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This post is mainly to the board members who are, or were, members of the Pride. Also, to anyone with good knowledge of the program. I'm a music ed graduate(instrm) and a former drum major of the NDSU Marching Band, so detailed answers are welcome(I'm no band noob).
The situation: NDSU's administration is finally putting heat on the music department to shape up the Gold Star Marching Band(GSMB). A new position has been created(Director of Athletic Bands), and the hire is about to be announced(I'm not privy to who it is). The strong rumor is that he will have a mandate to increase the size of the band from its current ~85 members to 200 within five years. To help with that, the coffers have been opened in the form of new uniforms, new drums*(maybe), new scholarships and/or stipends, and possibly some new instruments.
The negatives are the same as they've always been: North Dakota has a nonexistent HS marching band system(one field show band in the state), the GSMB has a horrendous retention rate, that retention rate has led to a poor overall skill level, and the GSMB is a low priority in the music department at the very least, if not outright resented.
So, my questions include these: What are some of the elements that have led to the Pride's success and what can we expect to see from the GSMB as it (hopefully)improves over the next few years? For example: Is there some form of stipend given to all members of the Pride? About how many of the Pride are on some form of scholarship due to their participation in the band and how much money are we talking about? What kind of retention rate does the Pride have?(how many freshmen, how many seniors?) How many paid staff, how many unpaid? Is there any kind of special section leader training? If so, what kind and how much? Etc. Etc. Etc.
Make no mistake, the GSMB has a long way to go. We marched about 160 back in the mid-90's when I was a member, and, as a former leader, it's sad to see the current band so small. Putting pressure on the music dept(and don't get me wrong, I like NDSU's music department, just not this particular aspect of it) is just another little item to add to the huge list of things we're thankful to president Chapman for.
*The current drums are a sore spot among many Bison fans. They are only three years old(and the high-end Yamaha line), but the about-to-be-former director decided that red was the best color to buy. Yeah, great idea there. Now, the band either needs to resurface them, sell the nearly-new set and buy another, eat the $15k cost of the drums and buy another set, or continue to march red drums with green and yellow uniforms. Like I said, it's a bit of a sore spot.
Thanks for any replies.
The situation: NDSU's administration is finally putting heat on the music department to shape up the Gold Star Marching Band(GSMB). A new position has been created(Director of Athletic Bands), and the hire is about to be announced(I'm not privy to who it is). The strong rumor is that he will have a mandate to increase the size of the band from its current ~85 members to 200 within five years. To help with that, the coffers have been opened in the form of new uniforms, new drums*(maybe), new scholarships and/or stipends, and possibly some new instruments.
The negatives are the same as they've always been: North Dakota has a nonexistent HS marching band system(one field show band in the state), the GSMB has a horrendous retention rate, that retention rate has led to a poor overall skill level, and the GSMB is a low priority in the music department at the very least, if not outright resented.
So, my questions include these: What are some of the elements that have led to the Pride's success and what can we expect to see from the GSMB as it (hopefully)improves over the next few years? For example: Is there some form of stipend given to all members of the Pride? About how many of the Pride are on some form of scholarship due to their participation in the band and how much money are we talking about? What kind of retention rate does the Pride have?(how many freshmen, how many seniors?) How many paid staff, how many unpaid? Is there any kind of special section leader training? If so, what kind and how much? Etc. Etc. Etc.
Make no mistake, the GSMB has a long way to go. We marched about 160 back in the mid-90's when I was a member, and, as a former leader, it's sad to see the current band so small. Putting pressure on the music dept(and don't get me wrong, I like NDSU's music department, just not this particular aspect of it) is just another little item to add to the huge list of things we're thankful to president Chapman for.
*The current drums are a sore spot among many Bison fans. They are only three years old(and the high-end Yamaha line), but the about-to-be-former director decided that red was the best color to buy. Yeah, great idea there. Now, the band either needs to resurface them, sell the nearly-new set and buy another, eat the $15k cost of the drums and buy another set, or continue to march red drums with green and yellow uniforms. Like I said, it's a bit of a sore spot.
Thanks for any replies.
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