|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 23, 2022 20:04:36 GMT -6
Let’s be clear though. I don’t blame the students. I blame whomever murdered our traditions. It goes both ways. The band ignores the traditions I love and so now I ignore them. They are not good and it’s never the “players” fault just like football. It’s $hitty coaching.
|
|
|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 23, 2022 20:05:15 GMT -6
I would, but I’m busy during the 15 minutes before the Trojan Walk. Sounds like you just want to feel big hiding behind a keyboard. Oh wait, are you gonna ask me to meet at Sonic?
|
|
|
Post by trojanocean on Oct 23, 2022 20:06:45 GMT -6
"Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly flow the days..." Times change. (sigh)
I've hated the Fanfare the last decade-ish maybe, being done at 300 bpm but I understand from R.F. that it's because of the lack of time allotted to the band during the halftime. So now they're just trying to get it done without it being so drawn out. And then rewriting the middle break to eliminate those evil notes from hell and well, they might as well just move on from playing it. It’s like my wife feeding me cauliflower mashed potatoes. Sorry. If I can’t have the real thing, I’m glad to just do without.
For the record, I do know what the ish I'm talking about, btw. LOL I'm not a football guy primarily. I started band as a trumpeter in the 6th grade, wrote and arranged my high school marching band's halftime show in part my junior year and totally my senior year, I marched in the SOTS, and published some marching and concert arrangements post-academia, I'm very well versed with the ins and outs of it. Marching band, the SOTS in particular, is the main reason why I'm now a musician for a living. I'm not in education or even in the marching/concert band world anymore, having moved to Nashvegasville for the music biz. It ain't working. I get my money for nothing and my chicks for free.
Like The Cardinal Rule said, shows used to be longer and I’ll add with more variety. But now, every tune is SO flippin’ fast there’s hardly time to sit and enjoy it. And because of the tempo, it always seems like the players are just hanging on for dear life with the phasing from one end of the field to the other, even with the additional drum majors directing. I noticed that in person but I’ve also just watched YT videos of ‘21 and ‘22 (both game and marching festivals - there was no difference) vs. several different “prior administration” years and don’t hear the heavy phasing and I actually feel like I can breathe watching it. So with as much flash and pizzazz and as hot a horn chart as there is sometimes being played…it just a blur and becomes forgettable. I’m sorry but that’s just the reality. I barely have time to take it in before they’re marching off the field. Which is a shame because as someone pointed out, THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of collective dollars go into that. Now it’s over in 7 minutes or less. It seems a shame not to give it more of a place. That’s not on the kids. They work hard putting in blood, sweat, and tears and deserve more. That’s not on the director of bands. Their hands are forced or tied by who’s really responsible - the administrative vision of the university beginning with Dear Leader and the underlings beneath. The juggernaut of J.M.L is no longer around to contend with and so they are relegating the SOTS to what they consider to be it’s place. It’s the end of an era. Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years….I miss yesteryear.
|
|
|
Post by jediwookiee on Oct 23, 2022 20:12:32 GMT -6
Let’s be clear though. I don’t blame the students. I blame whomever murdered our traditions. It goes both ways. The band ignores the traditions I love and so now I ignore them. They are not good and it’s never the “players” fault just like football. It’s $hitty coaching. I'm still curious as to what traditions? Just the quote from the fanfare and Are You From Dixie (That's the one from pregame that started with the old Dixie/Fight Song intro and went into Suwanee River). Or are we finally to a point where they're not playing ESPN enough times a game? (Wasn't that long ago that folks here were complaining they played that too much). As to how often they play, that's above Dr. Walker. That's the folks that make the script for the game and run things up in whatever box in the tower that does it. The DJ still plays over the band half the time they play anyway and the speakers are right over them, causing who knows how much actual ear damage. As for meeting at Sonic, sure why not. Haven't been there in a while.
