Well honestly, by the time I reached high school, St. Aug's band reputation was already regarded as one of the top notch programs in LA. With that being said, maybe I'm not fit to answer this question in the way you would like me to, however, I'll try. With the band's reputation, not much recruiting had to be done in my era, because parents already had their minds set on sending their young musicians to St. Aug. Then there were young men like myself, who knew without a shadow of a doubt that they wanted to go to St. Aug, because we saw the band in a Mardi Gras parade at an early age and were literally mesmerized. Ms. Carter I would say that your greatest recruitment tool is going to come from the fruit you produce. For instance, Mr. Hampton, St. Aug's bandmaster, started with only a hand full of young men, but because of his hard work, patience, and diligence an army was built. So to put it plainly, hopefully I don't offend you, if your band sounds and looks decent kids will have an increased desire to be apart of your program. However, if your band sounds awful the complete opposite will happen. And as far as getting recognition, the same applies, but it takes time. Remember to be patient; Rome wasn't built in a day--neither will your band.
Thanks, no offense taken. My band kills musically - 40 sounding like 80 - great musicians; but they're still learning how to march and drill. This year was our first venturing out of the neighborhood to battle - we did the angel city classic and the home depot botb...Musically, we gave Inglewood and everyone else a run for their money, but our footwork sucks! I'm working hard!!!
Well Mr. Moore always did things to make band fun.
But this is the one phrase that he used to recruit students in high school. He said "If you want to go to college for FREE, then the REDAN band is where u need to be". And he sticks by it. He can help you get to college for free. It may not be the college you want but you can get a post secondary education for free through Mr.Moore. In the Band class you are required to keep a notebook, play all the chromatically adjacent major scales, minor scales, and sight read @ the appropriate level. Not to mention auditioning for all state and other statewide programs.
I cant explain it though, Mr. Moore brings a ENERGY to the band, that is far different than one I ever experienced in all the band programs I participated in. (Miller Grove Middle,FAMU, ALL STATE DISTRICT HONOR BAND). He is hype, excited bout being there, he is into it while you are playing the music, hype for the players to play the music, just hype all around. He gives you energy and he receives it back.
Practice hours when i was there
1998-1999
3-35-8-30
2000- present ( i think)
330- 630-7pm
lolita carter said:
Merry Christmas!
What does your BD do to retain all those kids?
What is your practice schedule like?
Is there anyone on this forum from SWD, Stephenson, Redan, or St. Aug?
I got questions. No beefing...just curiosity about the programs.
Being in a band with a standard Look, and Sound is great, because then when you see other good bands you appreciate the battle.after the fact .
Other Directors used to try to figure out what our secret was ..LOL
many bands in our area played the same tunes as us and couldn't grasp our concept so they didn't sound as good playing the songs
Our Golden Rules were
Play Full, Short and Clean and your sound will travel. No Need to over blow
Play Each Note To its Capasity, (Full)
Don't Extend The Note Beyond It's Capasity (Short)
Practice Until Each Phrase can be heard Clearly (Clean)
that way stamina levels are high and we stay endured.
We practiced Long and Hard for That Reason ..
Lamik said:
Well Mr. Moore always did things to make band fun. But this is the one phrase that he used to recruit students in high school. He said "If you want to go to college for FREE, then the REDAN band is where u need to be". And he sticks by it. He can help you get to college for free. It may not be the college you want but you can get a post secondary education for free through Mr.Moore. In the Band class you are required to keep a notebook, play all the chromatically adjacent major scales, minor scales, and sight read @ the appropriate level. Not to mention auditioning for all state and other statewide programs.
I cant explain it though, Mr. Moore brings a ENERGY to the band, that is far different than one I ever experienced in all the band programs I participated in. (Miller Grove Middle,FAMU, ALL STATE DISTRICT HONOR BAND). He is hype, excited bout being there, he is into it while you are playing the music, hype for the players to play the music, just hype all around. He gives you energy and he receives it back.
