KidHeartless
Official BDF member
AGGIE FRIGGIN PRIDE!
Posts: 1,817
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Post by KidHeartless on Aug 8, 2015 20:33:15 GMT -5
We indeed need a FULL gameday experience at Aggie Stadium, from the Team to the Band & the fans.....Which means we need to vocally & monetarily support them ALL.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 8, 2015 23:11:12 GMT -5
I've very confused. Is the warehouse inadequate now or has it always been? How much funding has been cut? What is the bands wants vs their needs? Let me try to make a comparison...what if the A&T basketball team had to practice in the ball room of the student union or the football team was given Holland Bowl as a practice field. They could practice but it would not be as effective. Warehouses were not designed for sound...they lack proper acoustics. In fact, the bare walls and ceiling provide extremely bad acoustics. So the sounds echo off the walls. And when you pack 20 drummers and 50 brass players in that space, you cannot hear yourself think. In fact, it's so loud I'm willing to bet that a lot of these kids will have hearing problems later in life. Plus there are no practice rooms for individual or ensemble practice. This problem didn't just happen last year or five years ago...this has happened over decades. As fewer students came to A&T to major in music to become band teachers, the funds and staffing were gradually cut. And as instrumental music declined so did the university's financial support. So today the band is viewed much like the cheerleaders. We like to have them around but they're not essential to the game. So now the band is gasping for life. Oh you would never know it from it's performances in recent years but it is. The only reason the band hasn't collapsed is because of Dr. Ruff and his dedicated staff. They've worked miracles. Think about it...with all the recent accomplishments...Macy Parade, and winning the Honda Battle of the Bands, the A&T Band should be twice it's size. But if you are going to get talented musicians in your band today, you've got to offer scholarships. Good high school musicians would love to perform in the A&T Band but they ain't playing for free. Not when they can go to other band programs and get some scholarship money. Plus what's the message a good musician gets when he or she comes on campus and has to audition in that warehouse? How do we fix this problem...it starts first with acknowledging that there is a problem. Once we admit that this is a problem then the administration should put together a long range plan to address it. No one expects this problem to be solved overnight but we do expect someone to have a written plan in place to fix it.
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Post by Brandmasta on Aug 9, 2015 5:18:24 GMT -5
I think the warehouse overall is a better situation for marching band than Frazier, sad to say. Frazier is great for symphonic/concert/jazz/pep bands and chorus, but definitely too small for the marching band. Frazier is quite a marching distance from the practice fields, so that extra travel eats up a lot of time that could be used practicing. I loved marching into Frazier, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make as much sense to use it for marching band these days.
Now it would be nice if they upgraded the warehouse to improve the acoustics, possibly.
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Post by The Professor on Aug 9, 2015 13:04:48 GMT -5
I think the warehouse overall is a better situation for marching band than Frazier, sad to say. Frazier is great for symphonic/concert/jazz/pep bands and chorus, but definitely too small for the marching band. Frazier is quite a marching distance from the practice fields, so that extra travel eats up a lot of time that could be used practicing. I loved marching into Frazier, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make as much sense to use it for marching band these days. Now it would be nice if they upgraded the warehouse to improve the acoustics, possibly. And that's what i'm thinking. When i marched in the band Frazier was too small. So i can only imagine what would happen now?
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Post by The Professor on Aug 9, 2015 13:08:09 GMT -5
In addition--for starters--our practice field is a dust bowl that isn't even a full field size... That is the same field we have always practiced on correct?
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Aug 9, 2015 14:35:37 GMT -5
Yeah, same field, but over the years, it has deteriorated significantly.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 9, 2015 15:45:53 GMT -5
Well, it seems every where you turn folk EXPECT you to do more with significantly less. As I agree with '69 and others, imagine what we could have if the band was jus adequately funded. I don't mean funded over and above what it takes to run a program. ..I mean fund them at the level that should be required. There is no telling where the band program would be. Case and point, NCCU is an example of what monies for schollys can do but, on that same note you saw what happened the last few years when their monies were cut. Night and day! So, to see what Ruff and staff does on an oodles of noodles budget is nothing short of amazing. ..point blank!
