Mustang Band ain't what it used to be

[Diamond Girl]

XX is female; XY is male. An overly aggressive male is XYY. An overly aggressive female has a high testosterone level.

[couch 'em]

An overly aggressive female

DiamondM? KIDDING, KIDDING! (assumes the position)

[Diamond Girl]

Oh, couch 'em. You're dead, dude. I would never have dreamed of suggesting that.

[White Helmet]

Yes Im well aware how the sex chromosmes work, my point was more about role reversal. You also forgot XO, Turner Syndrome which is common about 1250 out of 100,000 pregnancies, though 99% of these pregnancies abort spontaniously, though survival after birth can be normal, just infertile. And then there is XXX which is about 20 per 100,000 pregnancies which also is usually embryonic lethal. Thank you this will be on your test next week.

[jtstang]

And then there is XXX which is about 20 per 100,000 pregnancies which also is usually embryonic lethal.

You can find XXX at the New Fine Arts on Mockingbird just west of the airport, along with a variety of devices designed to prevent the pregnancies to which you refer.

[couch 'em]

You also forgot XO, Turner Syndrome

There is a joke in here somewhere about "XO" (hugs and kisses) and Turner, possibly involving Copeland but I just can't make it work.

[Spaz]

You also forgot XO, Turner Syndrome

There is a joke in here somewhere about "XO" (hugs and kisses) and Turner, possibly involving Copeland but I just can't make it work.

Oh, I think you just did...

[BarbaraAnn]

I'm in a weird position on this subject. At the moment, I'm one of those kids that has graduated, but I'm still marching/playing because they need me. I've already seen a change in just the last 6 years. That change has been laziness/apathy, you name it.

I remember during rehearsals and games that I was intense consistently. Unless I was almost hoarse from screaming, you would hear me yelling, or see me running or whatever. I constantly pushed people's buttons. I remember Couch 'em at one point saying that he hated me and how I kept screaming and yelling at the other band kids to get moving all the time.

But now, it's even worse.

Let me say right now that this has absolutely NOTHING AT ALL to do with the band directors. It's a transtitional time in the first place, which is fairly difficult in its own aspects.

But kids nowadays just don't care. I seriously feel like ringing a good portion of the band's necks. There's too much backtalking, stupidity, consistent apathy, and overall lack of interest in what's going on. More time is wasted now than I've ever seen, and it's positively revolting.

I don't want to blame this year on a transition year, but it is. Our current director is getting used to doing things his own/Mustang Band way, and kids are taking advantage of it. They're sucking, and being quiet, and not doing their jobs as Mustang bandsmen.

I'm terribly sorry for going on a rant like this, but this has been bulilding up for a few months.

If you want to help the band get better: (1) Instill some core M Band values back in them (I sure as hell can't do it) and (2) Give us money.

Beat the friggin hell out of UTEP Please by God.

And Mr Pony: You sound like a drummer. Please don't be a drummer. Don't be in my section. Please. We have enough ignorance already.

[MustangSally]

BarbaraAnn, I felt much of the same way you did when I was there. BUT you can only do what you can do, there's no way to change everyone.

I think alot of it is the competitive atmosphere of high school bands. These kids spend 4 years busting their butts, being treated like privates in the military (can't talk/think, just do), and working several hours a day during the week plus competitions on the weekends. Ultimately, they learn very little about the value of entertainment, or the artistic quality of music, it's solely about "the show" and how you will stack up at UIL. Texas is a recruiting hotbed for DCI because of this, the Madison Scouts now hold TWO training camps...one in Madison Wisconsin, and one in Richarson Texas. It is very possible that a high school kid in Texas can be in band for 4 years and play a total of only 4 different halftime shows and MAYBE 2 dozen songs counting concert season and stands tunes. That's pathetic. Then, these kids go to college and many join bands there. Either the bands are very similar to their high school experience, or they have a huge learning curve ahead of them when it comes to playing new music.

30/40/50 years ago, a kid PLAYED an instrument, whether it was in their church band, school band, a jazz band, whatever, they played for fun and used their talent to join different groups. Now, it's very rare for a kid to play outside of the school band and as I mentioned before, they are getting very little experience out of this. My high school director was more old-school in his approach and encouraged us to play as much music as possible. When I came to the Mustang Band, I was very surprised at how few members had actually been in a jazz band, or even played a solo. High school band/music is now just another piece of the machine, and you are just pushed through the system.

