. The drum’s unique size and shape help to minimize challenges—such as reduced sight lines and awkward side steps—that marching performers experience with traditional bass drums. Performers have the ability to face forward like the rest of the battery. A resonant head is used instead of two batter heads; therefore, the bass drums can be tuned to several relative pitches. Small drums can be tuned to the same relative pitch as large drums, thus allowing drums to fit to the stature of the performers. Musicians can use varying percussive strokes, hand dampening and muting techniques that are limited

when using conventional marching bass drums. Accessories such as woodblocks and cowbells can also be easily hung on the drums. “Today’s snare and tenor drums are extremely advanced—they’re like rocket ships compared to the drums of 30 years ago—but we’re still playing John Philip Sousa’s bass drum,” said Kenneth Turner, president and CEO of ErgoSonic Percussion in a press release. “The ErgoSonic Marching Bass Drum helps to close this gap, bringing the technology up-to-date and providing superior playing and marching benefits equal to 2011 rather than 1911. And perhaps most importantly, ErgoSonic makes the bass drum more fun.” Visit www.ergosonicpercussion.com.

allowing them to hear themselves more clearly. In addition to their increased tone, attack and projection, the Clear Emperor Crimplock heads feature two plies of specially selected highstrength film, totaling 15-mil in thickness, for increased durability. “Today’s drumheads have to withstand the demands of drum corps, both musically and physically,” says Bruce Jacoby, manager of education at Remo. “The Clear Emperor Crimplock is a drumhead that can be heard in any situation and can stand up to countless

hours of the most demanding playing.” Remo tested the product with world-class organizations such as Riverside Community College, Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps as well as Dartmouth High School. Visit www.remo.com.

at Petrillo, world-class drummer and clinician, has released an instructional DVD entitled “Pat Petrillo’s Learn to Read Rhythms … Better!” The two-disc set provides comprehensive instruction on rhythm notation reading. “In teaching rhythm reading classes at Drummers Collective in New York City, I noticed that there wasn’t [a single] book that started from the absolute beginning and carried the student through all of the rhythmic subdivisions in a step-by-step, progressive and logical manner.” Petrillo says. Petrillo teaches beginning to advanced levels of reading and uses the “Sound Picture” method, which

illustrates how rhythms look along with how they sound. This method encourages better sight reading skills. Topics include basic rhythm notations, dotted rhythms and rest combinations, syncopation notation, triplet rhythm combinations, common and odd time signatures, and codas and repeats. “Using a visual as well as oral presentation, rhythms ‘come to life’ as I guide you through each example, using an on-screen digital pointer while it’s being played along with a metronome,” Petrillo says. “It’s a reading ‘book’ that comes with a teacher ... me!” Visit www.alfred.com/drums.

Major Events by Region West WGI Guard Feb 11—Modesto, CA—Ceres Regional Feb 25—Etiwanda, CA—Riverside Regional Mar 3—Gilbert, AZ—Phoenix Regional Mar 10—Broomfield, CO—Denver Regional Mar 17-18—Union City, CA—Union City Regional Mar 24-25—San Diego, CA—Western Championship

WGI Percussion Feb 25—Corona, CA—Corona Regional Mar 3—Gilbert, AZ—Phoenix Regional Mar 10—Modesto, CA—Ceres Regional Mar 17—Northglenn, CO—Denver Regional Mar 24-25—San Bernardino, CA—Western Championship

Tradeshows Jan 12-15—Eugene, OR—Oregon MEA Jan 15-17—Evanston, WY—Wyoming MEA Jan 19-22—Anaheim, CA—NAMM Jan 25-28—Colorado Springs, CO—Colorado MEA Feb 3-4—St. George, UT—Utah MEA Feb 16-19—Fresno, CA—California Association for Music Education Feb 18-19—Honolulu, HI—Hawaii MEA

Midwest WGI Guard Feb 11—Greenwood, IN—Indianapolis Regional Feb 18—Kansas City, MO—Kansas City Regional Mar 10-11—Cincinnati, OH—Cincinnati Regional Mar 24-25—Muncie, IN—Midwestern Championship Apr 12-14—Dayton, OH—World Championships

WGI Percussion Feb 11—Troy, MI—Troy Regional Feb 18-19—Indianapolis, IN—Indianapolis Regional Mar 3—Kettering, OH—Dayton Regional Mar 24—Buffalo, MN—Minneapolis Regional Apr 19-21—Dayton, OH—World Championships

Tradeshows Jan 19-21—Fort Wayne, IN—Indiana MEA Jan 25-28—Peoria, IL—Illinois MEA Jan 25-29—Osage Beach, MO—Missouri MEA Feb 16-18—Columbus, OH—Ohio MEA Feb 16-18—Minneapolis, MN—Minnesota MEA Mar 16-17—Troy, MI—Michigan MEA Mar 22-24—Bismarck, ND—North Dakota MEA Mar 29-31—St. Louis, MO—NAfME Biennial Music Educators National Conference

Northeast WGI Guard Feb 11—Trumbull, CT—Trumbull Regional Feb 25—Rochester, NY—Rochester Regional

Mar 10—Salem, MA—Salem Regional Mar 17—North Huntingdon, PA—Pittsburgh Regional Mar 24-25—Monmouth Junction, NJ—South Brunswick Regional

WGI Percussion Mar 3—Trumbull, CT—Trumbull Regional Mar 24—Norristown, PA—Norristown Regional

USSBA Indoor Feb 18—Flemington, NJ—Indoor Clinic and Preview Feb 25—Montville, NJ—Montville Township HS Feb 25—New Milford, CT—New Milford HS Feb 25—Lansdale, PA—North Penn HS Mar 3—Collegeville, PA—Perkiomen Valley HS Mar 10—LaGrangeville, NY—Arlington HS Mar 10—Pompton Plains, NJ—Pequannock Township HS Mar 17—Bridgewater, NJ—Bridgewater-Raritan HS Mar 17—Fair Lawn, NJ—Fair Lawn HS Mar 17—Upper Darby, PA—Upper Darby HS Mar 17—Stamford, CT—Westhill HS Mar 24—Stratford, CT—Bunnell HS Mar 31—Old Bridge, NJ—Old Bridge HS Apr 14—Trenton, NJ—USSBA Indoor Championships

Tournament of Bands Jan 7—Dillburg, PA—TIA Indoor Education/Northern York HS Jan 21—Bedford, PA—Chapter 11 Preview at Bedford HS Jan 28—Allentown, PA—Salisbury Twirlers Jan 28—Mullica Hill, NJ—Clearview HS Feb 4—Macungie, PA—Emmaus HS Feb 4—Drexel Hill, PA—Blackwatch at Upper Darby HS Feb 11—Robesonia, PA—Conrad Weiser HS Feb 18—Camp Hill, PA—Trinity HS Feb 18—Media, PA—Penncrest HS Feb 18—Woodbury Heights, NJ—Gateway Regional HS Feb 25—Carinbrook, PA—Shade Central City Feb 25—Bridgeton, NJ—Cumberland Regional HS Feb 25—Hummelstown, PA—Lower Dauphin HS Feb 25—Souderton, PA—Souderton HS Feb 25—Springfield, PA—Springfield HS Mar 2—Wilmington, DE—Imperial Dynasty Jazz Show at John Dickinson HS Mar 3—Windber, PA—Windber HS Mar 3—Kutztown, PA—Kutztown HS Mar 3—Rogersford, PA—Springford HS Mar 3—Wilmington, DE—Imperial Dynasty at John Dickinson HS Mar 3—Fort Meade, MD—Chesapeake Percussion at Meade Sr HS Mar 10—McKeesport, PA—McKeesport HS Mar 10—Tyrone, PA—Tyrone HS Mar 10—Deptford, NJ—Deptford HS Mar 10—Quakertown, PA—Quakertown HS Mar 10—Radnor, PA—Radnor HS Mar 10—Wilmington DE—Cab Calloway HS Mar 10—Schuylkill Haven, PA—Blue Mountain HS Mar 10—Greencastle, PA—Greencastle Antrim HS Mar 16—Royersford, PA—Spring-Ford HS Jazz Mar 17—Landisville, PA—Hempfield HS Mar 17—Pittsburgh, PA—Carrick

