Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2022 9:26:00 GMT -5
Don't just look at scholarships... get a face mask and take stroll to the Band Complex (the old warehouse next to Church's Chicken). It's depressing! If I was an Instrumental Music Major today, there's no way I'd attend a university with our crappy facilities. And that's the opinion of lots of music majors today! Our music department has been on a steady decline the past 20 years. That band complex & the one across the street they used to be in when i was in undergrad (Freshman year '07).....just a sad situation man. & When is the capital campaign supposed to begin? All the good work Martin has done, and the band is at a stand still. terrible We should hear more about the campaign and master plan this school year.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 17, 2022 10:20:31 GMT -5
I think the problem is that the BGMM has been so damn consistent over the years and so innovative, that most people here just think they already have the resources they need. You guys probably need to do a better job of explaining just how a bigger band with more musicians would somehow result in better quality. I think most fans are happy with what we currently have because we still seem to be "winning". I don't disagree but, what are they supposed to do...? It begins with the Aggie Pride that the leadership has...they are not willing to fail the students and let them fall by putting on bad performances. The students are the ones that deserve it the most, though. Like 69 explained, those kids work hard to be in the BGMM. To know that the university leadership has a satisficing attitude toward the band is just heartbreaking. I charge anyone on this board to go watch how hard those students work so they can look the part with the likes of: Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South (scholarships), Southern University Human Jukebox (scholarships), Florida A&M Marching 100 (scholarships), Bethune Cookman Marching Wildcats (scholarships) and Norfolk State Marching Legion (scholarships). For real...that's the equivalent of sending someone to a gun fight with a knife. BUT, BGMM makes it happen with its knife year after year after year. So, I make my annual monetary donation along with 15 cases of water, I know it's not much but, it's a start. I mean HELL...
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Maxell
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Director of BDF Marketing
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Post by Maxell on Aug 17, 2022 15:02:04 GMT -5
Forgive me for doing this: The same mentality as our approach to the grass. I am glad though that the band is included in the ‘future’ capital campaign at least for now. The band is a part of the ‘front porch’. Chancellor Martin gets irritated every time the issue of band funding is raised because he thinks the amount in the budget is plenty given the low level of donations to the band. Other schools are making a more conscious effort to acknowledge the importance of a well funded band in. HBCU culture.
Most folk don’t realize also that marching band is a three credit hour class, even though they spend more like 20 hours a week.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 17, 2022 16:48:13 GMT -5
If you take a walk through the BGMM Band Complex (The damn warehouse) it's very obvious that it's a dump. Hell, there are a few local high schools with better band facilities. But where we really look bad is in band scholarships. Quick Point: 80% of the BGMM members are majoring in something other than music. So, most of our band students are Biology, Engineering, Math, History, Criminal Justice etc. majors.
A&T provides $115,000 annually for band scholarships. If every band member got an equal share that comes to $575 a year! That really doesn't cover much of their tuition bill! So what do the other HBCUs provide annually for band scholarships? Read it and weep!
- Alcorn... $750,000 (We dusted them in the Celebration bowl at halftime!) - Bethune Cookman... $1 Million - FAMU... $1 Million - Grambling... $325,000 - Norfolk... $400,000 - Morgan... $200,000 - South Carolina State... $195,000 (Even the Bulldogs outspend us!)
Some HBCUs bands also offer out-of-state waivers in addition to scholarships. So band students are charged as an instate student. Those HBCUs include: - Jackson State... $700,000 - Prairie View... $900,000 - Southern... $350,000 - Tennessee State... $1.2 Million
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 17, 2022 16:56:11 GMT -5
Forgive me for doing this: The same mentality as our approach to the grass. I am glad though that the band is included in the ‘future’ capital campaign at least for now. The band is a part of the ‘front porch’. Chancellor Martin gets irritated every time the issue of band funding is raised because he thinks the amount in the budget is plenty given the low level of donations to the band. Other schools are making a more conscious effort to acknowledge the importance of a well funded band in. HBCU culture. Most folk don’t realize also that marching band is a three credit hour class, even though they spend more like 20 hours a week. If the band has a organization like the AAF, they would have more donations. I've been around the A&T Band for over 50 years and they have never had an experience fundraiser. They are terrific at producing great halftime shows but lousy at fundraising. The BGMM needs a skilled fundraising organization!