|
|
|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 23, 2022 20:17:28 GMT -6
Let’s be clear though. I don’t blame the students. I blame whomever murdered our traditions. It goes both ways. The band ignores the traditions I love and so now I ignore them. They are not good and it’s never the “players” fault just like football. It’s $hitty coaching. I'm still curious as to what traditions? Just the quote from the fanfare and Are You From Dixie (That's the one from pregame that started with the old Dixie/Fight Song intro and went into Suwanee River). Or are we finally to a point where they're not playing ESPN enough times a game? (Wasn't that long ago that folks here were complaining they played that too much). As to how often they play, that's above Dr. Walker. That's the folks that make the script for the game and run things up in whatever box in the tower that does it. The DJ still plays over the band half the time they play anyway and the speakers are right over them, causing who knows how much actual ear damage. As for meeting at Sonic, sure why not. Haven't been there in a while. Putting dixie back in would be a start. But having just read what ocean just wrote, i’ll copy off him because I honestly would prefer no band. So I tag ocean in.
|
|
|
Post by jediwookiee on Oct 23, 2022 20:18:03 GMT -6
"Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly flow the days..." Times change. (sigh) I've hated the Fanfare the last decade-ish maybe, being done at 300 bpm but I understand from R.F. that it's because of the lack of time allotted to the band during the halftime. So now they're just trying to get it done without it being so drawn out. And then rewriting the middle break to eliminate those evil notes from hell and well, they might as well just move on from playing it. It’s like my wife feeding me cauliflower mashed potatoes. Sorry. If I can’t have the real thing, I’m glad to just do without. For the record, I do know what the ish I'm talking about, btw. LOL I'm not a football guy primarily. I started band as a trumpeter in the 6th grade, wrote and arranged my high school marching band's halftime show in part my junior year and totally my senior year, I marched in the SOTS, and published some marching and concert arrangements post-academia, I'm very well versed with the ins and outs of it. Marching band, the SOTS in particular, is the main reason why I'm now a musician for a living. I'm not in education or even in the marching/concert band world anymore, having moved to Nashvegasville for the music biz. It ain't working. I get my money for nothing and my chicks for free. Like The Cardinal Rule said, shows used to be longer and I’ll add with more variety. But now, every tune is SO flippin’ fast there’s hardly time to sit and enjoy it. And because of the tempo, it always seems like the players are just hanging on for dear life with the phasing from one end of the field to the other, even with the additional drum majors directing. I noticed that in person but I’ve also just watched YT videos of ‘21 and ‘22 (both game and marching festivals - there was no difference) vs. several different “prior administration” years and don’t hear the heavy phasing and I actually feel like I can breathe watching it. So with as much flash and pizzazz and as hot a horn chart as there is sometimes being played…it just a blur and becomes forgettable. I’m sorry but that’s just the reality. I barely have time to take it in before they’re marching off the field. Which is a shame because as someone pointed out, THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of collective dollars go into that. Now it’s over in 7 minutes or less. It seems a shame not to give it more of a place. That’s not on the kids. They work hard putting in blood, sweat, and tears and deserve more. That’s not on the director of bands. Their hands are forced or tied by who’s really responsible - the administrative vision of the university beginning with Dear Leader and the underlings beneath. The juggernaut of J.M.L is no longer around to contend with and so they are relegating the SOTS to what they consider to be it’s place. It’s the end of an era. Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years….I miss yesteryear. That's how show designs for bands have gone in general the last decade or so. Even HBCUs have more drill than they used to. Since the SOTS doesn't use field props in the DCI/BOA direction they've got to keep things visually interesting somehow. Like you said, things are fast because you've only got a few minutes to make a statement and get off the field. Of course, high school kids eat it up so it makes sense to keep doing it. Today's band recruits tomorrows while make the directors for the next generation after.