Mar 17—Jersey Shore, PA—Jershey Shore-JAZZ Mar 17—Mertztown, PA—Brandywine Heights Indoor Mar 17—Huntingdon, PA—Huntingdon HS Mar 17—West Grove, PA—Avon Grove HS Mar 17—Runnemede, NJ—Triton HS Mar 17—Mill Hall, PA—Central Mountain HS Mar 17—Horsham, PA—Hatboro Horsham HS Mar 24—Sidman, PA—Forest Hills HS Mar 24—Whitehall, PA—Whitehall HS Mar 24—Elizabeth, PA—Elizabeth Forward Mar 24—Lancaster, PA—Lampeter Strasburg HS Mar 24—Johnstown, PA—Westmont Hilltop HS Mar 30—New Castle, DE—William Penn HS Jazz at Gunning Bedford Middle School Mar 31—Birdsboro, PA—Daniel Boone Mar 31—Pemberton, NJ—Pemberton HS Mar 31—Pittsburgh, PA—Fast Forward at Brashear HS Mar 31—DuBois, PA—DuBois HS Mar 31—Wilmington, DE—William Penn HS

Tradeshows Feb 23-25—East Brunswick, NJ—New Jersey MEA Mar 1-3—Boston, MA—Massachusetts MEA

South WGI Guard Feb 11—Oviedo, FL—Orlando Regional Feb 18—Kyle, TX—Austin Regional Feb 18—Clayton, NC—Raleigh Regional Feb 25—Thompson’s Station, TN—Nashville Regional Mar 3—Houston, TX—Houston Regional Mar 3—Cantonment, FL—Pensacola Regional Mar 3-4—Sharpsburg, GA—Atlanta Regional Mar 17—Powhatan, VA—Richmond Regional Mar 17-18—Garland, TX—Southwestern Championship Mar 24-25—Orlando, FL—Southeastern Championship

WGI Percussion Feb 25—Apopka, FL—Orlando Regional Mar 3—Roebuck, SC—Spartanburg Regional Mar 10—Boca Raton, FL—Boca Raton Regional Mar 10—Hattiesburg, MS—Hattiesburg Regional Mar 10—Powhatan, VA—Richmond Regional Mar 17-18—Bowling Green, KY—Mid-South Championship

HBCU Jan 28—Atlanta, GA—Honda Battle of the Bands

Tradeshows Jan 18-21—Tulsa, OK—Oklahoma MEA Jan 19-21—Montgomery, AL—Alabama MEA Jan 26-28—Savannah, GA—Georgia MEA Feb 2-4—Charleston, SC—South Carolina MEA Feb 8-11—Louisville, KY—Kentucky MEA Feb 8-11—San Antonio, TX—Texas MEA Feb 23-25—Wichita, KS—Kansas MEA Mar 15-17—Morgantown, WV—West Virginia MEA January/February 2012 13

Robert D. Champion, Jr. 1985-2011

By Elizabeth Geli

Photo Courtesy of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)

The death of Florida A&M drum major Robert D. Champion, Jr. brought hazing within marching bands to the national spotlight. How can students, directors and administrators unite to prevent hazing on their campuses? 14

very band directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst nightmare played out in the national spotlight this fall as news broke of the death of Robert D. Champion, Jr., a drum major at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A&M or FAMU, for short). Champion passed away while on a road trip with FAMUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marching 100. Details began to emerge, indicating that his death was due to some kind of beating, suspected to be a hazing ritual. As the investigation continued, FAMU alums, parents and other current students began to come forward with more hazing allegations. Suddenly, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, college bands and the entire marching community were looked at a little differently as the public reacted to the scandal.

What Is Hazing? So what constitutes hazing? How can marching bands prevent it? And how can the marching arts recover from the scandal at FAMU—one of the most well-known programs both among HBCUs and in the United States? Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.” Unfortunately that definition leaves much to interpretation. “There’s a very gray area in terms of hazing, and it runs the gamut,” says Dr. Walter Kimbrough, president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. and an expert on hazing. “People focus on things that are dangerous or potentially dangerous. But hazing could be anything from all the freshmen wearing certain outfits or carrying other people’s instruments.” While there’s no question that the alleged beatings at FAMU would be considered hazing, less violent offenses are harder to classify as either hazing or harmless. “It’s easy to define if someone’s being beaten or verbally abused; the problem is the lessobvious definition,” says David Mills, director of bands at the University of Connecticut. “Hazing is hazing if it looks like that to an outsider. If someone would think, ‘What are they doing?,’ even it’s some kind of innocent horseplay and agreed to by all, if from the outside it looks like hazing, it’s hazing. And that’s the new definition that makes it so difficult.” Marching bands have a military background, and most still carry many of the same disciplinary ideals, including a hierarchy and respect based on years of experience. “The culture of most marching bands is that freshmen are made aware that they are freshmen,” says Michael Leckrone, band director at the University of Wisconsin, which dealt with hazing allegations in 2006 and 2008. “Telling the freshmen to clean the area after rehearsal; I think that’s part of the freshmen experience, but some would think that’s hazing. I think hazing is when you demean someone and harm them. It’s all in that definition. ... It’s very important to us that they don’t get demeaned, and I don’t think it rises to the level of physical abuse or mental harm.” Many groups institute a policy of running laps or giving pushups for mistakes on the field, but some say that even that could constitute hazing. “How do push-ups help you not make a mistake?” questions John T. Madden, band director at Michigan State University (MSU), where an alleged hazing and assault case surfaced in the 1990’s. “That’s hazing; it’s a physical punishment associated with a mistake, and I think that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Every positive action helps improve the band, and negative actions do not. It’s not the right thing; that’s not how we treat people.” Every band director and program needs to determine what they will consider hazing on an individual basis while still keeping the big picture in mind. “They should probably start addressing those small things initially because they can lead to other things; you could call it gateway hazing; it all has to be addressed,” says Kimbrough, who has served as an expert witness for cases of marching band and fraternity/sorority hazing. “But we’re in a period of time where there are bigger concerns. You should have a blanket policy against all hazing, but we really have got to address those people operating on one end of the spectrum and work our way down. There are beatings, people using weapons. I don’t know where they get these ideas from. I’ve heard of people being hit with frying pans.”

