EDWRD WATER COLLEGE

Coming up from where?

...from Ground Zero

I remember after graduating from FAMU and going back to Jax, I saw the entire band practicing practically under a tree.

I just couldn't believe that was the entire band. They were the size of at least one section of The 100.

So I pulled over with my Chicken sandwich from Jenkins and watched them practice for about 25 mins.

I wish The Marching Tigers much success in the future

Well, I personally want to give it all to ALL of our smaller band programs out there. It's easy to march out on a field with showmanship and pride when there are 300+ other folks on either side of you in a section where if you don't have your act together, your fellow section members can pick up your slack. It's easy to march for a program that already has a reputation around the state, the region or the nation. It takes heart when you march for a smaller program. In a way, it takes a lot more work because you have more of an obligation to carry your weight and put on a more exaggerated showmanship into your performance because more people are focused soley on you than if you were 2 or 3 hundred deep. It takes a lot more effort and creativity to make a show for a smaller program exciting because 1. people are likely to prejudge you before you play your first note and 2. because creating a sound concept that works and being able to develop formations and drill that are visibly appealing while maintaining a solid sound is a lot tougher. And sadly, we must admit it, you can always count on members and fans of other larger programs being condescending and elitist because of the size of their band program. In their attempts at being competitive, people can be so nasty.

Also have to give credit where credit is due to our newer programs. How tough must it be to create new style and tradition from scratch. Many of our programs have been around for so long that members walk in and simply do what's been done since the 1950's--much of which they knew before even setting foot on campus. When you're relatively new, all of those nuances have to be created from scratch. I always thought that our most serious musicians could be found in our smallest programs. Big ups to Edward Waters College. Big up so ALL of our smaller programs out there for putting in the time to build excellence through great challenge. Now don't get me wrong, big or small some programs how done and outstanding job and others are just not good because they have failed to meet their particular challenge. One particular program I can name, but won't is one of the 4 largest marchingbands in the hbcu world. For a while, they have been large and lazy...crooked lines, unbalanced sound, countless errors on the fied, musicians not in sink or in tune with each other. But they are in the minority for most larger programs.

Speaking of smaller bands, I wonder out of curiosity how we would rank our smallest of programs out there in terms of most outstanding musicianship/showmanship/and overall performance.

Humor me...if you had to select the top 5 smaller programs out there in order, how would you rank em?

Personally, I would say

1. WSSU
2. JCSU
3. DSU
4. Benedict
5. Clark Atlanta

Deleware State University
Winston Salem State University
Edward Waters College
Clark Atlanta University
Morehouse College
Benedict College
Johnson C Smith
Savanah State University
Fayetteville State University
Lincoln

Any takers??

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pbsstep1914,

quote:

Originally posted by pbsstep1914:
It takes heart when you march for a smaller program.

Very true. I used to march for a small band...it was called the Norfolk State University Marching Spartan Legion. We marched a 96 block...on a GOOD day!

quote:

Humor me...if you had to select the top 5 smaller programs out there in order, how would you rank em?

Personally, I would say

1. WSSU
2. JCSU
3. DSU
4. Benedict
5. Clark Atlanta

Deleware State University
Winston Salem State University
Edward Waters College
Clark Atlanta University
Morehouse College
Benedict College
Johnson C Smith
Savanah State University
Fayetteville State University
Lincoln

Any takers??

I have too much CIAA bias to be impartial!

I love to watch good smaller bands go up against some of the powerhouses. (WSSU v. FAMU at the '07 CCC), (DSU v. Everybody in '06)...etc.

I would rank them based on the times I've seen them...

1. WSSU
2. DSU
3. EWC (I saw 'em in '04, they were a BEAST!)
4. Fayetteville State
5. CAU

Tuskegee is one of the better bands in the SIAC, not the smallest or largest in the conference but representing very well on the field. They usually have around 120-150 members. Waaay more than Morehouse's band but not considered large by the likes of some of the SWAC and MEAC bands. But they are always a favorite at the Honda Battle of the Bands, too.

That's good stuff. I actually spoke at their band banquet a few years ago. These kids are unified in the direction they want to take this band. That's a feat all by itself. I spoke to their dept. chair as well when they were interested in trying to get Phi Mu Alpha there. I don't think that there's a chapter yet, but I do think that have KKY there now or maybe a colony last I heard. They're band program is doing big things.