The time has come folks. On Friday, I will hit the field with Baltimore's Marching Ravens. So far, this has been a wonderful journey, and I look forward to playing on Friday night in front of a usually sold out house at M&T Bank Stadium. It will be pre-season for me as well, as I knock off 10 years worth of Marching Band rust in preparation for the regular NFL season. I'm beginning to get a little anxious. I had a dream last night that I left something at home and had to go back to get it. When I returned to the stadium, I wasn't allowed to play because the band was already on the field.
The Raven's pre-season started in Atlanta last week. I will try to keep this about the music and not about the game, so I will offer no comments about the actual performance by either the Falcons or the Ravens. Instead, I wanted to call your attention to a new trend in the NFL... Drum Lines. I found out before the game that Atlanta has a drum line. Not a full band, but a drum line with about twenty percussionists. I first became aware of NFL drum lines a few years ago when I learned about the Jacksonville D-Line. It turns out that my hometown Carolina Panthers have a drum line as well, known as the Purrrcussion. What an interesting concept, but I'd like to see more. Here's why: Music and Arts programs in the school systems are in trouble. Budget planners are being forced to cut funding for the arts across the board. Think Mr. Holland's Opus. Schools are being pressured to perform in areas targeted by end of grade tests and No Child Left Behind performance standards. I'm not arguing against improving our education systems... far from it. I am arguing for programs which enrich the standard curriculum to be given more help and support. Money is necessary, of course. We need to fund the arts. We also, however, need to support the arts. Having a volunteer marching band perform at NFL games, like in Baltimore or in Washington, allow people to continue to perform in an arena which is exciting and has a large following. When I say I play in a marching band, people don't care so much. That is, until I mention that I play Baltimore's Marching Ravens. Then the questions begin: "You mean the Baltimore Ravens? You play for them?" "You play for that band that wouldn't die?" "Do you play at Raven's home games?" "Man, I should get out my old clarinet/trombone/tuba/sax/drum sticks and play too." That last line is the point... "I should play too." never mind if it's with the Ravens, the Redskins, or with a few friends in the community like a church or a civic group. Keep the music alive! NFL teams: bring marching bands to your games. Create your own bands and let them play to create an excitement in your towns for music. But... Indy... Uh... good luck finding a name for your band. The Colts Band is taken!
A final note. If you see me at half time of the Raven's first regular season game, look to my left, your right. The gentleman playing next to me works for NASA. He spends his Wednesday evenings and game days playing his trombone for the Marching Ravens, just like me. Except, there is one difference: His son also plays the trombone, and he plays a few spots down from him in the same band. How neat is that? Family time with music. It can be like my Dad and his banjo, where we all listen to him as he plays, or it can come like the father to my left and his son, three spots down. Shared memories and wonderful music. That's why the arts are important.
The Raven's pre-season started in Atlanta last week. I will try to keep this about the music and not about the game, so I will offer no comments about the actual performance by either the Falcons or the Ravens. Instead, I wanted to call your attention to a new trend in the NFL... Drum Lines. I found out before the game that Atlanta has a drum line. Not a full band, but a drum line with about twenty percussionists. I first became aware of NFL drum lines a few years ago when I learned about the Jacksonville D-Line. It turns out that my hometown Carolina Panthers have a drum line as well, known as the Purrrcussion. What an interesting concept, but I'd like to see more. Here's why: Music and Arts programs in the school systems are in trouble. Budget planners are being forced to cut funding for the arts across the board. Think Mr. Holland's Opus. Schools are being pressured to perform in areas targeted by end of grade tests and No Child Left Behind performance standards. I'm not arguing against improving our education systems... far from it. I am arguing for programs which enrich the standard curriculum to be given more help and support. Money is necessary, of course. We need to fund the arts. We also, however, need to support the arts. Having a volunteer marching band perform at NFL games, like in Baltimore or in Washington, allow people to continue to perform in an arena which is exciting and has a large following. When I say I play in a marching band, people don't care so much. That is, until I mention that I play Baltimore's Marching Ravens. Then the questions begin: "You mean the Baltimore Ravens? You play for them?" "You play for that band that wouldn't die?" "Do you play at Raven's home games?" "Man, I should get out my old clarinet/trombone/tuba/sax/drum sticks and play too." That last line is the point... "I should play too." never mind if it's with the Ravens, the Redskins, or with a few friends in the community like a church or a civic group. Keep the music alive! NFL teams: bring marching bands to your games. Create your own bands and let them play to create an excitement in your towns for music. But... Indy... Uh... good luck finding a name for your band. The Colts Band is taken!
A final note. If you see me at half time of the Raven's first regular season game, look to my left, your right. The gentleman playing next to me works for NASA. He spends his Wednesday evenings and game days playing his trombone for the Marching Ravens, just like me. Except, there is one difference: His son also plays the trombone, and he plays a few spots down from him in the same band. How neat is that? Family time with music. It can be like my Dad and his banjo, where we all listen to him as he plays, or it can come like the father to my left and his son, three spots down. Shared memories and wonderful music. That's why the arts are important.
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