A History of Violence? Last year wasn’t the first time that the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Marching 100 has dealt with severe hazing. Here’s a breakdown of the most recent scandal and a time line of the past infractions. 1998 -

FAMU clarinet player Ivery Luckey is hospitalized after being beaten with a paddle more than 300 times. 2001 - FAMU trumpet player Marcus Parker is beaten and suffers renal failure. Oct. 2011 - Band director Dr. Julian White dismisses approximately 30 band students for hazing. Nov. 7 - FAMU freshman Bria Hunter is beaten and hospitalized with a cracked femur. Nov. 19 - FAMU drum major Robert D. Champion, Jr., 26, dies—allegedly the result of a hazing ritual called “crossing Bus C” where band members beat someone as they walk through a bus. Nov. 22 - University President James Ammons suspends all band activities and performances. Nov. 23 - FAMU dismisses White from his position. Nov. 30 - Friends and family mourn the loss of Champion at his funeral. Dec. 1 - Four students were dismissed from the university in connection to Champion’s death. Dec. 6 - FAMU students sign anti-hazing pledges. Dec. 7 - FAMU rescinds the dismissal of White and the four students until the investigation can be completed. Dec. 13 - Three male students are arrested for the beating of Bria Hunter. Dec. 14 - The DeKalb County, Ga., school district announces it will suspend almost all marching band activities while conducting its own hazing investigation. Champion and Hunter both hailed from the famed Southwest DeKalb High School Band as did two of the three arrested for beating Hunter. Dec. 15 - Florida Governor Rick Scott recommends that FAMU suspend Ammons. Dec. 16 - Champion’s death is ruled a homicide. Dec. 19 - FAMU’s Board announces that they will not suspend Ammons. Jan. 2, 2012 - The FAMU Board approves a plan to honor Champion with a memorial scholarship. January/February 2012 15

Anti-Hazing Checklist How can you help prevent hazing?

For Students Don’t Do It: Remember the severe consequences and determine if your future is worth these activities. It’s not. Don’t Let It Happen to You: Remove yourself from potentially dangerous situations and don’t be afraid to come forward if you need help. If You See It, Say Something: Even if you’re not involved, tell a band director, staff member or school official what you witnessed. Do Something Else: Redirect the desire to prove yourself to the band by concentrating on your performance caliber, taking on a leadership position or volunteering for a charity.

For Parents Talk to Your Kids: Maintain open and honest communication with your kids, so they can come to you if they need help. Do Your Research: As your student chooses a college or moves to a new band, ask about what they do to prevent hazing.

For Directors: Communicate: Hold regular meetings with student leaders to check in throughout the season. Educate: Provide your student leaders, or maybe even your entire band, with an anti-hazing training session from an outside speaker or student affairs professional from your school. Assign: Make sure freshmen know who to contact— an assigned older buddy, band staff member or school official—if they feel uncomfortable. Provide: Give students plenty of legitimate musical, physical or visual challenges in their performance through which to channel their energy. Create productive subgroups or leadership positions to keep overachievers busy.

Educate, Communicate The band director and staff can’t police students 24/7, but there are ways to educate, communicate with, and change the attitudes of band members. Sometimes outside influences can be helpful, and bands may be able to learn from fraternities and sororities. Kimbrough recommends an education program including a full day of anti-hazing training at the beginning of band camp and a half-day checkpoint halfway through the season. “You need to spend money to bring people in to talk about hazing, and you need to have students sign agreements where they agree that they will be expelled for participating,” Kimbrough says. “There has to be much more severe penalties, so people can make a determination if being involved in this hazing activity is worth the consequences.” Kimbrough predicts that over time, band-specific anti-hazing speakers and experts will emerge. Until then, the student affairs department can be a great existing and free resource. “Those partnerships need to be closer, and they could use those people to do workshops; they are doing them for fraternities and sororities anyway,” says Kimbrough. “I know that on some campuses, they throw [all campus organizations] together for training.” Other than education, Kimbrough recommends increased staffing. “It’s too much of a major responsibility for just the director,” Kimbrough says. “I think one of the things that should develop is that there will have to be official staff hired, people with a student affairs background working with the band members and keeping their eyes and ears open. There are people hired to work with fraternities, sororities and athletic teams where that’s their entire job—looking at students’ academics, health and safety.” At the high school level, the entire burden of anti-hazing responsibility can fall on the director’s shoulders. “Hazing is no different from child abuse,” says Jerry Burdick-Rutz, band director at Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif., and an MSU alum. “When an abused child is older, they will either continue or break the pattern as a parent. If a marching band experiences hazing, it is because the director, ‘the parent of the organization,’ allows it to occur. While it may have been tolerated or a part of traditions long before the current staff, it is a pattern that must be broken.” Music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha has extensive anti-hazing information on its website and provides new members with information on how to report violations, including an anonymous online tip service. “We have been very fortunate in our recent history to have no major infractions or legal action,” says Mark Wilson, the national director of communications. “We have in the past had to expel chapters for conduct that isn’t aligned with our policies, and there have been isolated incidents where we took action against individual brothers or chapters. We’ve done a good job in policing this and preventing it before it happens through education.” Band directors have mostly used their own grassroots methods. “Open up the line of communication,” Leckrone says. “Freshmen are the most susceptible to hazing; they feel like they just have to take it. We instituted a band buddy system, we make sure they understand the chain of command, and you also need to give them contact information for the dean of students’ office or whoever’s in charge and can act quickly.” Madden suggests frequent meetings with section and/or squad leaders. “Every spring I meet with section and squad leaders to discuss goals and improvements, and those leaders carry the torch of the band’s approach next season,” Madden says. “Planting the seeds in the spring is step one. In the fall I have those section

leaders meet every Monday in a closed-door meeting to tell me what’s really going on. Not only is there thorough education; there’s constant follow-up and communication.”

Don’t Do This; Do That Not all hazing is born of malicious intent. A desire to prove oneself to the group or have others prove themselves is rooted in human nature but when misguided can develop into a dangerous situation. “It’s a natural human trait, and it escalates,” Mills says. “Bands are big groups, and they do require a lot of work and generate a lot of spirit and caring. That’s a fertile ground for people to want to prove themselves in more ways. If people want to do extra as leaders—we have a tremendous amount of organizational positions. People don’t need to go proving themselves in any other way than in an official capacity.” Providing leadership positions or official clubs and subgroups can be an effective way to channel the energy of extremely spirited students, so that they don’t resort to hazing or inappropriate activities. “One of the things that [Phi Mu Alpha] can do that can help with [preventing hazing in marching bands] is giving them an alternative; don’t do this, but instead do these things,” Wilson says. “In Phi Mu Alpha, you have structure, and you create music; we have our charity, and all of them do that and report back to us. We’re giving them things to plan and do that are productive. If you’re providing the structure and activities, it goes a long way toward preventing those sorts of behaviors.” Phi Mu Alpha does have a chapter at FAMU. According to an investigation by its province governor, no Sinfonians were involved in the recent incidents. Rules and signed contracts against hazing just aren’t enough in most cases. The attitude and beliefs system of the band and leadership must be developed, so that they are revolted by hazing, according to Mills. “You can’t just legislate it out because then it just goes underground and becomes hidden from authority,” Mills says. “It has to come from the belief and understanding of the young people that that’s not necessary and shouldn’t be part of our group.”

The FAMU Impact From a national standpoint, the recent events at FAMU seem to be isolated. Most do not believe that these types of severe beatings and secret subgroups within college marching bands are common. It is too early to fully analyze the effect that Champion’s death and the subsequent investigation will have on the marching arts, but bands are already taking action. “This has pretty much changed the game as far as our community and our world; this is a turning point,” says Christy Walker, creator of The5thQuarter.com, an HBCU band fan website. “It would surprise me if any HBCU band director at this point has not had communication with the university president. There’s going to be some big changes, maybe it’s a closer eye on the band programs, maybe it’s really airtight hazing statements that everybody has to sign.”

About the Author Elizabeth Geli is the assistant editor and web editor for Halftime Magazine and a freelance journalist and communications professional in Los Angeles. She marched flute at Valencia High School in Placentia, Calif., and in the University of Southern California (USC) Trojan Marching Band, where she now works as a teaching assistant. She has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a Master’s in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) from USC.