|
|
|
Post by cornhole on Oct 23, 2022 20:19:16 GMT -6
Oh look another band thread where people complain about things they have no clue about so I put in my once every sixth month posts... By what metrics are you judging the quality of the band? Skill of playing? Marching complexity or precision? Drill design? Show choice? What "traditions" are no longer there that you want to bring back? If nine notes are what you are referring to, then you are behind the times. Dr. Long was on board with that change for some time before his passing. That was a change that needed to happen on our terms and time rather than on a national spotlight for the wrong reasons. If you're going way back and want "the horse" back, you're wasting your time complaining to the band because that was never the band, it was the rodeo team. It went away mainly because of the change to artificial grass. Also there's no rodeo team anymore. As for Dr. Walker, understand that band is a class which the primary purpose is for the betterment of the students that participate and it is not a group that exists solely for competition. Dr. Walker's job is to teach students, not bend to the whims of the rose-tinted memories of message board posters. As for choice of songs, legality is a big part of it. About ten years ago they got a nice little letter that gave them the choice of dropping half of their stand tunes or pay $500,000 to a company called Tresona. Why that firm goes after some groups but not others makes little sense. Why is the band not growing much past 350 when JSU and others in state are consistently 400+? That's easy. JSU still ponies up the money to send the band to travel. Also they actually have assistant band directors and support staff. Blakeney, Brown, Summrall or any other coach would not have anywhere near their success without coordinators and position coaches. Just like with the football team, if you really want to see the band grow and improve you've got pony up and support with donations. Couldn't agree with you more. It just appears that Football games and halftime shows no longer fit as priorities for the Troy Music Dept. nor Troy University for that matter. Horse smorse, who wants manure on a $Zillion dollar turf anyhow? You can stick that "behind the times" statement you know where. People have a great clue about traditions and memories. Not an Alum here but it was VERY SPECIAL to get to the game early for the vintage Fanfare with however many bars that you mention. Couldn't give a #Toot# now. It doesn't cost a dime more to hear that historic drumline solo. EDIT: The betterment of the School of Music and Students will NOT be funded by (this) Troy Athletic Fan. (Not that I would have anyway, just own no stake in music. Sorry to Sound so harsh)
|
|
|
Post by scatman on Oct 23, 2022 20:19:22 GMT -6
I have a lot of fun chatting with all of you on the board. I just don’t understand how you could go to an away game, see the love the kids in band have for it, see the intensity that the TEAM has for their FELLOW TROJANS, and not be on board with it? Things obviously cost money, and I get that some things are gone that y’all would like back (it’s hard now for me to remember what has y’all’s panties in a wad. I seriously can’t remember what all was cut) but $&@! man, I screamed my voice out on Thursday as the band was playing. During that moment of winning and participating as the 12th man with the band, it felt just like it always had to me. A win is a win, but a win with the band BLARING is like nothing else.
To those in SOTS now, and those in SOTS from yesteryear, just know we had a group of 4 there that had no connection to the SOTS but it’s always been our favorite part. Stayed for every last verse y’all played on Thursday. Hell, played the damn fight song all the way home. Seriously.
|
|
|
Post by jediwookiee on Oct 23, 2022 20:20:05 GMT -6
I'm still curious as to what traditions? Just the quote from the fanfare and Are You From Dixie (That's the one from pregame that started with the old Dixie/Fight Song intro and went into Suwanee River). Or are we finally to a point where they're not playing ESPN enough times a game? (Wasn't that long ago that folks here were complaining they played that too much). As to how often they play, that's above Dr. Walker. That's the folks that make the script for the game and run things up in whatever box in the tower that does it. The DJ still plays over the band half the time they play anyway and the speakers are right over them, causing who knows how much actual ear damage. As for meeting at Sonic, sure why not. Haven't been there in a while. Putting dixie back in would be a start. But having just read what ocean just wrote, i’ll copy off him because I honestly would prefer no band. So I tag ocean in. One song (or just nine notes) shouldn't make or break a band. That's a one hit wonder.
|
|
|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 23, 2022 20:23:38 GMT -6
Putting dixie back in would be a start. But having just read what ocean just wrote, i’ll copy off him because I honestly would prefer no band. So I tag ocean in. One song (or just nine notes) shouldn't make or break a band. That's a one hit wonder. Ok now you’re being silly. Those nine notes combined with the name of the band is a winning combination. There is nothing the band plays now that gives any indication that we are listening to “The Sound of The South”. You might as well be the sounds of tiktoc
|
|
|
Post by cornhole on Oct 23, 2022 20:27:02 GMT -6
Putting dixie back in would be a start. But having just read what ocean just wrote, i’ll copy off him because I honestly would prefer no band. So I tag ocean in. One song (or just nine notes) shouldn't make or break a band. That's a one hit wonder. .. and that wonder was The SOUND OF THE SOUTH!! Just ain't no South in it now.
