tony
Full Member
Posts: 153
|
Post by tony on Jul 21, 2021 10:12:10 GMT -5
We still play Hampton, NCCU, SCSU and Kennesaw State is formidable (size and musicality) if the band goes to Atlanta. That's all the more reason why we shouldn't just settle with what we have as a band program, especially when we all know there is more that can be done. Kennesaw State's band is very good at what they do. I hope we pay them no attention - we're very good at what we do, and ours is a whole lot better than theirs. If we start comparing we can lose sight of how much room we have to grow.
|
|
Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,470
|
Post by Maxell on Jul 21, 2021 10:46:41 GMT -5
That's all the more reason why we shouldn't just settle with what we have as a band program, especially when we all know there is more that can be done. Kennesaw State's band is very good at what they do. I hope we pay them no attention - we're very good at what we do, and ours is a whole lot better than theirs. If we start comparing we can lose sight of how much room we have to grow. That's where we differ. I look at all bands across the field as competition not concert entertainment. Some people have devolved into that concert mindset. Not me. The same reason that a football team looks at film of the opponent, competitive HBCU bands must do the same even if the other band doesn't realize that we are competing. I want to know what opposing bands do so I can always have a book that allows me to do what I do, but be in position to surprise the opponent. Then crush them musically and on the field. I want to play the latest Drake song and before their head stops bobbing come back Sonata in F by Mozart. Hit them with a corps side step and immediately with knees to the chin. When you don't study your opponent, you get crushed (see Tenn State or BCU) and then try to play it off with a shrug. Hell, Coach Washington says "we do chicken" but he's not naïve enough to ignore the opponents film. That's the difference. Choose the CONCERT or COMPETITION mindset. There's no in between. If the band is choosing CONCERT then you get what you get. Trust me, they can't be so "style arrogant" that they are blindsided, unless they don't care. But I'm sure the students do.
|
|
tony
Full Member
Posts: 153
|
Post by tony on Jul 21, 2021 15:24:11 GMT -5
Kennesaw State's band is very good at what they do. I hope we pay them no attention - we're very good at what we do, and ours is a whole lot better than theirs. If we start comparing we can lose sight of how much room we have to grow. That's where we differ. I look at all bands across the field as competition not concert entertainment. Some people have devolved into that concert mindset. Not me. The same reason that a football team looks at film of the opponent, competitive HBCU bands must do the same even if the other band doesn't realize that we are competing. I want to know what opposing bands do so I can always have a book that allows me to do what I do, but be in position to surprise the opponent. Then crush them musically and on the field. I want to play the latest Drake song and before their head stops bobbing come back Sonata in F by Mozart. Hit them with a corps side step and immediately with knees to the chin. When you don't study your opponent, you get crushed (see Tenn State or BCU) and then try to play it off with a shrug. Hell, Coach Washington says "we do chicken" but he's not naïve enough to ignore the opponents film. That's the difference. Choose the CONCERT or COMPETITION mindset. There's no in between. If the band is choosing CONCERT then you get what you get. Trust me, they can't be so "style arrogant" that they are blindsided, unless they don't care. But I'm sure the students do. I'm not saying ignore them. I'm saying approach every game like it's SU, FAMU, TSU, BCU, NSU, JSU across the field. Be ready to respond to Bohemian Rhapsody, Toccata and Fugue, Olympic Fanfare, Lets Go Wildcats. I don't like the concert mindset but I also don't like playing down to the competition. There's nothing in the Big South remotely close to what I expect from us. SCSU hasnt been competition in a decade. Central's always been a joke. All the more reason administration will say we have enough money - look at what other schools are doing. That's why we need to try something different on top of continuing to ask for more funding.