[MustangSally]

Another point I was trying to make above:

Most people come the MBand from a competitive atmosphere. Suddenly when there is no competition on Saturday or a judge to play for, people slack, they think there's no pressure. They don't understand the goal is to play the best possible for the crowd.

Some of my favorite quotes:

-"Why do I want to sound better than the ____ band on Saturday? It's not a competition?"

-"I joined band to have fun, and working hard in practice is not fun for me."

-"I'm here, isn't that good enough?"

[Diamond Girl]

MustangSally, I tried to keep myself from providing answers to your favorite lines, but I can't. I'm too annoyed. So, here goes:

When we played Rice, the 'kids' got a first-hand experience at what competition between college/university bands is: not only is it outplaying a band this is two or even three times larger than yous; it's outplaying that band during the postgame concert, which, I imagine, is something with which current bandspeople are unfamiliar. And, wasn't it an awesome experience to outplay another university's band, even if that band was Rice's? And how about those few fans who did stay behind to listen? They clearly enjoyed it, and they could have left. But they didn't. They stayed until the end of 'Varsity.' Perhaps now that the band will be going to all the games, these postgame events will become a tradition within CUSA like they were in the old SWC.

If bandspeople want to have fun, they should join a Greek house. Being in the Mustang Band is fun if one enjoys playing great music, enjoys giving 110% every time he/she plays in the band hall or at halftime/in the stands, encourages his/her fellow bandspeople to be the best they can be and even better, and demonstrates to the rest of the university that the band's esprit de corps remains intact and the hub of SMU spirit remains the Mustang Band. If someone just wants to f@rt around, there are other places to do so.

Lastly, to those who believe it's a right to be in the band, you need to rethink this view. It's a priviledge to be in the Mustang Band. You're only in the band at this point in time because the band needs the numbers and there's a dirth in recruitment. When scholarships are increased and recruit numbers are up, then the directors, hopefully, will be able to pick and choose who they want, not because they need numbers, but because the students are good instrumentalists. And when this happens, then, hopefully, too, the drum section will be comprised of percussionists, not recruits from other sections who know nothing about playing drums.

[couch 'em]

it's outplaying that band during the postgame concert, which, I imagine, is something with which current bandspeople are unfamiliar. And, wasn't it an awesome experience to outplay another university's band, even if that band was Rice's?

My favorite game of all time was two years ago at La Tech in Ruston, where Tommy was the only director that made it. We played after the game, we played after the La Tech band started playing their half time music again, and we played several more charts as they were packing up and leaving. I think we played pretty much everything in the folder. It was a great experiance. I can't think of another time where we played more than 2 songs after the game. (except once or twice when Rice was involved..... but as the MOB doesn't really count as an 'audiance' nor a 'band' I don't count those times)

[abezontar]

yeah, that was always something that ticked me off in the past, there would be another band "challenging" us in the post game endurance test and we would pack up and go home because our director wanted to get home.....frustrated the tar out of me.

[couch 'em]

because our director wanted to get home....

Well of course! Do you expect him to stick around and make Rocky and Morgan wait another hour for their din-din? lol

[BarbaraAnn]

it's outplaying that band during the postgame concert, which, I imagine, is something with which current bandspeople are unfamiliar. And, wasn't it an awesome experience to outplay another university's band, even if that band was Rice's?

My favorite game of all time was two years ago at La Tech in Ruston, where Tommy was the only director that made it. We played after the game, we played after the La Tech band started playing their half time music again, and we played several more charts as they were packing up and leaving. I think we played pretty much everything in the folder. It was a great experiance. I can't think of another time where we played more than 2 songs after the game. (except once or twice when Rice was involved..... but as the MOB doesn't really count as an 'audiance' nor a 'band' I don't count those times)

I remember that game, and it was great. I was drum major at the time and I remember the LATech guys coming over and just saying, "Wow, you guys are loud." They were completely complimentary about our sound, show, etc... It made me super proud.

We should kick out the people who don't want to be in band. That'd rule.

I'll start the band over with me and a trumpet.