Some directors shared the story with their staffs, leadership teams and even the entire band. “It’s a wakeup call to everyone,” says Mills, who also serves as the chairman of the Athletic Band Committee of the College Band Directors National Association. “It’s one of those things that no one can ignore. Since this happened in the band world, we all have to use this opportunity to heighten our vigilance against it. I immediately wrote a note to my band saying that we need to recognize this.” Because it occurred within a marching band, the case has garnered extra attention from media outlets. “People die from hazing every year,” Kimbrough says. “This story just shocked people because it was a band, and people don’t think of hazing in bands. This is the most widely publicized hazing case in the history of the country, by far.” HBCU fans, students and alums have expressed concern about how this will damage the community at large. “There are people that are concerned about how this will dampen our craft,” Walker says. “There are some people that voice opinions that they’re not really surprised. But the majority is just outrage and anger, that it’s not only damaging to FAMU but to all black college bands because FAMU was the most well-known program and in the spotlight—so what happens to them has an impact on the smaller bands as well.”

An Endless Battle Due to the addition of new students each year, the efforts against hazing can never be completed. “I don’t think it’s something where you can says, ‘We’ve got the problem cleared,’” Leckrone says. “You need to be continually vigilant. You can’t assume that’s the end of it because every year you’re dealing with new individuals, and they need to understand what the guidelines are.” High school students entering college should be curious and questioning. Ask about hazing, and don’t be afraid to speak up. “You can save someone’s life,” Kimbrough says. “More people need to say, ‘I know this is going on, and I’m going to tell.’ People get hazed every year, and nothing happens. More and more people have to be empowered and say something.” Madden’s anti-hazing efforts are aided by instilling a strong sense of pride in the band’s reputation in each student. “I create standards about what we do in the name of the band even when not affiliated,” he says. “You’d never see someone go on a bar crawl in their band jacket. Even though college students go do that, and they’re of age, and I can’t stop it, they wouldn’t wear their band jacket.” “Making the band look good and sound good is easy,” Madden continues. “Persuading kids to treat each other with respect is the roll-up-your-sleeves work that I absolutely revere.” The marching community can honor Champion and other victims by working to prevent hazing in their communities. “When you deal with young people, you’re never done—people change, and every year I get 100 new kids in, and there are all kinds of influences in society that lead to things that aren’t necessarily great, and it is scary,” says Mills. “What I will do to honor this young man is to make sure that the kids I have and my staff and myself are vigilant in running the other way from this whole idea that one has to prove themselves in any way other than what we do on the field or in the rehearsal room. They’re worthy because they’re there and joining in our work together, and that’s the bottom line and the end of it.” January/February 2012 17

Photos by Fred Boyd, Tom Emerson Photography, Ken Martinson/ Marching.com and Pasadena Tournament of Roses/Long Photography

SMELL THE

The 2012 Tournament of Roses set a number of records: warmest day, longest parade float, highest-scoring game and longest touchdown run. For the participants, each moment of the trip to Pasadena, Calif.— especially the 5.5-mile parade—marked a personal highlight. Enjoy Halftime Magazine’s 5th annual photo spread, featuring sights from Bandfest, the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. 18

Red Raider: The Pulaski (Wis.) Marching Band has been recognized by the U.S. Congress, the Wisconsin State Senate and the Green Bay Packers organization as an outstanding youth performance group. © 2012. Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Long Photography.

Participating

Bands Congratulations to the following marching ensembles, which participated in the 123rd Rose Parade. • American Fork (Utah) HS • Arcadia (Calif.) HS • Avon (Ind.) HS • Banda Escolar de Guayanilla (Puerto Rico) • Ben Davis HS (Indianapolis) • Calgary (Alberta, Canada) Stampede Showband • Crestview (Fla.) HS • Franklin Regional HS (Murrysville, Pa.) • Kyoto (Japan) Tachibana HS Green Band • Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Band • Lubbock (Texas) ISD High Schools • Mercer Island (Wash.) HS • Needham B. Broughton HS (Raleigh, N.C.) • Pasadena (Calif.) City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band & Herald Trumpets • Pulaski (Wis.) HS • The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band • Siloam Springs (Ark.) HS • The Royal Swedish Navy Cadet Band (Karlskrona, Sweden) • United States Marines Corps West Coast Composite Band • University of Oregon • University of Wisconsin

Just imagine: clear-blue skies, the warm sun, a panoramic view of the mountains and the scent of flowers filling the air. That’s the paradise experienced by thousands of performers as they marched down the streets of Pasadena, Calif., in the 123rd Rose Parade presented by Honda. Held on Monday, Jan. 2, due to an established tradition by the Tournament of Roses to never hold the event on Sunday, the parade still proved to be a sweet New Year’s tradition. Third Time’s a Charm: With almost 300 members, the Mercer Island (Wash.) Marching Band performed in its 3rd Rose Parade. © 2012. Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Long Photography.

Debut Performance: Franklin Regional High School from Murrysville, Pa., makes its first appearance in the Rose Parade © 2012. Fred Boyd. Moving Up the Ranks: The Royal Swedish Navy Cadet Band, with musicians aged 15 to 25, is the only young band approved for the Changing of the Royal Guards at the palace in Stockholm. © 2012. Ken Martinson/Marching.com.

THE pARADE January/February 2012 21

THE Game Spirited: Oregon won its first Rose Bowl in 95 years, with the band members giving all their energy in support of the team. “The Rose Bowl is a huge deal, and the world is watching,” says director Dr. Eric Wiltshire. © 2012. Tom Emerson Photography.

In the 98th Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio, the University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Wisconsin Badgers with a score of 45 to 38—the highest-scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Both bands rocked out on the field; the Oregon Marching Band, led by Dr. Eric Wiltshire, performed a tribute to Van Halen while the University of Wisconsin, led by Michael Leckrone, played a medley of music from “Jersey Boys.” Visit Halftime Magazine’s “Web Exclusives” section for comments from each band director. Repeat Trip: The University of Wisconsin makes its second-consecutive and eighth overall appearance in the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. “You can’t beat the Rose Bowl for bands; it’s just a great experience,” says director Michael Leckrone. © 2012. Tom Emerson Photography.

50 states, 300 members one band... one moment in history The BOA Honor Band in the 2013 Rose Parade® Music for All is honored to have received an invitation for the Bands of America Honor Band to perform in the 124th annual Tournament of Roses Parade, January 1, 2013 in Pasadena, California. Members who performed in the 2009 and 2005 BOA Honor Bands in the Rose Parade® will tell you it was a positively life-changing experience. The 2013 BOA Honor Band members will be selected by recorded audition to represent all 50 of our United States of America. Will you be one of them? Visit www.musicforall.org for more information and to sign up to receive the application packet as soon as it’s available. High school students are eligible to apply, must graduate high school no later than May 2012.

