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| Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine |
SMH…
Before I get this edition of View From The Sidelines started I want to clarify a couple of things:
1) Malicious Hazing in ANY form is trash, and it’s unbecoming of HBCU Culture, and the legacy of the craft. It’s also a criminal act at it’s most extreme. One of the best parts of the HBCU Marching Band culture is the Esprit De Corps and the camraderie that’s built during the process of growing into an HBCU bandsmen, and matriculating through an entire season doing so. It’s a life-changing experience in the best of ways for practically everybody that goes through that crucible the RIGHT way. Hazing with the intent to hurt, intimidate, or maim ain’t the right way to do it, chief.
2) Shaming someone for not getting through pre-drill or choosing to go through with something that they’re not comfortable with isn’t a good look either, PARTICULARLY on social media. Cyber-bulling is a major issue in today’s media landscape and the world of HBCU Culture isn’t immune to it.
Two-a-days…
Boot Camp…
Basic Training…
Conditioning Camp…
You get the picture. That is essentially what Pre-Drill is for the average musician in an HBCU band program, whether you’re matriculating into said program for the first time, or you’re an upperclassmen teaching the ropes to new folks that are coming in. It’s a time period where directors and staffs around the country truly evaluate where their collective ensembles are physically and musically prior to the beginning of the competitive phase of any season. Pre-Drill is DESIGNED to be hard for THAT PURPOSE. The evaluation is also done under the premise that ALL students (both incoming and upperclassmen) take on the responsibility of PREPARING for the trials and rigors of the upcoming season, both musically AND physically. In other words, omit said preparation at your own peril. There isn’t an HBCU band program (or ANY collegiate band program for that matter) that doesn’t lay these essential concepts out in black and white in bulletins, Intake/welcome documentation, and even performance contracts, for both prospective students AND parents to see and examine before committing to the process of performing.
For lack of a better term, it’s not a joke. You prepare for entry into one of our own programs as you would do so trying out for a sport, or preparing for any type of basic training (to a lesser extent, of course). This brings me back to the shennanigans that had practically all of HBCU social media ablaze today. I’m not going to address this event directly, primarily because there are still bandsmen that are going through preparation for the season in said program, and because THEIR hard work doesn’t deserve to be sullied by one experience or point of view. I WILL say to students out there that if you are blessed enough to be considered for entry into one of our programs, take that consideration SERIOUSLY.
PREPARE like you take it seriously; if you receive a welcome package months in advance from the program you want to perform for (and you will) and the program lays out EXACTLY what you need to do to be PREPARED for a Pre-Drill scenario, prepare accordingly. If you come to your program, wherever that may be, ill-prepared, you’re going to be exposed. It’s as simple as that.
Moreso, the folks around you that DID put in the preparation and work necessary to start their collegiate band experiences off on the right foot, are NOT going to look to kindly upon your lack of committment or preparation. Your respective staffs are going to hold you accountable, either through targeted conditioning to get you into shape to perform at the level the rest of the members of their ensemble’s performing at, or by not letting you PERFORM until you meet that standard of readiness. In some programs, it might even equate to disqualification from the program you wanted to perform for.
Pre-Drill sessions for OUR programs are hard, and they’re DESIGNED to be that way for a specific reason; To inspire students to push past their limits and to perform to their fullest potential as a cohesive ensemble. The journey to that goal is hard work. It’s also arguably one of the most rewarding experiences anybody blessed enough to attend an HBCU can have, IMHO. The students and bandsmen that have walked into music buildings and on to practice fields for decades on end understood the work that came with the rewards, so they took the task of preparing for that journey SERIOUSLY.
That standard hasn’t changed, even if the methods to get there have.
Prepare accordingly. Until Next Entry…
#ProtectTheHistory
#PreserveTheCraft
#VFTS
Whelp..there it ils.
Some students or parents don't understand that. If can't make it through band, you'll basically be running from every obstacle in life that comes your way.
I rarely if ever see these items that take off so extremely in the consciousness of bandsmen and women. Maybe I need to get out more… but I digress.
It ain’t for everybody. Yet, at 63, given the chance, I’d strap up today and take my chances with the chiropractor tomorrow. There is a love for the falling leaves of the band season… where their lightly whispered landings are in sharp contrast of an army of musicians on the move… the snap and thunder of flag, brass and driven drum. If you can’t feel the sirens’ call of putting all into your horn in one millisecond, just to do it again at the legion (or storm, or other metaphor) across the field of battle, rain Providence upon yourself. Get out. Now, before you disgrace yourselves and your brothers and sisters in arms.
One more thing. I’ve been an interested party in the development of your View. I think this is your finest offering yet and you’re hitting 90’s. Keep it coming sir…
—-An unemployed announcer