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 9, 2015 16:55:26 GMT -5
I think the warehouse overall is a better situation for marching band than Frazier, sad to say. Frazier is great for symphonic/concert/jazz/pep bands and chorus, but definitely too small for the marching band. Frazier is quite a marching distance from the practice fields, so that extra travel eats up a lot of time that could be used practicing. I loved marching into Frazier, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make as much sense to use it for marching band these days. Now it would be nice if they upgraded the warehouse to improve the acoustics, possibly. I'm not suggesting that we return to Frazier Hall. We outgrew it several years ago. What I am suggesting is having a plan in place to get an adequate band facility. Nothing gets done at any university without a plan. I think under the current budget constraints, the A&T Administration is doing the best it can do to spread the money around to everyone. And unless some wealthy alum dies and leaves millions of dollars to the band, we are going to have budget constraints forever. But what I want is a "plan." Someone in the administration to sit down and map out a plan for how they plan to upgrade the facilities and the scholarships. Today from my perspective the plan appears to be...the band is okay so let's just not worry about it. That was the same attitude that got us a 27 game losing streak in football and 15 losing seasons in men's basketball.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 9, 2015 17:43:01 GMT -5
I think the warehouse overall is a better situation for marching band than Frazier, sad to say. Frazier is great for symphonic/concert/jazz/pep bands and chorus, but definitely too small for the marching band. Frazier is quite a marching distance from the practice fields, so that extra travel eats up a lot of time that could be used practicing. I loved marching into Frazier, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make as much sense to use it for marching band these days. Now it would be nice if they upgraded the warehouse to improve the acoustics, possibly. I'm not suggesting that we return to Frazier Hall. We outgrew it several years ago. What I am suggesting is having a plan in place to get an adequate band facility. Nothing gets done at any university without a plan. I think under the current budget constraints, the A&T Administration is doing the best it can do to spread the money around to everyone. And unless some wealthy alum dies and leaves millions of dollars to the band, we are going to have budget constraints forever. But what I want is a "plan." Someone in the administration to sit down and map out a plan for how they plan to upgrade the facilities and the scholarships. Today from my perspective the plan appears to be...the band is okay so let's just not worry about it. That was the same attitude that got us a 27 game losing streak in football and 15 losing seasons in men's basketball. Correct again '69...the approach is more reactive rather than proactive. Lucky for us we hire a coach that wasn't going to stand for a reactive approach as it relates to football and you see the results. The numbers don't lie....but the proactive approach needs to be implemented university wide.
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Aug 9, 2015 17:43:36 GMT -5
I hate to get on here and say, "look at what the PWIs are doing," but...look at what the PWIs are doing. This is what support and streamlined effort looks like. www.auburn.edu/student_info/auband/building/documents/band_campaign_booklet.pdfNot to diminish anything that the Auburn band is doing, but I would like to think that the A&T band is at least on a level that rivals this type of quality, if not exceeding it. At the end of the day, all of us on staff place the kids as our number one priority, and since we demand the best from them, it's only fair that we try to give them the best. If "our" people can feed the city of Charlotte over $50 million during CIAA weekend and surpass $1 trillion in consumer spending this year alone, there's no reason why we or any other HBCU can't provide something like this to our students, who more than deserve it. Now, I understand that a new band center is well on the horizon and that we should take baby steps, but at the same time, we cannot afford to dream small dreams. Between Honda BOTB, various news segments, viral videos, and what is sure to be a trip to the Macy's Parade once we are eligible every 5 years, this band's ROI is through the roof in terms of brand exposure alone. A&T has grown to become the largest HBCU in the country, and I would like to think that the band has played at least a small role at some point. The first step, as Mr. C said, is to admit and get admin to recognize that there is a problem with the current state of affairs. Once those issues are addressed and they see the light (i.e. even greater ROI), then we can begin to address long-term goals. These kids deserve better for their tireless effort, and Dr. Ruff deserves better for the miracles he's been able to pull off through his unparalleled leadership of this band program, and it's high time that our community makes our voices heard throughout the administration. If the Chancellor can get a phone call from a parent the minute a student complains about getting yelled at or being told to do push-ups, then the same effort should be made when a kid has to go to Urgent Care for respiratory ailments and corneal abrasions from dust exposure, or tinnitus from working (yes, working) in an environment that exceeds OSHA regulations for sound exposure, not to mention a entire list of viable concerns (not "nice-to-haves," but actual needs).