|
|
|
Post by trojanocean on Oct 23, 2022 20:28:37 GMT -6
Oh look another band thread where people complain about things they have no clue about so I put in my once every sixth month posts... By what metrics are you judging the quality of the band? Skill of playing? Marching complexity or precision? Drill design? Show choice? What "traditions" are no longer there that you want to bring back? If nine notes are what you are referring to, then you are behind the times. Dr. Long was on board with that change for some time before his passing. That was a change that needed to happen on our terms and time rather than on a national spotlight for the wrong reasons. If you're going way back and want "the horse" back, you're wasting your time complaining to the band because that was never the band, it was the rodeo team. It went away mainly because of the change to artificial grass. Also there's no rodeo team anymore. As for Dr. Walker, understand that band is a class which the primary purpose is for the betterment of the students that participate and it is not a group that exists solely for competition. Dr. Walker's job is to teach students, not bend to the whims of the rose-tinted memories of message board posters. As for choice of songs, legality is a big part of it. About ten years ago they got a nice little letter that gave them the choice of dropping half of their stand tunes or pay $500,000 to a company called Tresona. Why that firm goes after some groups but not others makes little sense. Why is the band not growing much past 350 when JSU and others in state are consistently 400+? That's easy. JSU still ponies up the money to send the band to travel. Also they actually have assistant band directors and support staff. Blakeney, Brown, Summrall or any other coach would not have anywhere near their success without coordinators and position coaches. Just like with the football team, if you really want to see the band grow and improve you've got pony up and support with donations. I wrote my previous post in a different doc and cut and pasted so I could read and edit it all at one viewing vs. scrolling. So your post came in during all of that. So even though my prior post somewhat touches on much of what you talk about, you can feel free to PM me if you really want to know what my critiques would be re: playing skill, marching, drill design or show choice. And I'm not so much referring to "traditions" like maybe some of the others here are but more so the vision of the current direction. Actually, it might be more the playing skill, marching/drill, and show choice that affect what I'm talking about because it seems SOTS is no longer set apart from all the other university bands I've seen. Respectfully, they've just blended into the normal. I could care less about the stand tunes, so I don't know what you're on about there. People don't think of stand tunes when they think about the SOTS so that doesn't really matter or not likely what anyone on the thread is referring to...who cares about the ESPN sports bumps...that's not a factor. I'll definitely agree with you that you lack the University's administrative support. In fact, that's really the crux of my whole beef. The SOTS now is what it is because of higher altitude decision-making that puts it in a bad position and forces certain aspects on it. That's the majority of the problem.