National Presenting Sponsor of Music for All

1. Akron, OH • 6/16 2. Louisville, KY • 6/17 3. Albuquerque, NM • 6/19 4. Battle Creek, MI • 6/20 5. Mesa, AZ • 6/20 6. Martin, TN • 6/20 7. Dothan, AL • 6/21 8. Madison, WI • 6/22 9. Clovis, CA • 6/22 10. Woodbury, MN • 6/23 11. Orlando, FL • 6/23 12. Stanford, CA • 6/23 13. Stockton, CA • 6/24 14. Sioux Falls, SD • 6/24 15. Ft. Mill, SC • 6/25 16. Mankato, MN • 6/26 17. Sevierville, TN • 6/26 18. Santa Clara, CA • 6/26 19. Fairfield, OH • 6/27 20. Oswego, IL • 6/28 21. Medford, OR • 6/28 22. Oceanside, CA • 6/29 23. Ft. Edward/ Glens Falls, NY • 6/29 24. Hillsboro, OR • 6/29 25. Muncie, IN • 6/29 26. Seattle, WA • 6/30 27. Walnut, CA • 6/30 28. Michigan City, IN • 6/30 29. Lynn, MA • 6/30 30. Riverside, CA • 7/1 31. Bridgeport, CT • 7/1

C O R P S

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

32. Davenport, IA • 7/1 33. Boise, ID • 7/2 34. Bristol, RI • 7/3 35. Cedarburg, WI • 7/3 36. Ogden, UT • 7/3 37. Quincy, MA • 7/6 38. Whitewater, WI • 7/6 39. Casper, WY • 7/6 40. Kalamazoo, MI • 7/7 41. Denver, CO • 7/7 42. TBD Northern, CA • 7/7 43. Jackson, NJ • 7/7 44. Chambersburg, PA • 7/8 45. Pleasant Hill, CA • 7/8 46. Centerville, OH • 7/9 47. Omaha, NE • 7/9 48. Waukee, IA • 7/10 49. Bowling Green, OH • 7/11 50. Metamora, IL • 7/11 51. Dubuque, IA • 7/12 52. Salem, WI • 7/12 53. Lisle, IL • 7/13 54. La Crosse, WI • 7/13 55. TBD Southern, CA • 7/14 56. Manchester, NH • 7/14 57. Minneapolis, MN • 7/14 58. Rockford, IL • 7/15

59. TBD Southern, CA • 7/15 60. Olathe, KS • 7/16 61. Lebanon, IL • 7/16 62. Wichita, KS • 7/17 63. Van Buren, AR • 7/17 64. Broken Arrow, OK • 7/18 65. Denton, TX • 7/19 66. Round Rock, TX • 7/19 67. Houston, TX • 7/20 68. San Antonio, TX • 7/21 69. Odessa, TX • 7/23 70. Lafayette, LA • 7/23 71. Ocean Springs, MS • 7/24 72. Dallas, TX • 7/24 73. Edmond, OK • 7/25 74. Hattiesburg, MS • 7/25 75. Little Rock, AR • 7/26 76. Murfreesboro, TN • 7/27 77. Atlanta, GA • 7/28 78. Paw Paw, MI • 7/28

79. Rock Hill, SC • 7/29 80. Charleston, WV • 7/30 81. Raleigh, NC • 7/30 82. Spring Valley, IL • 7/30 83. Erie, PA • 7/30 84. Salem, VA • 7/31 85. Dublin, OH • 7/31 86. Johnsonburg, PA • 7/31 87. Bealeton, VA • 7/31 88. Erie, PA • 8/1 89. West Chester, PA • 8/1 90. Rice Lake, WI • 8/1 91. Lawrence, MA • 8/2 92. Rome, NY • 8/2 93. Dubuque, IA • 8/3 94. Dayton, OH • 8/3 95. Allentown, PA • 8/3 96. Allentown, PA • 8/4 97. Niles, MI • 8/4 98. East Rutherford, NJ • 8/5 99. Pittsburgh, PA • 8/5 100. Massillon, OH • 8/6 101. Buffalo, NY • 8/6

For tickets, group rates & additional info, visit www.DCI.org

The 2012 Drum Corps International Tour

P R E S E N T S

Michigan City, IN Open Class Prelims • 8/6 Open Class Finals • 8/7

Indianapolis, IN

World Championship Prelims • 8/9 World Championship Semifinals • 8/10 World Championship Finals • 8/11

DCI Premier Events highlighted in red.

Tour of Champions Series highlighted in blue.

MARCHING MUSIC’S MAJOR LEAGUE™

Events and dates subject to change. rev 12/11

D R U M

By Jeremy Chen

NCAA Movers & Shakers

The Big Time: The University of Massachusetts at Amherst joins the Mid-American Conference as it moves up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. ÂŠ Al Graff, UMass Band Parents Association.

In the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (previously Division I-A), schools are moving east and west. As many athletic teams change conferences to position themselves for a chance at major bowl games, the marching bands will be confronted with change, tooâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; new travel plans, new rivals and even new stadiums. But sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. January/February 2012 25

Successful Debut: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln departed from the Big 12 and enjoyed its first season in the Big Ten. © Rose Johnson.

exas A&M to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) from the Big 12! Texas Christian University (TCU) ditching the Big East for the Big 12! Boise State to the Big East from the Mountain West! And Utah and Colorado debut in the Pac-12 (formerly Pac-10), away from the Big 12 and Mountain West! The collegiate sports world has lately been abuzz with these headlines of conference realignment as a number of schools are switching conferences for more lucrative opportunities for their athletic programs. Many of them are joining so-called power conferences such as the Big East or Big 12 in order to be part of the coveted Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games that are televised nationally. With all the talk being about the football teams and how they would be affected, what about the marching bands that accompany them? What will happen to the bands as they transition into different conferences, seeing a new crop of bands than the ones they are used to seeing? Will there be any significant changes from previous years?

Away Game Travel For many of the bands switching conferences, where they go for away games will be a major change. For some bands it means having to travel farther. For the Texas A&M Aggie Band, instead of going to other Texas schools for conference games in the Big 12, they will soon be traveling to the Deep South for games against Ole Miss or Auburn. 26

“We’re going to be traveling much farther than usual with the move to the SEC,” says Lieutenant Colonel Jay Brewer, senior associate director of bands at Texas A&M. “We’re going to have to go to Auburn or Mississippi and those places take about 10 hours to get to from College Station by bus. We will see how this will impact our expenses when we send a band to these games.” For the Dallas-based Southern Methodist University Mustang Band, distance could potentially become an issue in regards to actually being able to attend away games in the Big East. “We might be going to fewer away games for football since a lot of the schools are all the way on the East Coast,” says Don Hopkins, director of the Mustang Marching Band. “There has been some talk of just sending a small contingent of the band to some away games, but nothing has come to fruition yet. We’ll still go to the University of Houston since they are moving with us, but it remains to be seen about the other schools.” The Pride of TCU Band, though, is finding that travel to away games will be much easier with its move to the Big 12. “In the Mountain West Conference, our closest competitors were Air Force and New Mexico,” says Brian Youngblood, director of the Pride of TCU. “Now with the move to the Big 12, we will cut travel costs significantly as we will be playing other Texas schools consistently along with nearby regional schools.”

New Relationships, Old Rivalries? For a number of bands, this recent realignment reunites schools that used to be in the same conference. For TCU, it would mean seeing old foes in the Big 12 from the defunct Southwest Conference from the early 1990s. “We will be finally renewing some old games when we were part of the Southwest Conference,” Youngblood says. “A lot of the teams that are in the Big 12 such as Texas, Rice and Baylor used to be in the Southwest Conference. We’re looking forward to seeing them all the time in the coming seasons.” The University of Massachusetts at Amherst will renew its rivalry with the University of Connecticut Huskies (of the Big East) as it moves into the MidAmerican Conference from the Football Championship Subdivision. “UMass’ first football game in 2012 will be against UConn and be played in Hartford,” says Dr. Timothy Anderson, director of the UMass Minuteman Marching Band. “UMass and UConn used to play on a regular basis, and it will be great to get that rivalry re-started. As of now, the Minuteman Band is planning on going to the game.” On the other hand, UMass will no longer be collaborating closely with the University of Delaware (UD) Band. “The UD Marching Band is directed by UMass alumnus Heidi Sarver,” Anderson says. “Both the Minuteman Band and Delaware Band have a history of collaborating together.”

full swing,” Youngblood says. “The farther distances for the basketball games will bring us a unique set of challenges as our marching band members participate in many ensembles, so we will have to do a lot of schedule juggling.”