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Jul 21, 2021 15:31:58 GMT -5
That's where we differ. I look at all bands across the field as competition not concert entertainment. Some people have devolved into that concert mindset. Not me. The same reason that a football team looks at film of the opponent, competitive HBCU bands must do the same even if the other band doesn't realize that we are competing. I want to know what opposing bands do so I can always have a book that allows me to do what I do, but be in position to surprise the opponent. Then crush them musically and on the field. I want to play the latest Drake song and before their head stops bobbing come back Sonata in F by Mozart. Hit them with a corps side step and immediately with knees to the chin. When you don't study your opponent, you get crushed (see Tenn State or BCU) and then try to play it off with a shrug. Hell, Coach Washington says "we do chicken" but he's not naïve enough to ignore the opponents film. That's the difference. Choose the CONCERT or COMPETITION mindset. There's no in between. If the band is choosing CONCERT then you get what you get. Trust me, they can't be so "style arrogant" that they are blindsided, unless they don't care. But I'm sure the students do. I'm not saying ignore them. I'm saying approach every game like it's SU, FAMU, TSU, BCU, NSU, JSU across the field. Be ready to respond to Bohemian Rhapsody, Toccata and Fugue, Olympic Fanfare, Lets Go Wildcats. I don't like the concert mindset but I also don't like playing down to the competition. There's nothing in the Big South remotely close to what I expect from us. SCSU hasnt been competition in a decade. Central's always been a joke. All the more reason administration will say we have enough money - look at what other schools are doing. That's why we need to try something different on top of continuing to ask for more funding. Bingo! That's why I always compare the BGMM to the 'best'(Subjective) and the MEAC or Big South isn't that.
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Jul 21, 2021 15:42:25 GMT -5
I don't think its fair that the band should have to rely on donations to thrive...Would you be ok with anything else at A&T doing that? they currently dont rely on donations thrive is relative I don't see thriving when I look at this.... We will just agree to disagree lol
|
|
|
Post by marchingband1969 on Jul 27, 2021 18:34:24 GMT -5
So, what are you suggesting, exactly? I'm suggesting we look at other things we can do to make recruiting easier - mainly building our base. We've talked scholarships to death. I believe they're helpful but overrated at best and at worst a distraction from real, correctable problems. I've got to give Dr. Ruff his props - he's very good about making recruiting trips, and keeping the band visible. Better than Dr. Hodge ever was in my opinion. But when you look at the difference between this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=USOcJmWf9Pgand this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo--iAKNV8sThere can't help but be a difference when they get to college. Dudley back in the day didn't just pull all those players out of thin air. They'd been active and engaged since 6th grade. The middle school band I was talking about before is terrible. Concert band performs poorly, and gets smaller every year from 6th to 8th grade (kids losing interest). Hardly anybody left by the time they get the high school. Pep band is terrible, and doesn't reflect the demographics of the school (20 white kids in an unbalanced ensemble playing a bad arrangement of the hey song to an all black crowd). I don't know the high school band that well but first impressions aren't good. Sounded way worse than they should have during an admittedly Covid affected year. Stealth band camp nobody knew about. Drum line was allowed to perform wearing shirts representing an entirely different school. Announcer said where they were from, crowd failed to notice and was cheering the school written on their shirts. Don't get me started!!!!!! None of these problems have anything to do with money, support of the arts, millennial softness (unless we're talking about staff), or any of the other excuses that are typically brought up when we talk about poor performances from our ensembles. How can we build better bands at the middle and high school level so we'll have more to work with by the time they hit college? BGMM Band Camp started this week. Think about it...the hottest days of the year and these kids are hard at work getting ready for the season. This is why we need more Band student scholarships!
|
|
|
Post by aggieville on Jul 29, 2021 12:25:08 GMT -5
I hope by A&T going to a new athletic sports (Big South)conference this year, that the BGMM will prepare to play more aggie chants/ short snippets. Good Aggie attendance will be there,so let's support our team with noise and pom poms like the swac fans do for there teams. Aggie enrollment, academics and athletic have grown leaps and bounds, now it's time for the fans to become more vocal and not remain to be wine and cheese Aggies. Band directors,cheerleaders, and fans let be more aware and get into the game before and after a touch down. If we don"t the new schools will show us how it's done and we will just be sitting at the game looking dry like most of the time. My point is (Wake-up) don't have the Aggie football have to raise the helmets up to get us to cheer for them.
Aggie fans it's our turn now, and hopefully we will see how it goes at the first game.
Aggie Fan, Aggie Pride!
|
|
|
Post by Blackfoot on Jul 30, 2021 16:59:35 GMT -5
Glad to hear they're back and working. I pray we have an awesome season. ....Good Aggie attendance will be there,so let's support our team with noise and pom poms like the swac fans do for there teams. Aggie enrollment, academics and athletic have grown leaps and bounds, now it's time for the fans to become more vocal and not remain to be wine and cheese Aggies...... Do they even sell pom poms at A&T anymore?? I thought they were banned or eradicated along with the cowbells. From what I've seen pom poms, cowbells, clackers, vuvuzelas and the like are all abundant at all other FBS and FCS schools. I don't understand what our deal is.
