Drum Major quits over Inaugural Parade Faux Pas

Having played oboe/baritone horn in a Marching Band in high school, I know the joy (and the pain) that comes from being part of a parading troop. There is great joy to be had in bringing music to so many, and in representing your organization/town/state in front of so many. There is great pain and sacrifice required to build up the muscles to stand at attention for hours on end, march for hours on end, play for hours on end, and to show proper decorum for every show. It was all worth it (though I have no desire to join an adult drum corp or marching band now).

Apparently, a minor faux pas at the inaugural parade has blown up into a major kerfuffle, which has ended in the resignation of a drum major (i.e. marching conductor) from one of the bands that marched there. The drum major, having accidentally caught the new president's eye, nodded and waved to him. This was a violation of band decorum, and the band had chosen to suspend him for 6 months (no doubt a normal response for a position so coveted by so many). But an outpouring of anger from the internet over the perceived injustice has lead the poor man to instead resign from the band entirely.

We all need to learn that there are times to stand up for our fellow man, and times to let the rules of a micro-society work themselves out. I am sure many people hoped to get the drum major reinstated. Instead, they have denied him the very thing he loved.

Video of the Trumbull High School Marching Band at the Inaugural Parade

And again, I played in this band when I was in high school. Played for President George Herbert Walker Bush, back then.

Trumbull Marching Band Departs for the Inaugural

It is really great seeing my alma mater going off to see this moment in history. I wish they had shown a little more of the performance, of course. :-) Also, here is a blog of the events leading up to the parade by one of the students (I think).

Trumbull Marching Band to march in Obama's Inaugural Parade

In high school, I was a member of the marching band (one of the few oboes). One of the highlights of my experience there was playing for President George H. W. Bush during his first run for the presidency. It was not that I was a big supporter, but it was great being part of history. Now, the marching band is being honored again by a chance to play in Barack Obama's inaugural parade.

Band members learned late Friday they have been selected from a field of 1,300 organizations to represent Connecticut in Barack Obama's presidential inaugural parade Jan. 20. The marching band is made up of 105 members and 25 color guard performers.
"We got a call from the inaugural committee yesterday saying we had made it. It was real exciting," Band Director Peter Horton said today.
Dan Connolly, a senior at the high school and the band's lone drum major, said "It seemed like a long shot, but we made it. It was kind of a shock, I'm still a little in disbelief."

Congratulations, band members. May you remember this all of your lives as a moment of greatness.

Marching Band does Video Games

I was in Marching Band in high school and loved the experience. I also loved playing games on friend's Nintendo Entertainment Systems. Who knew someone would find a way to combine the two? For me, this was a nice early-morning laugh-maker.