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2015 19:51:18 GMT -5
Well I dropped in on band camp last week and here's what I picked up: 1. Band is about the same size as last year (With limited band scholarship dollars, it's tough to get much bigger) 2. Lots of freshmen (Band schedule is gulling so it's tough to play all 4 years and graduate on time) 3. The brass section is bigger and musically stronger than last year. (Bigger and better sound) 4. Golden Delight is ready. (Tiffany keeps those young ladies ready year-round!) 5. Rumor has it that the band budget was cut again (May not travel to some away games this year...FAMU, etc.)6. We will play at halftime in Chapel Hill (Bring your popcorn because show will be special) 7. Did I mention that Golden Delight is ready? As long as we have this dedicated staff, the A&T Band and Golden Delight will always "show up and show out!" Despite limited scholarship funds, reduced operating budgets, limited "paid" staff and crappy practice facilities, they continue to make us Aggies proud. The team will only have one road game trip this year where they would need to stay in a Hotel, if they go (FAMU). I can see the team not traveling to Fla in exchange for multiple trips to Atlanta during the year regardless of the travel budget. I know the band admin have to be prepared for a Celebration Bowl trip or Playoff run and a 3rd straight Honda BOTB appearance. All of those may require band members to remain in their dorms during the Christmas break that will cost plenty of money. However, I betcha they can partner with the AD to borrow cash to help pay for this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2015 19:55:32 GMT -5
Yeah, same field, but over the years, it has deteriorated significantly. The band field could definitely benefit from Artificial Turf and acoustics renovation of the Band Warehouse. A capital campaign is in absolute order.
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Aug 9, 2015 20:22:34 GMT -5
From what I was told (and this budget info is probably public domain anyway), the budget was cut by 4%. The band is actually a little bigger this year by about 15-20 members, which is amazing considering that scholarships were likely cut. There are about another 15-20 veterans (including a young lady on Golden Delight) that could not march this year because they had to work in order to defray their school costs. As of now, the band will not be traveling to the Hampton, Elon, and FAMU games, due to budget restraints. With the practice field, word is that it sits atop a landfill, preventing the installation of an irrigation solution. As for the warehouse acoustics, since the school only rents the place out, they don't want to justify upgrading it.
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VA's Finest
Official BDF member
BDF Riders
Posts: 3,017
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Post by VA's Finest on Aug 9, 2015 20:51:33 GMT -5
I believe the football budget may be able to incur some of the expense of the band travel, especially elon and hampton since they could be day trips, where transportation and food need to be covered.
This doesn't take away from the fact that we aggies need to step up and financially support the FACE of the university.
Just my opinion.
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Post by aggieepower1990 on Aug 9, 2015 21:09:59 GMT -5
I must admit that until the last several years, I was not a big band guy. My roommate in the 80's was in the band so I learned first hand the demands of being in the BGM, but I still took for granted the hard work that was necessary for BGM to put on a great half-time show or post-game battle. Now, I have a much greater appreciation for the the BGM and the image that they bring A&T. Of all the fund raising efforts that go on at A&T, the BGM efforts are, in my opinion, the best, most persistent, and customer service friendly. I am always compelled to give. That being said, there needs to be greater funding for this major asset for the university.
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