|
|
|
Post by Bubba the Trojan on Oct 23, 2022 20:51:38 GMT -6
Let’s be clear though. I don’t blame the students. I blame whomever murdered our traditions. It goes both ways. The band ignores the traditions I love and so now I ignore them. They are not good and it’s never the “players” fault just like football. It’s $hitty coaching. I'm still curious as to what traditions? Just the quote from the fanfare and Are You From Dixie (That's the one from pregame that started with the old Dixie/Fight Song intro and went into Suwanee River). Or are we finally to a point where they're not playing ESPN enough times a game? (Wasn't that long ago that folks here were complaining they played that too much). As to how often they play, that's above Dr. Walker. That's the folks that make the script for the game and run things up in whatever box in the tower that does it. The DJ still plays over the band half the time they play anyway and the speakers are right over them, causing who knows how much actual ear damage. As for meeting at Sonic, sure why not. Haven't been there in a while. I'll tell you what traditions, but I'l issue this disclaimer first. I'm an old fart, looking to retire within the year. In 1995, I attended my first TROY football games and, with two kids in HS band, was very interested in, and came to love, the SOS. The traditions that I talk about being stripped away are 1) Are You From Dixie and 2) The Fanfare with the few bars of Dixie included. First, I'll address Are You From Dixie. The only words I know from that song are the title. I liked that song because it was a very nice tune, with a great rhythm and great tempo, that our band performed well. It was a great way to end the half time show and I miss it. Since it was played as the band was leaving the field, I suspect the time limitations didn't factor into the decision to drop it from the show. I suspect that the decision was made in an effort to be, what we would have referred to at the time, politically correct or what we would call today "Woke". That torques my behind more than you can fathom. Now as to the few notes of The Fanfare that were from Dixie, here we go. The words that accompanied those notes were "Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton". Whether you, or anyone else wants to admit it, TROY University, and the majority of its football game attendees, still exist, live, and thrive "In the land of cotton". If you don't believe that, get in my truck and I'll take you on a 60 minute tour of the Wirgrass area and you can see how much cotton is still grown here. I hope, for your sake, that as you get older, you will have fond memories of your youth and that you will have nostalgia for those parts of it you've lost. Those things, memories and nostalgia, are two of the great things about longevity and they make the autumns of our lives a little more enjoyable. For the one word among those 10, Dixie, to cause such psychological trauma in the context of one phrase of a marking band compilation is, in my estimation, indicative of weakness. On top of that, as multiple people on here have noted, the musical replacement for the removed short phrase SUCKS - on multiple levels. Finally, I will say this. Along with most, if not all, of the posters on this board, I am a TROY football fan. I go to TROY football games, not SOS concerts. The job of the band is most importantly, to provide education to it's members, as you said. Beyond that, its job is to support the football team, which it does extremely well, and to entertain the crowd. As has become evident, based on the comments here, the SOS no longer does the last of those as well as it once did. Maybe it's time for the band decision makers, whomever they may be, to evaluate that. If as you said, we need to "pony up" for things to improve, maybe the product being sold needs to be what those being asked to "pony up" want to consume. Now (in jest), get off my lawn.
|
|
|
Post by tufan81 on Oct 23, 2022 21:36:41 GMT -6
I'm also an old-timer who has been enjoying Troy football and the Sound of the South since the 1960's. Some of the changes in recent years have been disappointing and have diminished some of the joy and pride in hearing the Sound perform. But I am very proud of the students who still put in the time to participate and make the best of the resources they are supported with. I do wish we could find some acceptable music to hang on to such as My Home's in Alabama, which unfortunately may not have the greatest lyrics but at least it is a recognizable tune and one we use for each high school band day. I hope the Sound will continue and get stronger because it has been a very large part of Troy's history and I hope it will be preserved for the next generation. Go Troy!
|
|
twc
Redshirt
Posts: 35
|
Post by twc on Oct 23, 2022 22:14:31 GMT -6
Like it or not, when it comes to this generation, facts don't matter; narrative does. Keeping things the way they were would have resulted in a PR nightmare, and I'm actually surprised it took them this long to do it. Many of our prospective students and student athletes have grown up with the narrative that that song is an anthem of those who hate them and who wish them harm. It is what it is.
The *problem* however, is that the replacement just doesn't fit. There's a way it could have been rewritten where no one would really have noticed, but the replacement just draws negative attention to itself.
The SOTS doesn't have the same power that it had years ago, and there's a noticeable phasing problems, especially during pregame. The school has a music industry program with connections to several prominent band composers and arrangers. If Tresona is a problem, WRITE SOMETHING ORIGINAL!
I've never been a fan of the current director, and certainly wasn't when I was in the SOTS. That being said, I think it's important to point out that Dr. Walker has done a fantastic job with the Symphony Band. They are light years better than they were 10 or so years ago. If the SOTS had a dedicated director with actual staff (not just grad assistants), I think a lot of things would improve.