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 17, 2022 17:43:43 GMT -5
It was explained to me that some alumni don't know who to donate to when giving to the band. I thought it was Auxiliary Services but, I was told with and emphatic "Hell No, we will never see the money!" But, this year they advised me to make the donation to: Blue and Gold Loyalty Foundation.
As far as the Capital Campaign, it sounds great in all but, I will have to see with my own eyes what it does for the band. As soon as revenues come up a little shorter than planned, take a guess who will have to wear the shortfall.
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KidHeartless
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AGGIE FRIGGIN PRIDE!
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Post by KidHeartless on Aug 17, 2022 18:23:25 GMT -5
Is there a travel schedule available for where the BGMM will be traveling to this fall?
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Post by outsidethinker on Aug 17, 2022 18:29:31 GMT -5
The band numbers that we want to see, have we ever had them in the past minus 03 for the game against SU in Vegas?
What would be better, an upgrade in band facilities with the same number of "scholarships" or more scholarships with the current band facilities?
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zai
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Post by zai on Aug 17, 2022 20:07:30 GMT -5
The band has kept the university relevant they deserve better.
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zai
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Post by zai on Aug 17, 2022 20:28:58 GMT -5
Had to remove the post but if y’all care go please go talk to the band staff and figure out what we can do
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zai
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Post by zai on Aug 17, 2022 20:38:33 GMT -5
We need to make noise to the university about the band really being the face of recruitment and ambassadors for the university. Students sacrifice countless hours and are entertainment on demand for the university, but receive inadequate scholarship funding.
Chancellor, Student affairs need to be made uncomfortable with the amount of calls, emails, and statements.
Drumline and band be all over the place representing A&T but can’t get a proper field?? Kids are facing being dropped out of the program??? What the hell
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919aggie
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Post by 919aggie on Aug 17, 2022 21:01:16 GMT -5
Most bands will perform for the first time this Saturday(FanFest for a lot of schools) Tennessee State usually only attends one battle of the bands and will only face Jackson State. Somehow they still regularly have large bands... Grambling also has a nice sized band this year Our numbers don't seem to be necessarily "Bad", but we could definitely use some more Euphoniums, Mellos and Trumpets. I hope my eyes were deceiving me because we have two botbs and will face Norfolk(If they come). *Can't speak too much for woodwinds , but Norfolk seemed to have more brass from the vid I watched*
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919aggie
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Post by 919aggie on Aug 17, 2022 21:17:26 GMT -5
Now here comes Johnson C Smith...
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Post by outsidethinker on Aug 17, 2022 21:44:26 GMT -5
I'm still not understanding what's our fan provided priority list, band size or upgraded facilities? We all know everything is done in phases. What is more important to occur first? Are we expecting both to happen simultaneously?
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Aug 17, 2022 22:06:08 GMT -5
Most bands will perform for the first time this Saturday(FanFest for a lot of schools) Tennessee State usually only attends one battle of the bands and will only face Jackson State. Somehow they still regularly have large bands... View AttachmentGrambling also has a nice sized band this year View AttachmentOur numbers don't seem to be necessarily "Bad", but we could definitely use some more Euphoniums, Mellos and Trumpets. I hope my eyes were deceiving me because we have two botbs and will face Norfolk(If they come). *Can't speak too much for woodwinds , but Norfolk seemed to have more brass fro m the vid I watched* Grambling's got 30 sousaphones and 30people in the whole rest of the band. LOL
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