Did anyone go to the Honda BOTB?

[Dutchtown Sousa]

If you did who had your favorite sousaphone section? Who had the most surprising? Who had the worst?
For me the best was VSU Horsepower or PVAM but by far the most surprising was Albany State. They had 13 sousas but were almost as loud as the loudest ones. By far the worst was SCSU. They had 27 sousas with no power and their band went as far to say that they had the most precision in a video that played before their performance but they had the worst lines out of any band there. SCSU's show was neat though. I think BCU won it overall. VSU had the most lackluster performance unfortunately. Anyway this was my first Honda BOTB and it was pretty nice. A tip to those that have ever considered going to Honda BOTB: remember where you parked. We spent 30 minutes trying to find where we parked and then it took another 30 minutes to be able to leave the parking garage (there was a ton of people leaving and the people that were directing traffic were unorganized and actually made us go in a large circle through the parking garage).

[Joey2ba]

I am the tuba professor at SCSU and think it is despicable how the sousaphone players sound on the field. Please don't judge what you saw/heard against my studio. Currently only 2 of the 27 are enrolled in applied. The rest of these students are of different majors. The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices. Little ol' applied teachers like me dont get a say in how those students are forced to play, even though it could be a reflection on myself. It is a frustrating, frustrating, mother $&!?@/g, frustrating situation.

Joey Celmer

[Ben]

I am the tuba professor at SCSU and think it is despicable how the sousaphone players sound on the field. Please don't judge what you saw/heard against my studio. Currently only 2 of the 27 are enrolled in applied. The rest of these students are of different majors. The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices. Little ol' applied teachers like me dont get a say in how those students are forced to play, even though it could be a reflection on myself. It is a frustrating, frustrating, mother $&!?@/g, frustrating situation.

Joey Celmer

Mr. Celmer - I am a little outraged at this response. It sells out your institution, and may further demoralize the "other 25" from ever wanting to study with you. Maybe there is a problem with the system and you are prevented from intervening on the field - but this public renunciation offends me.

[sloan]

I am the tuba professor at SCSU

Why does the SCSU website think you are a "Scholar/Artist in residence", or a "Faculty-Instructor"?

[Joey2ba]

Sloan- The website hasn't been updated in eight years. We still have faculty listed that haven't been with us since 2005. You are not the first person to notice this error. I have forwarded your reply to my area coordinator and have ask for immediate action. Thank you.

Ben- I don't mean to sell out the other 25, I'm simply trying to not claim responsibility for a level of performance I was not given the opportunity to have any input on. I have asked on numerous occasions to work with the section but have been turned down. As I said, the marching band is its own beast.

[arminhachmer]

OK, i will bite. What is the Honda BOTB?
SCSU is what ? South Carolina State University?
Ah well. We seem to love lingo. (oops, that's lingo too)

[David Richoux]

OK, i will bite. What is the Honda BOTB?
SCSU is what ? South Carolina State University?
Ah well. We seem to love lingo. (oops, that's lingo too)

Just put Honda BOTB in to Youtube search...

[PMeuph]

OK, i will bite. What is the Honda BOTB?
SCSU is what ? South Carolina State University?
Ah well. We seem to love lingo. (oops, that's lingo too)

http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/" target="_blank

You are right about the second one.


FWIW, I had absolutely no idea what either of those things were before I googled them 10 seconds ago.

[ShoelessWes]

I prefer the "little band that could". The Delaware State University. None of the HBCUs do more with less, than these guys. Not the biggest, not the loudest, not the best players, not the best marchers, but given the resources they have, they are incredible.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

I prefer the "little band that could". The Delaware State University. None of the HBCUs do more with less, than these guys. Not the biggest, not the loudest, not the best players, not the best marchers, but given the resources they have, they are incredible.

I'm not sure how well funded Albany State is but they were the little band that could last night. Their sound was just amazing to me. Delaware State is pretty good too.

VSU has a good sousaphone section, but the rest of the band kind of falls short by comparison.

Well actually last night their whole low brass section did really well, and for the most part they covered up the high brass

I am the tuba professor at SCSU and think it is despicable how the sousaphone players sound on the field. Please don't judge what you saw/heard against my studio. Currently only 2 of the 27 are enrolled in applied. The rest of these students are of different majors. The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices. Little ol' applied teachers like me dont get a say in how those students are forced to play, even though it could be a reflection on myself. It is a frustrating, frustrating, mother $&!?@/g, frustrating situation.

Joey Celmer

Well have you ever voiced your concerns about this before to the band director? It's not that they sounded bad as not a single one of the bands sounded bad, they were just not powerful enough to balance with the rest of the band

[pgym]

OK, i will bite. What is the Honda BOTB?