Right now, it's "pretty good." (If you know, you know)
|
|
|
Post by trojanocean on Oct 24, 2022 7:01:42 GMT -6
Well I started the thread so let me be clear, if I wasn't already - my issue has nothing to do with the rewritten Fanfare, though I will say that I do not like the change personally. It sounds like something shoe-horned in. Were I to speak frankly, I'd tell you that it sounds kinda stupid. That's beside the point though. Do away with the Fanfare because it's already being done at a gazillion BPM and just...sounds...not right. It hasn't for years because they're just trying to hurry through it. Let it go. Move on. It's the end of an era. Let it be over. I know they won't but again, all I am is a consumer offering feedback. You can listen to the consumer or ignore him or tell him he's an idiot. The consumer is not wrong about what he likes or dislikes and you CAN'T make him like something by force so....
TWC is correct. There's BAD phasing problems (I listened to more YT videos of current and recent shows). I sets me on edge psychologically putting me in the place of "it's gonna fall apart and they're staying together by a thread". That's not a position you want your listener to be in. Now the band parents and grandparents and "supporters-no-matter-what" are going to tell you it's great! But yo' mama has to love you. Talk about rose-tinted glasses. I fell in love with the SOTS in 1988. I saw the Gershwin show LIVE. It lives on in cassette form. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. Amazing Grace. The Motown Medley. I don't/didn't love it because I oughta. I did because it was great and at a HIGH standard. The marching was casual but...there's a reason I'm not a fan of DCI bands. They're precise and nobody works harder but the military. They sound sterile in their precision and they don't entertain me. The SOTS did.
Why do I say all of that? Because I want things to be like yesteryear? Maybe some of that. But only a 5% maybe. The rest is - I just want it to be excellent and great. And I just don't think it has the freedom to be that anymore, no matter who's the director of bands. It's higher-level than that but it shows up in the small things. A show so fast it's over in a flash. Restrictions here and there. No cash to show the band off in high profile places, trips, and events. And so on and so on.
It's NOT the Fanfare.
|
|
|
Post by Bubba the Trojan on Oct 24, 2022 7:27:24 GMT -6
Well I started the thread so let me be clear, if I wasn't already - my issue has nothing to do with the rewritten Fanfare, though I will say that I do not like the change personally. It sounds like something shoe-horned in. Were I to speak frankly, I'd tell you that it sounds kinda stupid. That's beside the point though. Do away with the Fanfare because it's already being done at a gazillion BPM and just...sounds...not right. It hasn't for years because they're just trying to hurry through it. Let it go. Move on. It's the end of an era. Let it be over. I know they won't but again, all I am is a consumer offering feedback. You can listen to the consumer or ignore him or tell him he's an idiot. The consumer is not wrong about what he likes or dislikes and you CAN'T make him like something by force so.... TWC is correct. There's BAD phasing problems (I listened to more YT videos of current and recent shows). I sets me on edge psychologically putting me in the place of "it's gonna fall apart and they're staying together by a thread". That's not a position you want your listener to be in. Now the band parents and grandparents and "supporters-no-matter-what" are going to tell you it's great! But yo' mama has to love you. Talk about rose-tinted glasses. I fell in love with the SOTS in 1988. I saw the Gershwin show LIVE. It lives on in cassette form. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. Amazing Grace. The Motown Medley. I don't/didn't love it because I oughta. I did because it was great and at a HIGH standard. The marching was casual but...there's a reason I'm not a fan of DCI bands. They're precise and nobody works harder but the military. They sound sterile in their precision and they don't entertain me. The SOTS did. Why do I say all of that? Because I want things to be like yesteryear? Maybe some of that. But only a 5% maybe. The rest is - I just want it to be excellent and great. And I just don't think it has the freedom to be that anymore, no matter who's the director of bands. It's higher-level than that but it shows up in the small things. A show so fast it's over in a flash. Restrictions here and there. No cash to show the band off in high profile places, trips, and events. And so on and so on. It's NOT the Fanfare. Agreed. The Fanfare is a symptom, not the problem.