Status Quo

Closer to Home: Texas Christian University (TCU) moves to the Big 12 from the Big East, leading to easier travel and renewed rivalries. © Glen E. Ellman.

The conference realignments will also end long-established rivalries such as the Lone Star Showdown with Texas and Texas A&M, the Border War with Missouri and Kansas, and the Colonial Clash with UMass and the University of New Hampshire. “With the move to the SEC, we will lose Kansas,” says Dr. Brad Snow, director of the Marching Mizzou Band at the University of Missouri. “It was the second-longest rivalry in existence in college football.”

More Public Recognition With many schools switching to highprofile conferences, the wide recognition of these conferences could potentially enhance the profiles of the schools’ respective marching bands. In some cases, it changes where the bands will perform. The UMass Minuteman Band will now be playing its shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., instead of playing on campus in Amherst. The larger capacity stadium will allow more people to witness the band. “The move to Foxborough does have some exciting possibilities,” Anderson says. “It gives us an opportunity to create some new traditions and to share our band on a regular basis with UMass fans/ alumni in eastern Massachusetts.” At TCU, Youngblood expects packed crowds at Amon G. Carter Stadium where fans from Big 12 schools close by are certain to flock. “There aren’t as many fans from the Mountain West schools around the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Youngblood says.

“Around here, it’s more of Oklahoma fans or Texas fans, so we are certainly expecting a lot of home football games to be sold out as their fan bases come here more often. With that, even more people will be seeing us perform.”

The Basketball Impact The major conference shifts don’t just affect the marching band on the field but also at the sidelines of basketball games. The basketball band at Southern Methodist is looking forward to cheering on its team in the historically basketball dominating Big East. The new conference allows the band to be sent to new locales than usual. “Our basketball band always goes to tournaments, and in our current conference, we’ve gone to Memphis or Tulane for them,” Hopkins says. “Now we will be playing pep tunes at the historic Madison Square Garden. We are excited for the atmosphere at a place like that.” The TCU basketball band is also looking forward to pumping up the Horned Frogs in the similarly basketball rich Big 12 conference although it may take a little more travel. “Basketball season usually begins when the marching season is already in

With the whirlwind of changes in regards to logistics, a number of bands are intending to keep old traditions and transition them into the new conference. The Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band recently completed its inaugural season in the Big Ten from the Big 12 and largely continued its normal routine, with the minor exception of sharing pregame shows and halftimes shows at away games. “We had a wonderful first season in the Big Ten,” says Anthony Falcone, director of the Cornhusker Marching Band. “We had good experiences all around, especially at Michigan where their fans, event personnel and band were very gracious and hospitable to us.” Texas A&M is also intending on keeping its current style and traditions with its move to the SEC and will remain the same Aggie Band that entertained crowds in the Big 12. “People always enjoy a precision military-style marching band,” Brewer says. “We will continue to be a militarystyle band when we go to SEC schools. We have gotten standing ovations for our band at away games in the Big 12. Whether that will continue to happen in the SEC, though, remains to be seen.” For the moving college bands, new settings will be encountered along with new opponents, but the support for the athletics will continue on as usual. “Wherever we go in the new conference, we will continue to support the team and its pursuits,” Brewer says. “We will continue to entertain people who like the traditional marching bands at halftime.” Note from the Editor: For a full listing of all the Football Bowl Subdivision Conferences and their members, visit Halftime Magazine’s “Web Exclusives.”

About the Author Jeremy Chen is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism at the University of Southern California (USC). He marched cymbals for two years at Rancho Cucamonga High School before playing bass drum and snare at Upland High School. He is currently a cymbal player and office staff member for the USC Trojan Marching Band. He aspires to one day become a correspondent for the BBC. January/February 2012 27

By Lydia Ness

Photo by Ken Martinson/Marching.com

The Pride Of

Broken ARROW F

rom student to director, Darrin Davis has watched the Broken Arrow (Okla.) band program grow and develop over the past several decades. Traditions remain, uniting generations of Broken Arrow performers, but they do not restrain the organization from modifying and changing each year. The success of the program was most recently highlighted when The Pride of Broken Arrow won the 2011 Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships. Halftime: Tell us about your experience with the Broken Arrow band. Davis: I am a graduate of Broken Arrow High School, and it’s the only job I’ve ever had; I’ve been here 19 years. I started at the intermediate high school and gradually worked my way up through the ranks to the position I have today. It gives me an interesting perspective. I’ve been able to appreciate the tradition and history of the program, from when I was a performing member in the high school band, and I am really proud to see it grow to the level that it is now.

The Broken Arrow (Okla.) band won its second Bands of America Grand National Championships, having been a serious contender since its surprise win in 2006. Find out how the band has achieved this level of excellence from the director who has seen the band evolve through several decades.

Halftime: Describe some of the history. Davis: The program was much more of a marching band focused program for many years, and through efforts in the late ’80s and ’90s, the program began to place more emphasis on the concert band. We removed marching band from the curricular school day in 1993, which was my first year at Broken Arrow. Marching band is now an extracurricular activity, and it is volunteer-based. Halftime: How does the program’s past influence your students today? Davis: I think creating high expectations for students to perform at a high level is definitely a mainstay throughout the years, but being able to celebrate your history and create traditions that will last longer than a four-year cycle of a student in high school is something that we take to heart. For example, we have our pride creed that we say at the end of every performance. We see if alumni from a year ago or 20 years ago want to come and be a part of saying the creed with us. At our Oklahoma state championship, there is probably the biggest gathering of our alumni that we will see. They know that at the end of the day, we will all say the creed together, and this creed binds us across multiple generations. Halftime: Tell us about BOA. Davis: This is our second Grand National Championship; the first was in 2006. We have consistently been in the top six … in 2006 we were first, and the next two years we were sixth, last year we were second, and this year we were first. The 2006 championship was definitely what propelled us into more national light. The year before, in 2005, we were not even Grand National finalists, so we kind of came out of nowhere and surprised a lot of people. Halftime: What happened in 2006 that made this shift in the program? Davis: There were a couple of changes we made in the design structure, and there was a strong commitment from our staff and students that we were going to do everything in our power to be as strong of a band as we could be at Nationals, hoping to be a finalist. When we made finals, we really felt as though we achieved what we

set out to do, not really knowing that we had a chance to win it all. Halftime: What was a memorable moment from this marching season? Davis: We were fortunate to take our students out of class one day to rehearse indoors the Monday before Grand Nationals. Even though we didn’t have the show finished, and we were still teaching drill, still developing the end of the show, it was one of the first times as a staff we looked at each other, and we thought, “You know, this has potential to be really good.” From that day forward, without us even mentioning it to the students, you could tell that they knew it too. So the ownership was at a higher level than I have ever seen during my time here at Broken Arrow, and that carried through the last week of the season. It was pretty unforgettable. Halftime: Was there anything unique about this group of students that distinguished it from prior years? Davis: During the rehearsals we had in Indy, it was remarkable (almost scary), to see how hard the students worked. There was never a sense that we were done; every night we were there, they took it as an opportunity to get better, and I have never seen a band of mine improve in the way they did the last week of the season. We watched a video of the week before Grand Nationals and the week of, and it is like two totally different bands. That is what I’ll always remember from this season, even more than the Championship, how much we grew in the last week. Halftime: What do you hope students learn through your program? Davis: We want to create great experiences for our students that last a lifetime. It may be the musical experience they get with our program, but [I believe] the sense of community that the students receive will be what the students remember long after what place we got at a band contest. They’ll remember the process that they endured, more than the result of what it was. Now, I guarantee none of these students will forget being a Grand National Champion, but the experiences along the way is what keeps them coming back every year.