Practice hours when i was there
1998-1999
3-35-8-30
2000- present ( i think)
330- 630-7pm
lolita carter said:
Merry Christmas!
What does your BD do to retain all those kids? What is your practice schedule like?
Is there anyone on this forum from SWD, Stephenson, Redan, or St. Aug?
I got questions. No beefing...just curiosity about the programs.
Im not from either one of those schools but Im the director at Stephen F. Austin in Houston. I started a band 3 and a half years ago from scratch with no feeder program whatsoever. The school had not had a band in 5 years when I arrived.
The first thing I did was post flyers all over the neighborhood with all kinds of propaganda on them: get a scholarship, travel, field trips etc. Then I gave my band a nickname. My first week of band camp, I had one child to show up. ONE.... she is now head drum major. Anyway the band almost doubled each year from 10-20-to 40. It was a rough start though. My first game I had literally 9 kids. The other band was a corps style band with 180 students. I wanted to quit that day real talk. I even went in the bathroom during the 3rd quarter and asked myself "What the phuck am I doing.?" When I came out, those 9 kids were so happy. You would have thought that they won the lottery or something.
All I can say from my experience is show the kids that you are ride or die for them and they will do the same. Bands take time to build. Its like building a skyscraper by hand. It can be done but it takes work. From what I have seen at your program, you are on the right track. Happy kids recruit more happy kids. Happy kids will make sure their director is happy.
You just set the foundation and let the students do the brickwork.
Replies
Started marching in 1998.
Just let me know what you need.
What does your BD do to retain all those kids?
What is your practice schedule like?
But this is the one phrase that he used to recruit students in high school. He said "If you want to go to college for FREE, then the REDAN band is where u need to be". And he sticks by it. He can help you get to college for free. It may not be the college you want but you can get a post secondary education for free through Mr.Moore. In the Band class you are required to keep a notebook, play all the chromatically adjacent major scales, minor scales, and sight read @ the appropriate level. Not to mention auditioning for all state and other statewide programs.
I cant explain it though, Mr. Moore brings a ENERGY to the band, that is far different than one I ever experienced in all the band programs I participated in. (Miller Grove Middle,FAMU, ALL STATE DISTRICT HONOR BAND). He is hype, excited bout being there, he is into it while you are playing the music, hype for the players to play the music, just hype all around. He gives you energy and he receives it back.
Practice hours when i was there
1998-1999
3-35-8-30
2000- present ( i think)
330- 630-7pm
lolita carter said:
Other Directors used to try to figure out what our secret was ..LOL
many bands in our area played the same tunes as us and couldn't grasp our concept so they didn't sound as good playing the songs
Our Golden Rules were
Play Full, Short and Clean and your sound will travel. No Need to over blow
Play Each Note To its Capasity, (Full)
Don't Extend The Note Beyond It's Capasity (Short)
Practice Until Each Phrase can be heard Clearly (Clean)
that way stamina levels are high and we stay endured.
We practiced Long and Hard for That Reason ..
Lamik said:
The first thing I did was post flyers all over the neighborhood with all kinds of propaganda on them: get a scholarship, travel, field trips etc. Then I gave my band a nickname. My first week of band camp, I had one child to show up. ONE.... she is now head drum major. Anyway the band almost doubled each year from 10-20-to 40. It was a rough start though. My first game I had literally 9 kids. The other band was a corps style band with 180 students. I wanted to quit that day real talk. I even went in the bathroom during the 3rd quarter and asked myself "What the phuck am I doing.?" When I came out, those 9 kids were so happy. You would have thought that they won the lottery or something.
All I can say from my experience is show the kids that you are ride or die for them and they will do the same. Bands take time to build. Its like building a skyscraper by hand. It can be done but it takes work. From what I have seen at your program, you are on the right track. Happy kids recruit more happy kids. Happy kids will make sure their director is happy.
You just set the foundation and let the students do the brickwork.