|
|
|
Post by The Cardinal Rule on Oct 24, 2022 11:58:41 GMT -6
Oh look another band thread where people complain about things they have no clue about so I put in my once every sixth month posts... By what metrics are you judging the quality of the band? Skill of playing? Marching complexity or precision? Drill design? Show choice? What "traditions" are no longer there that you want to bring back? If nine notes are what you are referring to, then you are behind the times. Dr. Long was on board with that change for some time before his passing. That was a change that needed to happen on our terms and time rather than on a national spotlight for the wrong reasons. If you're going way back and want "the horse" back, you're wasting your time complaining to the band because that was never the band, it was the rodeo team. It went away mainly because of the change to artificial grass. Also there's no rodeo team anymore. As for Dr. Walker, understand that band is a class which the primary purpose is for the betterment of the students that participate and it is not a group that exists solely for competition. Dr. Walker's job is to teach students, not bend to the whims of the rose-tinted memories of message board posters. As for choice of songs, legality is a big part of it. About ten years ago they got a nice little letter that gave them the choice of dropping half of their stand tunes or pay $500,000 to a company called Tresona. Why that firm goes after some groups but not others makes little sense. Why is the band not growing much past 350 when JSU and others in state are consistently 400+? That's easy. JSU still ponies up the money to send the band to travel. Also they actually have assistant band directors and support staff. Blakeney, Brown, Summrall or any other coach would not have anywhere near their success without coordinators and position coaches. Just like with the football team, if you really want to see the band grow and improve you've got pony up and support with donations. This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about. No one can address the issue so they have to build a straw man.
|
|
|
Post by trojantke on Oct 24, 2022 12:20:15 GMT -6
Yall remember that time we beat South in football?? That was awesome.
|
|
|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 24, 2022 13:37:50 GMT -6
Yall remember that time we beat South in football?? That was awesome. Heard something about 5 in a row. You hear that?
|
|
|
Post by trojantke on Oct 24, 2022 13:43:05 GMT -6
Sorry, didn't hear that. Probably because our band was so loud.
|
|
|
Post by Trojan By Birth on Oct 24, 2022 14:08:26 GMT -6
Sorry, didn't hear that. Probably because our band was so loud. Yes. Talladega does play loud. Talladega Great Tornado Band. The official Band of TBB’s gameday experience at Troy University.
|
|
|
Post by saintflorian on Oct 25, 2022 6:54:13 GMT -6
Like football, sometimes you have a losing season in band. We are having several of those and now we suck at band. We used to be tops in all of collegiate bands, but now they suck. Sometimes, they even play recordings instead of actually playing. Band directors are like football coaches and should be replaced. Our current director is on the level of whatever made Fester’s head itch. Does the Band Director have complete and absolute control? Can they literally do what the want? Do they have a review of the changes they implement. Yes, The Sound of the South has deteriorated in quality and tradition.
|
|
|
Post by trojanocean on Oct 25, 2022 9:09:22 GMT -6
Like football, sometimes you have a losing season in band. We are having several of those and now we suck at band. We used to be tops in all of collegiate bands, but now they suck. Sometimes, they even play recordings instead of actually playing. Band directors are like football coaches and should be replaced. Our current director is on the level of whatever made Fester’s head itch. Does the Band Director have complete and absolute control? Can they literally do what the want? Do they have a review of the changes they implement. Yes, The Sound of the South has deteriorated in quality and tradition. He does not. Unfortunately, he is at the whims of the higher administration and sometimes must dance to their tune. And then, the university as a whole must follow certain guidelines from the Sunbelt, ESPN, and the like who place certain restrictions on them in terms of time. They are loose guidelines but put the band program in a position to have to make certain decisions that they would not ordinarily make. The length of the halftime show and the tempo at which they do that show for instance because they have to be on and off the field in x amount of time. Part of it is just the way the machine works. However there isn't a director that I know who would replace Dr. Long who had the clout and political control and who could push back on some of the parameters put in place without risk of punitive action against him. Think of it like this: HCJS could take over at FSU but the boosters and the administration are going to tie his hands making it hard for him to do what it might actually take to win there. Bobby Bowden, because of who he was, had autonomy and freedom. Of course, until he started slipping considerably as a coach - it's not a perfect illustration but that's what's happening, honestly.
|
|