Why is the band so dayum quiet in the stands??

[krazykev]

our drum arrangements are very bland

IT has been that way for a while the arranger does not write for the percussion section. the kids make up the beat themselves. They did when Mr. Forester was here because, he the percussion instructor in the Music department.

[Maxell]

If I'm the arranger I'm going to make sure that the percussion is in sync with the feel of my arrangement and emphasizes the right licks at the right places. As I said before, the drum arrangement can destroy a song and there are some songs that "The Machine" plays where the drum part is just wrong and makes the song uninteresting.

[blessedaggie84]

Last year when i was in the band Aaron did start to write percussion parts for some songs...i dont know how good he has got at doing it now or if he still does do it. I hear what your saying Maxell, do you have an song examples that they played this weekend that would help me understand better. On the field i thought Winston's arrangements on the field was very simple and high schoolish. Here is one of A&T's songs from this weekend lets analyze this so i can understand you better if you dont mind.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6qKFqMhCDo

[Maxell]

blessedaggie84 said:

Last year when i was in the band Aaron did start to write percussion parts for some songs...i dont know how good he has got at doing it now or if he still does do it. I hear what your saying Maxell, do you have an song examples that they played this weekend that would help me understand better. On the field i thought Winston's arrangements on the field was very simple and high schoolish. Here is one of A&T's songs from this weekend lets analyze this so i can understand you better if you dont mind.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6qKFqMhCDo

OK. This arrangement was primarily melody and half notes on 1 and 3. Very simple arrangement. The voicing was fine but no character to the back riff. Melody was in unison by trumpets with no counter. Can't hear the snare "crack" on 2 and 4. Plain.

Edgy example. I intentionally picked a song that WSSU didn't sound that great on at all. But don't listen to them. Listen to the arrangement. Notice the syncopation, riffs by several horns, the variety and the feel of the song. Imagine A&T playing this kind of arrangement instead of the "half note" arrangement. WSSU may sound high schoolish but there is nothing high schoolish about the way the arrangements are done. We do have some arrangements that move around like "Neck" but it's not the norm.

vod.themarchingnetwork.com/category/NCAT/0/80ed10ee-4d4d-4eb8-a0ce-999d01782842.htm

[blessedaggie84]

Ok i got you.....you are right A&T does have arrangements that do have all that you say...I just went back and read about the other bands you said that have it...If we are on the same page then FAMU has what you are asking for..they have the melody and counter through all their songs..If i am wrong please correct me..But more and more i am understanding you

[Bornthrilla]

Man, what the hell are yall talking about?

You lost me at hello ....

[Maxell]

blessedaggie84 said:

Ok i got you.....you are right A&T does have arrangements that do have all that you say...I just went back and read about the other bands you said that have it...If we are on the same page then FAMU has what you are asking for..they have the melody and counter through all their songs..If i am wrong please correct me..But more and more i am understanding you

Yeah. FAMU does it but not as hard hitting as some other schools. Even NCCU hits hard at times. Watch as the season progresses what kind of tunes we play. I wish them the best, I would just want it sooner.

[Maxell]

admin said:

Man, what the hell are yall talking about?

You lost me at hello ....

;D ;D

[blessedaggie84]

I went to the practice tonight and I was listening and i believe in the next couple of games what you were discussing with me may come to pass. Not to put all there songs out but the song Wildflower (i cant remember the group) has the counter melody and edge that you seek. How do you know so much about arranging and stuff like that Maxell.

[Maxell]

I was a student arranger for the Machine waaaaaay back in the day.

[blessedaggie84]

wow that is cool...it would be nice if we had a better music department and they helped student that wanted to become better arrangers...IT would help the band program out so much more

[bgpride]

To get everybody straight because I was in the band a few years ago and it is funny that ya'll talk about us not playing. Well, a word of advice maybe you should talk to our athletic director because if i recall should was the one that told us not to play last year at homecoming at all. She is also the one that does most of the complaining about the band. Dr. Ruff has nothing to do with us not playing he tries to get us more playing time. so before everybody come crashing down on him you should look at the people around this school in power.A lot of them are aganist us and no for us!! We love to play in the stands and get the football team hype, but people just wont let us do that. So please if you going to talk about something like that and down somebody make sure you downing the right person!!! One last thing NO ONE WAS BEGGED ANYONE TO COME BACK, THEY CAME BACK ON THER OWN!! So whoever told you that need to know what they are talking about!!

[blessedaggie84]

were still going to speak on the band director along with the AD and everyone else...thanks for the advice bgpride...Since you did bring this topic back up..I would like to know and others may want to know what you think about the current state of the band program? is it the students or the head director or maybe both, what about administrations..How bad do you think the band is getting treated by the school? Does any band outside of A&T respect the band now? You were in the band so update us on what is going on...Please

[bgpride]

well, i am not saying you should not speak your mind!! But the band is getting better compared to everyone else in the MEAC and other bands period. We don't have that much money like all these other schools not we still have a nice size band every year. When you threaten to fire someone that has done nothing but try and better the band program. He even stood up for the students to help us get money for school, so to fired someone like that than you are crazy. The band program is in a building stage at the moment because we are getting alot of help and people are actually hearing the students for a change. I mean even though we are in the band we are still students as well. Now the administration of A&T where to began, don't get me wrong it is not everyone because we do get support from them. but when you have alumni as my self coming to homecoming and the athletic director telling the band they can not play at all even when we have to ball. That is booty, why would you do something like that just because you are upset that they will not move so you can gain money and the band can gain nothing. I mean we put hard work in to the shows we do to entertain the fans and we still have to get up and go to class the next day. So when game do come it is time for us to show out. I hate anyone that refuses to let us do that, but then want us to play for you. BS, if you ask me even some of the alumni would like to get her fired including me. The football team asked us to play more and you shoot us down for being true Aggies and supporting our team. I just don't see us getting the respect as we should from some people and i am calling you out Bornthrilla. As far as outside bands we get respect from all of them because to be our size we pack a mean punch that is a surprise to other bands, because of our size. Even NSU was getting us mad respect after the brawl friday. From what i heard someone in A&T administration sent a letter to the MEAC about us playing too much so that is why the band is so quiet. So Please facts before talking Bornthrilla and another thing if you got so much balls to talk come say this to the band and stop hiding on this web site i am sure they will be happy to hear how you feel about them. This is why Aggie Pride is DEAD because of BORNTHRILLA!! I Rest!

[christy]

*popping some popcorn and grabbing my corner seat on the couch*