It’s that time of year again. That time of year for HBCU football and band season. That time of year when fans fill the stadiums not only to watch the latest matchup on the field , but in the stands. HBCU bands play an integral part of the student and alum college experience, especially during the fall season. During this season, you have fans traveling from all across the country for the various Battle of the Band performances, Classics, and other scheduled football games alot of times not just to watch the game, but in anticipation of the halftime show band performance. Although these gameday and battle performance are entertaining to watch, alot of work goes into putting these shows together from the current band member in school. These students are not only perfecting their craft in the band room, but have to juggle being a student , and having a social life as well. In this article we spoke with five HBCU band students to get more insight on the life of a band student.
This article features five HBCU band students that include:
Aaron Moses- Livingstone College Liberal Arts major/ Class of 2025
Livingstone College “Blue Thunder” Band & Representing System Blue Drumline- Cymbals
Malik Moore– Bethune-Cookman University Music Education major/ Class of 2024
Marching Wildcats -Trombone
Gregory Harper- Jackson State University Music Education major/ Class of 2025
Sonic Boom of the South – Clarinet
Krischin Townes– Winston-Salem State University Mass Communication major /Class of 2024
Red Sea of Sound -Tenor and Bass Drum 4
Bernard Adams– Talladega College Music education major/ Class of 2023
Mellophone
“Always respect the ones who have experience with the section you’ll play in. ”
Aaron moses
What are some things people should know about the band before joining ?
Aaron: They should know to always remember to read your music. Don’t procrastinate in practice & your homework! Always respect the ones who have experience with the section you’ll play in. Be creative! You’re in a world where nobody can stop you from creating songs, fanfares, cadences, etc! This is your chance to show what you can do if you have the mind to it! When you’re in the band! You’ll get the chance to make some friends.
Outside of that, this band room is like a whole family tree! If anybody doesn’t respect you in the band room, that’s on them! You could show them what you can do and what they don’t have! Never forget to pray & put God first when you need something!
Malik: Come prepared to work, but also be ready to learn and grow not only as an advancement, but as a human being as well. Also, hydrate above all else!
Gregory: Have fun but stay focused at the same time.
Krischin: Before joining an HBCU band you should know that it’s fun but it’s also hard work. Be prepared to practice A LOT! Also, learn how to manage your time. Another thing you should know about band is that it will teach you life lessons you’ll never forget. Something important to keep in your head is that we’re performers and our sole purpose is to produce the music to the listeners and to get them to feel it and like it, while also having fun and putting on a show for them. This takes confidence, so try to build confidence because we perform in front of huge crowds.
Bernard: It is hard but it is worth it. The band can change your life in many ways and open doors for multiple opportunities.
Malik Moore
What is or was your favorite part about being in an HBCU band?
Aaron: My favorite part is when you get to compete with other bands full of musicians that can show their talent!
Malik: Getting to perform and compete
Gregory: My favorite part about being in the band is the relationships you build while you’re here. I’ve only been at Jackson State for a year now but I’ve already created friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime.
Krischin: My favorite part about being in a HBCU band is definitely the band battles. We take a lot of time and hard work to put our shows and songs together, so seeing it come together at a battle is a great feeling. Also, seeing the growth within yourself over the years is another one of my favorite things about being in a HBCU band.
Bernard: Improving my overall skills as a musician and being a leader.
Tell us about the band camp experience and some things people should do/know before coming
Aaron: It’s a whole experience of hard work, brother & sister hood, commitment, pride, listening, & mostly dedication!
Malik: Band camp was a tremendous learning experience. Anybody who plans on marching on the college level should try to learn to some of the music and also the marching style before they come down
Gregory: Anyone who has been to an HBCU band camp will tell you that it can be rough, but you just have to remember that the long hours and hard work will be worth it once the season starts. One word of advice I can give to any freshmen going to band camp for the first time is to start drinking a lot of water before band camp even starts because hydration is extremely important.
Krischin: The band camp experience requires a lot of discipline and passion. I say passion because, if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing then band camp will be a struggle because you’re doing something you really don’t genuinely like. Being passionate, you’re open to being challenged and you’re ok with it because you love what you do.
Discipline is self-explanatory because in order to be in the band, you have to have some type of discipline to march with the band. Knowing how to put your pride aside is very imperative when being in the band. But things you should know before coming is to have an open mindset because you’re learning material and a style that you may have never done before.
Also, it would be wise to exercise prior to band camp to make your experience not as hard. Lastly, you should know that this will challenge you, so don’t be afraid to step up to the plate and take the challenge head on.
Practice how you will play in front of the crowd. Carry your own weight. Don’t limit yourself, you’d be surprised how much you can handle.
Bernard: Band camp teaches the overall style of the specific marching band and it teaches character and discipline. As a freshman, you should always follow instructions and look up to your fellow upperclassman that paved the way for you to be a part of the program.
How do or did you balance being a student and band member? Advice for others
Aaron: My advice to you all are my ABC’s!
A- Always ahead on your classes first!
B- Be dedicated in both school and the band room!
C. Communicate with your section leader, drum major, band director, teacher, your consular, etc if you need some help with what needs to be done!
D. Do not forget to focus on your mental health. On behalf of myself & the other band heads out there. Mental health is very real! Especially in both band and college in general! Remember the last letter. “Communicate”
& E. Enjoy your time no matter what! You’re in something that doesn’t just represent your school during a legacy you could create! It does also represent your college town, and your pride! Enjoy playing “Neck”. Enjoy playing in the battle of the bands! Enjoy being you in general!
Malik: What I would do to balance is in between each class or even during some of the classes I would get a jump on my homework. That way after band practice, if there’s not enough time I still have a portion of the work done
Gregory: Once you figure out what your class schedule and practice schedule are gonna be like during the school, year find a time every day where you can get your work done. Time management is extremely important because if you wait to do homework after practice more than likely you’ll either miss the deadline or you’ll be too tired to do it in the first place.
Krischin: The way I balance the two is by prioritizing. Being a student means we have a lot of studying and due dates we have to meet. So, I normally try to finish assignments when they’re given out or when I have free time during the day in between my classes. Then any extra time goes towards my practicing. Always remember that you’re a student before you’re a bandsmen, because without the grades then you wouldn’t be considered a collegiate bandsmen. So, always knock out work before practicing and always make time to practice. But overall, just plan accordingly and do what fits best in your schedule.
Bernard: Talk to your section leader and band directors.
My great Nephew Aaron was Awesome and spoke, wrote with Passion and Love for his band.
“Do the Dam thing”!!!