Last night I read an Entertainment Weekly Special Report "New Orleans: Back from the Brink" on the resurgence of music there in the two years since Hurricane Katrina. Worth reading for all the insights from the local musicians who are trying so hard to rebuild the music scene there.
It's never too late to learn something new about music, as I discovered from this story about Drum Major Academy that my sister Margaret told me last week. The two of us don't have any personal marching band experience, so this was a glimpse into that world for us. Margaret reports that her boyfriend's son George attended the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst two weeks ago. The academy was attended by drum majors, color guard members and band section leaders - more than 360 DMA students. They were also joined by Thom Hannum's Mobile Percussion Seminar - adding 100 percussionists, for over 460 students. The Drum Major Academy is run by Mr. Parks, who is currently in his 29th year at the University of Massachusetts where he is director of the Minuteman Marching Band and Professor of Music. (He is also a member of MENC. And, in one of those small world connections, I mentioned this to MENC staffer/Massachusetts native LE --who told me her son had attended that academy years ago and that she was still in touch with Mr. Parks.)
Margaret says the final ceremony was absolutely fascinating, and truthfully brought tears to her eyes. (This could have been because she had fallen and broken her foot four days earlier as they were dropping George off...but that's another story.) The closing ceremony began with all of the drum majors marching out in formation. Everyone was in very tight formation, and they proceeded to demonstrate some of the maneuvers they had learned.
Then the drum majors sat down, and the percussionists performed - they had spent the week under a "I need more cowbell" theme. Next, the color guard performed, and then the drum majors came back out. The students were marching on asphalt - it was a very very hot day, but apparently it's harder to march on asphalt then a field; mistakes stand out more, etc., which is why they were on the parking lot. They proceeded to demonstrate some of their salutes, which were absolutely fascinating. The last salute and mace twirling was done by the head or the former head of the marching band for the University of Massachusetts. He was great!
Then, Mr. Parks directed a "March off". He called out commands to them, and the drum majors and color guards made all the turns. If someone made a mistake, the spotters called them off the field. After a time, they paused, and reformed, and George was still in - he had made it from 400+ down to about 40! Unfortunately, he made a wrong move soon after that, but it was very impressive. It came down to a girl and a boy; the boy won. Everyone cheered. Margaret said they felt proud of everyone.
Finally, everyone reformed their formation, and Mr. Parks asked all the drum majors to conduct the National Anthem. Margaret said it was absolutely wonderful - the kids conducted and sang - they sounded beautiful - all sorts of parts and harmonies. She asked George later how did it possibly sound so good, and he said that everyone had been told to sing the part they would have played if they were still playing their instrument. (In George's case, he plays the tuba.)
On the way home, she learned more about Drum Major camp from George. It turns out that drum majors are real leaders - drum major camp began at 8:30 every morning and ended at 10:00 at night. There were lectures and marching. Mr. Parks taught leadership skills, life skills, as well as conducting. One of the goals of all the drum majors will be to "find the two freshmen who might drop out of marching band" and help them stay in. Talk about great advocacy! He also reminded the drum majors that they were in a special fraternity of drum majors - that they had a high standard to hold up. Margaret said she was super impressed and will look at drum majors and marching bands in a new light after this experience!
Off to more meetings and projects. I'll leave you with a fun idea for how you can help make music education part of the upcoming Republican debate.
Onward -- EWL
MENC is asking all 2008 presidential candidates to tell us what they would do to support music education if elected. The September 17 CNN/YouTube Republican debate gives you a unique opportunity to participate in this effort. Create a video asking the candidates how they would support school music -- and you could see it broadcast and answered on live TV!
YouTube encourages original submissions! Use details from your own experience in the classroom or in training, from participating in the World’s Largest Concert, the National Anthem Project, or All-State Festivals, from the many studies about the benefits of music education (www.menc.org/facts) … or whatever creative idea you think will get the attention of moderator Anderson Cooper.
When you have posted your video, please contact HannahS@menc.org so that MENC can track and view your submission.
Please forward this information to colleagues, music students, your own kids! The more submissions, the more likely music education is to be addressed during the debate.
For more information including submission guidelines, visit http://www.youtube.com/debates . Entry deadline: September 16, 2007.