About the Author Lydia Ness is a senior journalism student at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., with experience in visual, print, broadcast and public relations. She has performed in the Glassmen, the Bluecoats and The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the Riverside Community College indoor percussion ensemble. She teaches the front ensemble at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif. Lydia plans to go to law school in fall 2012 and focus on international justice. January/February 2012 29

By Jeremy Chen

Photo by Ken Martinson/Marching.com

Siloam Springs In a small town of 15,000 residents, Siloam Springs High School has a band with a big dream—to march in the Rose Parade. After years of hard work plus lots of community involvement, that wish finally came true.

he residents in the small town of Siloam Springs, Ark., have long been proud of the success enjoyed by the high school’s marching band, but this time around, they were smelling roses as the band participated in the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade. Head director Keith Rutledge helped the band reach even greater heights than before. Armed with new facilities and the community’s involvement, Rutledge put the band and the town in the spotlight for the world to see.

Halftime: Tell me a little about your background. Rutledge: I had taught for eight years at the junior high level, and I started applying for high school positions. Siloam Springs had an opening, and I got it and I have been here ever since [for about 25 years]. I am a graduate of Arkadelphia (Ark.) High School and went to a small liberal arts school called Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. In the band world, the school is the home of William Francis McBeth, who is a very well-known band composer. I got my bachelor’s there and went on to teaching. I have never marched drum corps, but I have followed it for about the past 30 years or so and haven’t missed DCI finals since 1977. Halftime: Congratulations on your first Rose Parade invitation. How did you achieve it? Rutledge: We started applying a couple of years ago, and we had built a resume to that time such as the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 2005, the Arkansas representative to the 2009 Inaugural Parade and marched last year in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Our band program has been highly rated in the state of Arkansas for 40 or 50 years, longer than I have been here. We have received nothing but superior ratings since the late ’70s or early ’80s. All of this fed into the application process. When we were turned down or not given an invitation, we just kept trying, and we would ask what we would need to improve on, and we would use the input to give them something along the lines of what they are looking for [such as more parade competitions], and now we finally got in. Halftime: How did the band prepare for the parade? Rutledge: We [had] been practicing the infamous “TV corner,” and we [had] that mapped out in our parking lot. I went on Google Earth and superimposed that spot, and put it on the football field to get some idea of how to mark it off. One of the few five-lane streets in the town [had] been blocked off for us to march up and down until we [had] accumulated five miles of work. Halftime: How has your community supported the band? Rutledge: The community has been awesome. We have gotten a lot of support, and Wal-Mart for instance has given us excellent backing as they have donated the most to us, more money than our band boosters could have raised. Besides them, we have www.musictreasures.com gotten a lot of smaller donations through fundraisers. … Our toll free: 1-800-666-7565 local paper wrote about us. There are only about 15,000 people living here, and we are a one high school town. They are very Teaching Aids - Awards - Gifts proud of this band. Halftime: Tell us about the high school’s cutting-edge band room. Rutledge: The band room is about 3,600 square feet with a number one rehearsal area for the marching band and a smaller secondary rehearsal room that will be great for wind ensemble along with a big storage area. We also have a percussion rehearsal [space] that has the appropriate acoustics in order for the percussion section to practice without alerting the entire school. We also have large HD projectors in each of the rooms where we can watch our shows or watch other bands performing. Halftime: How did you secure funding for the renovation? Rutledge: Our district saw the need for a new facility due to the large size of the band, so there was an initiative in the community to pass a property tax About the Author increase to help fund this new facility. Even though the economy is at a low Jeremy Chen is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism at the point right now, we stressed to com- University of Southern California (USC). He marched cymbals for two munity leaders not to forget about our years at Rancho Cucamonga High School before playing bass drum education. The increase passed with a and snare at Upland High School. He is currently a cymbal player 2-to-1 margin, and we are very grateful and office staff member for the USC Trojan Marching Band. He for the locals coming through. aspires to one day become a correspondent for the BBC. January/February 2012 31

Behind the Baton By Nick Carrillo

Photo by Michael Laverty skylinephotonet.shutterfly.com

“… Band, if you’re reading this, I am so proud to be your drum major and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.

THE

With love, The Drum Major”

Blogger

hese were the last words of my first blog. On Aug. 17, 2011, at 8:44 p.m., I changed the way my band saw themselves, and it only took a click on my computer. I hit “Submit,” and I let the Internet world into the life of a drum major. My plan was to write every week about my life as a drum major. I wanted to expose all of the good things and the bad, the easy and the difficult, the fun times and the serious times, ups, downs, etc., of this leadership position that I have in the marching band. Before this season, it was always my dream to be a drum major. I’ve never held a leadership position in band, so I thought my dream of conducting on the podium would be very unlikely to actually happen. I wondered what it would be like to have all this responsibility. I wondered what it would be like to have everyone in your hands. I didn’t know anything about it, yet I wanted it so bad.

As a drum major, you have hundreds of eyes watching your every move. But when a drum major turns his experience into a blog, hundreds of eyes also get a peak at his inner emotions. On the third day of my band’s summer band camp, I decided to create the blog. The title was “The Perks of Being Drum Major.” Every entry was called a “Drum Major Journal,” written like a journal or a letter to someone. I tried to make it as personal as I could, including every detail and every emotion I felt in the week‘s entry. I really wanted the reader to know what it was like to be in my shoes, as if they were the drum major. If anyone ever wondered what it would be like to have all this responsibility, I wanted this blog to be an example

for them. This blog also shows how my band grew, not just as a marching band but also as a family. We’ve been through a lot of rough patches during the season, but we managed to push through strong. I’m so proud of all of them, and it shows in every entry.

On the Computer Writing was hard at times. I would never want to offend anybody or make anyone sound bad, so I had to be careful about what I said while still being completely honest. I wrote about all

the times my band worked hard at our two- to three-hour rehearsals, and I wrote about all the times we could have worked harder. I wrote about all the times our band director pushed us very hard, and I wrote about all the times our band director gave us praise. I wrote about all the problems I had to fix and all the problems that were beyond my control. There were times when I saw tears of stress and times when I saw tears of joy. I let everything I could out on the blog. I didn’t want to miss a thing. Everyone that had some relation to band read the blog, from the band members to band parents to band parents’ friends to even our band director. My parents showed the blog to all their friends too. “The Perks of Being Drum Major” definitely got around in the band community. Many of my peers say they love reading the Drum Major Journals. It shows them that even though I’m doing all this work—like making sure everyone is in step with each other or turning the metronome on and off or helping the instructors with whatever they need—

I’m still a member of the band, just like them. I still have emotions, and I care a lot about everyone in band.

On the Podium It was an amazing experience to be a drum major, but I think that writing about it truly captured its greatness and how it changed my life. I don’t think it would have been the same if I hadn’t created my blog. Every entry was another step into my thoughts about the band. Without the blog, I don’t think my band would know what I was truly thinking and feeling, and that was the interesting part about blogging my drum major life. I allowed my band to be on the podium with me, showing them what it is like in the uniform. This put the drum major position on a more personal level than most bands are used to, and I believe this helped us grow closer to each other.

