Page 5 • Friday, September 25, 1998
The Battalion
atioi
hytlll Band attributes
[gh quality performances
to dedication
BY MICKEY SALOMA
The Battalion
hey stand in the end zone of Kyle Field carry
ing a musical instrument and preparing to per
form a drill they have practiced over 100 times.
[Aggie Band members are watched by over 60,000
who expect nothing less than the tradition of ex-
ellnce and perfection that has been the trademark
Je Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band,
ost Aggies know members of the Aggie Band are
e Corps of Cadets, and most know of the band’s
praiit-winning performances.
Hut behind the uniforms and performances is hours
f work that goes into being a top-notch marching band.
Hhe Aggie Band is a special unit of Texas A&M’s
ton s of Cadets. It consists of 408 cadets represent-
rmy, Air Force and Navy/Marine ROTC.
eband is divided into four Corps units — B-Battery,
ttery, A-Company and B-Company. The Band, how-
acts as one big unit in that all band members know
other, and they all have a working relationship,
e Aggie Band is a student-run organization, which
)l|)ws the rules and regulation of the Corps under the
Hr\ ision of the Director of Bands Lt. Col. Ray Toler,
isflstant Director Lt. Col. Jay O. Brewer and Associate
jirenorCapt. Tim Rhea.
Hhe three directors select the music, design the drills
nd are an active part in all of the other band duties.
Hn the field, the Aggie Band is led by three drum ma-
H— Head Drum Major Cadet Lt. Col. Sam Udovich
nd Side Drum Majors Cadet Maj. Brian Marks and
^idit Maj. Jonathan Scott.
In addition to conducting the band, the drum majors
teach the entire band a new drill for each game and
■e as the motivators of the band.
The members of the Aggie Band start their day at 6
.m. to eat breakfast and get to drill.
Hll members are required to take a special kinesiolo
irdos.
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0 p.m.
Greg McReynolds/Thk Battalion
The Texas A&M Band performs on Kyle Reid during All U-Night. It was the first AIRJ Night performance made by the band.
gy course, for which they receive an hour credit.
The Aggie Band practices from 7 to 8:30 a.m., Mon
day through Friday on the band’s practice field, located
across from the Southside Parking Garage near the E.V.
Adams Band Hall.
It also practices on the turf practice field next to Kyle-
Field and once on Kyle Field before each home game.
Kit Hicks, a freshman general studies major, said be
ing in the Aggie Band is a demanding experience.
“It’s extremely challenging to have to juggle band life,
Corps life and student life,” Hicks said.
Clay Starr, a section officer in the band and a senior
environmental design major, said typically, it takes two
days to learn the drill and the music — the rest of the
week is spent polishing it all up in preparation for the
show on Saturday.
The first part of drill is spent practicing the music. In
addition to looking good, Starr said the Aggie Band takes
great pride in sounding good as well. Emphasis is placed
on memorization and producing a strong musical sound
throughout the week.
In order to learn the music, the band is divided by in
strument. For example, all the trumpets get together and
help each other memorize the music.
Starr said each section is led by a section sergeant (a
junior) and a section officer (a senior). Their job is to
not only ensure the music is memorized, but to also en
sure the marching is precise.
After sectionals, the band forms on the field and be
gins to practice the drill.
Phil Garcia, a senior construction science major, said
the drill is an exhausting procedure that takes a mental
and physical toll on each cadet.
“Drill is an extremely tiring experience. It looks like
we are just marching and playing instruments, but our
marching and our music must be practiced over and
over to dazzle the crowd on Saturday,” Garcia said. “We
want nothing more than excellence and precision. ”
After spending two hours each morning practicing
the drill, Aggie Band members spend the rest of the day
going through normal student and cadet life.
“After drill, we do everything that all other cadets and
students do,” he said. “I guess we just pretty much start
the non-band part of our life at a disadvantage since we
are extremely drained.”
Micah Herrington, a freshman chemical engineering
major, said the Aggie Band is unlike any other march
ing band in the country in that it learns a different drill
each week for halftime.
“We’re not a high-kicking, flag-waving show band,”
Herrington said. “We are a disciplined, precision mili
tary-marching band. It is an honor to be in the Aggie
Band, and it’s an experience that I will never forget.”
In addition to performing half-time drills, the Ag
gie Band represents the University in parades and
other performances.
John Christie, a senior recreation, parks and tourism
major, said being in the Aggie Band is a true honor.
“It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also very hard work,” he said.
“Being in the Aggie Band keeps you extremely busy, but
it all pays off on Saturdays when we step out on the field
and execute the drill perfectly in front of all the fans.”
Mike Fuentes/Thk Battalion
The Bugle Rank practices its Bugle flourish on
the old turf football field Wednesday morning.
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