Battle of the Bands, which is sponsored by Honda.

[bort]

Another thought, and I mean this 100% respectfully... maybe you are teaching at the wrong school? Maybe there are other teaching opportunities that you would like better? I don't know you, your situation, how long you've been at the school, etc... but just wonder if there's a school that might be a better match for you and your career goals?

Or... you could go "Drumline", and teach 'em how to "hit 'em with some Flight of the Bumblebee."

[ShoelessWes]

I'm not sure how well funded Albany State is but they were the little band that could last night. Their sound was just amazing to me. Delaware State is pretty good too.

They are VERY well funded. They have plenty of resources, outstanding facilities compared to the school, play in the best stadium in DIV II (yes, even better than Valdosta), and have turned into a monster in the last few years.

We had the chance to see ASU play my Alma Mater, Arkansas Tech University. Awesome experience.

[Tubaryan12]

The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices.

This is correct and there is a reason behind it. Like it or not, the type of performances seen at the Honda BOTB puts butts in the seats. You will never find the finest musical performances at these events, but folks have no problem laying down money to see it. My former high school band also has a battle of the bands as a fund raiser. I bet there are a lot of musical organization that wish they could draw that kind of paying crowd on one day (mine included). Some here would be shocked to know that there are places where people come to the football game just to see the bands, and then leave shortly after halftime. Just because you rap, doesn't mean you can't perform opera as well. Different music for a different audience.

Tubaryan "proud alumni of the Tuskegee (Institute) University Marching Crimson Piper Band" 12
...and president of the Euclid Symphony Orchestra.
Tuba Funk for life.

[Liberty Mo]

They are VERY well funded. They have plenty of resources, outstanding facilities compared to the school, play in the best stadium in DIV II (yes, even better than Valdosta), and have turned into a monster in the last few years.

You need to get out more, there are two stadiums in the midwest (Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri State) that make Albany look like a highschool in terms of facilities.

[ShoelessWes]

I have been to both the Jungle and NWMSU. The NEW Albany facility is the best in DIV II. Got to watch ATU get stung in a ligthning canceled Non-con at NWMSU a few years ago, then watched Chadron vs. Pitt State in 2010.

[TUBAD83]

I am the tuba professor at SCSU and think it is despicable how the sousaphone players sound on the field. Please don't judge what you saw/heard against my studio. Currently only 2 of the 27 are enrolled in applied. The rest of these students are of different majors. The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices. Little ol' applied teachers like me dont get a say in how those students are forced to play, even though it could be a reflection on myself. It is a frustrating, frustrating, mother $&!?@/g, frustrating situation.

Joey Celmer

Joey, I get the impression you did not do much research on marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) before accepting the job at SCSU. I was in one (Texas Southern University "Ocean of Soul" '79-'80) so let me state the following: first, no one is forced to play anything-every kid who auditions know (or should know) exactly what to expect and they WANT to be in these types of bands; second, most kids know (or at least SHOULD know) that how you play on the field is totally different from how you play on the concert stage and should adjust accordingly; third, these bands are VERY popular (and many cases they ARE the reason people come to the game) and they have a huge following (which gives the band director a huge amount of influence in the music dept and with the university administration). Making negative comments in a public forum about your employer is not a good idea. If you are not happy with the current situation, perhaps finding a position at a institution more to your liking is the answer. Alienating the band director will only encourage him to seek ways to replace you (I have seen it done and its not pretty).

JJ

[Dutchtown Sousa]

The marching band is its own beast and makes its own musical choices.

This is correct and there is a reason behind it. Like it or not, the type of performances seen at the Honda BOTB puts butts in the seats. You will never find the finest musical performances at these events, but folks have no problem laying down money to see it. My former high school band also has a battle of the bands as a fund raiser. I bet there are a lot of musical organization that wish they could draw that kind of paying crowd on one day (mine included). Some here would be shocked to know that there are places where people come to the football game just to see the bands, and then leave shortly after halftime. Just because you rap, doesn't mean you can't perform opera as well. Different music for a different audience.

Tubaryan "proud alumni of the Tuskegee (Institute) University Marching Crimson Piper Band" 12
...and president of the Euclid Symphony Orchestra.
Tuba Funk for life.

FAMU under Dr. William Foster could have blasted a song then played a beautiful concert quality piece. Not to mention that their tubas were always dominant on the field.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHndCvRu6Z0" target="_blank
This isn't under Dr. Foster (Dr. Julian White, I believe, which was a good BD but not as good) but this was one of his favorite pieces. May not be totally clean but still a bit more serious than the normal pieces played by most bands in the stands or on the field.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of7NfZUt ... re=related" target="_blank
Again not 100% clean but a great piece. And just listen to the sousas in that. I think that is pretty good sound