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Jul 30, 2021 18:14:08 GMT -5
I hope by A&T going to a new athletic sports (Big South)conference this year, that the BGMM will prepare to play more aggie chants/ short snippets. Good Aggie attendance will be there,so let's support our team with noise and pom poms like the swac fans do for there teams. Aggie enrollment, academics and athletic have grown leaps and bounds, now it's time for the fans to become more vocal and not remain to be wine and cheese Aggies. Band directors,cheerleaders, and fans let be more aware and get into the game before and after a touch down. If we don"t the new schools will show us how it's done and we will just be sitting at the game looking dry like most of the time. My point is (Wake-up) don't have the Aggie football have to raise the helmets up to get us to cheer for them. Aggie fans it's our turn now, and hopefully we will see how it goes at the first game. Aggie Fan, Aggie Pride! IDK I often wonder where to place the 'blame' for our DRY gameday environment. IMO a lot of students barely understand what's going on during the game and most likely only attended High School games prior. Most only cheer after a touch down because that's all they know ( and haven't been taught differently). My Suggestions: 1. Chants could easily be taught during pep rally's (With band included). 2. Band has to step up their musical selection in the stands to get students involved. The Student/Band relationship is lackluster IMO...(Move them to horseshoe) 3. Pom Poms! It would really pay off visually. (Students and Players would benefit) I think my suggestions would be fairly easy to implement. My question is...does our leadership see a problem with our gameday environment? Or do they compare us to the Hamptons of the world and see no need for change?
|
|
tony
Full Member
Posts: 153
|
Post by tony on Jul 30, 2021 22:44:32 GMT -5
I hope by A&T going to a new athletic sports (Big South)conference this year, that the BGMM will prepare to play more aggie chants/ short snippets. Good Aggie attendance will be there,so let's support our team with noise and pom poms like the swac fans do for there teams. This is huge - I've been asking for this for years. And we might really need it this season. The NCAA is pretty strict about when bands are allowed to play - the MEAC was just pretty lax about enforcing it. Don't look for any favors from the Big South, especially if our football team is as dominant as I think they will be. Short snippets during or between plays will probably be allowed, but the full songs may be pretty restricted. I'd love for us to have clips for in game events - 1st down clip, fumble clip, interception clip, sack clip, turnover on downs clip... The crowd and the team would love it.
|
|
|
Post by aggieboro on Jul 31, 2021 13:50:18 GMT -5
Blue death valley band heads do you know how to"enhance" the August (annual ?) pep rally or meet the Aggie sports teams, cheerleaders and band. Aggies fans need to be more organized by cheering and supporting our team when possible. wine and cheese fans is not going to do it. A&T has progress greatly overall. Now all of the fans needs to step and support our Hbcu. In the past we cheer after the touch downs, let's be more proactive than dry spirit. If we don't the other big south fan/band will be vocal, and we will be seating looking passive if we don't change our old ways. Band we all know there some band playing restrictions but play short snippets like they do to keep our enthusiasm on par. I just don't want to see our team have to raise their hands and helmets to get us to wake up and cheer for the Aggies please.
Wssu have "Get up", Scsu have "stand up for the bulldogs, BCU "lets go Wildcats. If the Aggie have a get involve cheer what is it?
Just short and simple and together will get it done. Why so many people distracting the directors on the track?. Let's get into the football game which is the reason we come. Time outs, halftime, and the 5th quarter the BGMM takes care of that business. Let"s respectfully show the Big South in this new era how the Aggie get down in the dog pound.
A loyal Fan: Aggie Pride!
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Aug 7, 2021 9:12:10 GMT -5
Band Camp Posted By HBCU Buzz
|
|
|
Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 7, 2021 11:10:11 GMT -5
Lots of white shirts in that picture which means lot of Freshmen or first time players. Just hope we have a lot of upper classmen returning this year.
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Aug 7, 2021 13:50:59 GMT -5
Lots of white shirts in that picture which means lot of Freshmen or first time players. Just hope we have a lot of upper classmen returning this year. I was watching one of their Instagram vids the other day and noticed some upperclassmen with white shirts on...but idk.
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Aug 10, 2021 18:23:35 GMT -5
|
|