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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 1963)
Page 8 College Station, Texas Thursday, August 22, 19(13 THE BATTALION WITH STREAMLINED APPROACH Band Leads Marching Tren Aggie Band Trademark At all halftime performances the Aggie completing a performance given last year at Band marchers close their precision drills the A&M-TCU football game on Kyle Field, by forming the block “T’\ Here the band is BY DAVID S. JONES COLLEGE STATION UP) — Across Texas, high school and col lege band directors are taking closer and more critical looks at their present marching techniques and are apparently coming to the realization that today’s audiences are looking for a more stream lined approach to performances. During the past years the trend has been to get away from “high- stepping shows” which come com plete with more regalia than a circus sideshow. A LEADER AND imitated marching unit in this revolution is one which a California sports writer in a flight of imagination described as ‘reminiscent of the powerful Roman legions victorious ly parading into the coliseum.” It is the world’s largest mili tary band, the Aggie Band. Band directors all over the coun try have been known to stop, stare and say aloud, “How I wish my band could do that.” A glimpse at the many contests held across the state this year re- ceals that marching techniques at variance with the Aggie styles are out of date today. THE CADETS’ formula for suc cess is, however, anything but a well-kept secret. The fact is that complete mastery of the Aggie technique is posible only in an organization like the A&M Band. Without previous warning, how many bands could assemble their entire marching contingent in for mation with instruments and music at any hour of the day or night ? Not many to be sure. But a combination of obedience, alertness and strict marching dis cipline combined with the fact that the Aggie Band lives together makes this possible in the 240- piece organization. ONE OF THE remarkable facts about the band is that it exists at an institution where there is no school of music. No scouting pro gram is carried out by the band’s director, Lt. Col. E. V. Adams. Practice, obedience and desire go into making the Cadets what they are. The band lives, works and play together, enabling them to strive that much harder for those whom they know the best. Adjoining the four-story dormi tory which houses the band is an actual-size football field used ex clusively to work out the precision drills. SINCE ALL members of the band must also be members of the A&M Corps of Cadets, uniforms are not among problems the band encounters. Band members wear the only distinctive unit insignia on the campus, the band lyre. The Band is divided into two company-sized outfits for conveni- FRI ence of Corps administrate Maroon Band and the Wkiti take turns appearing at yc tices, basketball games M affairs at which the entin would be too bulky. ALWAYS ON HAND (« major sports contests on a the band also plays at many, town football games. The trip made to date by the was to Los Angeles, Calif,, years back when A&M met in gridiron competition. Col. Adams said last» band will visit both Baton:, La. and Lubbock this seas the first time. In previous the cadets had alternated m the LSU and Texas Tech hallj The band also travels major cities in Texas eaohji lead the Corps Trip partis to Austin every two yearalt Governor’s Inauguration. IP : To you who hove already enrolled at A&M. and you who plan to —we want to say "Greetings and Welcome to Ag- - gielandJ We cordially invite you to visit us when you arrive at College Station. Ask your Dad other Aggie about WALDROP’ S-we’ve been Aggie headquarters since 1896. any Pennants and Stickers ★ Novelties of All Kinds ★ Aggie T-Shirts ★ Underwear and Socks ★ Army Footlockers ★ Aggie Towels ★ Collar Insignia ★ Ties ★ Webb Belts ★ Fatigues SLACKS CAPS Hi-back pink Elastique Hi-back 8.2 Cotton Cramerton KHAKI SHIRTS Dress or Overseas Cotton Khaki Green Elastique Pink Elastique SHOES & POLISH 8.2 Cotton Cramerton Military- Tennis Dress We have been serving- Texas Aggies for the past 67 years, and with two stores in Bryan a nd College Station, we are better prepared to serve you. CLTf]. (jDaUdfeop &G. ,M€NS CLOTHING- SINCE 189© COLLEGE STORE-NORTH GATE BRYAN STORE—MAIN STREET BRANDS... Every College Man Should Know- Botany “500” Suits McGregor Sportswear Edgerton Shoes Nunn-Bush Shoes Manhattan Shirts Stetson Hats Varsity-Town Suits Wembley Ties Cooper’s Jockey Underwear Esquire Socks 4F7 C A&M’s f ill begin 'is year. Head Coa 1 Hank Fi 'ts turned td the teai wrth in 1 ice. Foldberg the sprir ssful play f est Point, if stint r 'chita. V slants L tonson, J a Neil S jfe detained ‘ ln Myers ’to has be tee 1954. Hollowing Kh of the ft Paris Belts Swank Jewelry Haggar Slacks McGregor Jackets McGregor Sweaters Flight Ace Caps .. • -J .