On the Future I hope aspiring drum majors can read my blog and understand that you’re not just giving a cool salute and waving your hands in time. Being a drum major is much more than that. You create relationships with people on a life-changing level. You are responsible for the performance of your band, and you must represent with pride in your heart. Documenting my drum major experience is something I do not regret. I can always go back and look at it, thinking what an adventure I had. I’m so proud of my band, and I’m happy to have them in my life. I’m glad I let them and all my other readers into my world. If you are a drum major or are an aspiring drum major, or even if you’re any type of leader out there, I suggest you write about your own world. Who knows, you might inspire someone else.

About the Author Nick Carrillo is a senior at Newbury Park High School in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where he served as the drum major of the NPHS Marching Band and Auxiliary. He also plays alto saxophone in the wind ensemble and jazz ensemble. His blog, “The Perks of Being Drum Major,” can be found at this link: http://theperksofbeingdrummajor.tumblr.com.

GET ThE BEsT sEaTs! Color Guard April 12-14 dayton, ohio percussion April world championships world championships Thurs April 12 prelims - All Classes Fri April 13 semi-Finals - All Classes A Class Finals sAT April 14 Open Class Finals World Class Finals

Thurs April 19 A Class prelims and semi-Finals scholastic Open Class prelims Fri April 20 World Class prelims independent Open prelims Open Class semi-Finals A Class Finals Concert Class Finals

19-21

sAT April 21 Open Class Finals World Class Finals

Order Your Tickets Today wgi.org/tickets Celebrating 35 Years in 2012!

Fitness to the MAx

By Haley Greenwald-Gonella

Winter Skin Care Cracked lips, dry hands and an itchy face can all affect your performance as a musician. Combat these winter blues with moisturizer and oil—inside and out.

T After dancing since the age of 3, Haley Greenwald-Gonella thought it was time to try a new art. In elementary school, she began playing the flute and was in the marching band in middle school and for the first two years of high school. She also played the bassoon during concert season. Dance drew Haley back while in high school. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with degrees in dance and English. She recently graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in Specialized Journalism (The Arts). Haley is also a certified registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. She draws upon her dance and yoga training when it comes to all things fitness and the arts.

he winter season—with its cold, windy weather—can wreck havoc on your skin, your most exposed organ. Chapped lips, cracking heels and elbows, and dry, flaking skin can be generally uncomfortable and affect the way you, as a musician, perform throughout the season. Here are some ways that you can combat winter skin from your face down to your toes.

Body One of the best ways to prevent dry, cracking skin during the winter months is oil, which can be used both internally and externally. Adding canola or olive oil to your diet can be extremely beneficial. Try using balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dress your salads and use a bit of canola oil in your cooked foods. Also, adding avocado in your salads provides a good dose of healthy fat and oils. Adding an oil regimen to your daily shower is also a great way to maintain healthy skin during the harshest months of the year. Pick up a big bottle of sesame oil—Neutrogena makes two kinds, scented and unscented—and a loofah, the kind that looks like it belongs in the ocean. First, do a dry scrub before you get in the shower, or if you have especially sensitive skin, do a wet scrub while in the shower. Make sure to concentrate on your problem areas. Use the loofah in a circular motion and apply moderate pressure in order to stimulate blood flow and greater circulation. After you scrub, do your regular shower routine. Before you finish up, rub

some sesame oil all over your body. Rinse off slightly; you should still feel some of the oil on your body. Lightly towel off— the oil will rub into your skin.

Face If your face gets really dry, use loofah gloves along with a gentle face lotion or sesame oil in the shower. You could also try an oil facial. Heat up a few tablespoons of oil in a small bowl and use your fingertips to massage the oil all over your face. Make sure to massage your jawbone, eyebrows, sides of your nose and the outsides of your ears. Wipe the oil off with a soft cloth. If you have acne-prone skin, also use your normal facial cleanser. Be sure not to overuse acne-fighting products throughout the winter as these cleansers can dry out your skin.

Lips If your lips get extremely chapped, use an old toothbrush and some Vaseline to get rid of the dry skin, and then apply a moisturizing lip balm. Be sure not to lick your lips to try to keep them moisturized as saliva actually dries out your lips further.

Heels and Hands For dry heels and hands, use a pumice stone or stick to first get rid of the dry skin. Then you can slather on a hefty amount of lotion all over the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. Put on socks and beauty gloves, found at most drugstores, and wear overnight. Happy skin is on the way!

Marching Band has a New Standard

Register for the 2012 USBands National Championships November 8-11, 2012 MetLife Stadium I E. Rutherford, N.J. U.S. Naval Academy I Annapolis, Md.

usbands.org

facebook .com/ usbands

By Matt Jones

University of ... 1

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Across 1. Parts of Abraham Lincoln costumes 7. “Moby Dick” captain 11. Language for more than 400 million people (abbrev.) 14. From C to C, perhaps 15. Caramel candy brand in a round package 16. Glastonbury ___ (hill in England) 17. University of ___ (home of the Ducks) 18. University of ___ (home of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band) 20. It may cause glare on the field 21. Singer Stewart 23. Like the night when roasting marshmallows, for instance 24. More like leafless trees in winter or empty cupboards 36

26. City region (abbrev.) 27. Like letters for fraternities and sororities 30. University of ___ (home of the Spirit Marching Band) (2 words) 34. “___ Rock” (Simon and Garfunkel song) (3 words) 35. Get in formation, perhaps (2 words) 36. University of ___ (home of the Redcoat Marching Band) 38. University of ___ (home of the Marching Blazers) 43. Experience again 45. Military marching group 46. University of ___ (home of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band) 50. Rimshot need 51. Colorful Apple of the late 1990s 52. Percussion section’s gear 54. Sci-fi characters who sense emotions paranormally

58. Opposite of NNW (abbrev.) 59. Rowing machine unit 62. University of ___ (home of the Fightin’ Blue Hen Band) 64. University of ___ (home of the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band) 66. Sport ___ (term popularized before “SUV”) 67. Mid-range saxophone 68. It carries a lot of dust near the chalkboard 69. 6, for a touchdown (abbrev.)

70. Astin of “Lord of the Rings” 71. High school in “Grease” Down 1. Disses the performers 2. Tan pantyhose shade 3. Two fives for ___ (2 words) 4. Scott Joplin song 5. “New World” Symphony composer Antonín 6. Mister, in Mexico 7. Curved formation 8. Part of a zebra’s foot 9. “It’s ___ ever wanted!” (2 words) 10. Rude person 11. Latin phrase seen after a list of people (2 words) 12. Message seen when hitting play on some empty CD players (2 words) 13. Sea cave 19. Typical marking on a pirate map signifying, “Here’s the treasure” (2 words) 22. “No” and “It ain’t gonna happen,” for instance 24. Paddington, for one 25. Stimpy’s smarter half 27. Jazz band’s event 28. Singer Corinne Bailey ___ 29. My Chemical Romance’s genre 31. Blanket makers, maybe 32. Stubborn animal 33. Air quality watchdogs (abbrev.) 35. Avoids being truthful 37. Standardized test given before working toward a Ph.D., maybe

39. Cinnamon ___ (bakery items) 40. Santa ___ winds 41. Orbital station that broke up in 2001 42. Consumed 44. Past tense form of the suffix -y 46. Extremely busy (2 words) 47. Dr. Brown’s first name, in “Back to the Future” 48. Opera singer Enrico Caruso’s birth city 49. March Madness organization 50. Like lipstick on a hot day, maybe 53. R&B singer with the album “Raymond v. Raymond” 55. “___ the night before Christmas ...” 56. Actress Lucy of “Pretty Little Liars” 57. Miss, in Madrid (abbrev.) 59. Effortlessness 60. Cambodian currency 61. “American ___” (Tom Petty song) 63. Looooooonnnnng time period 65. Roll of cash

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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