Drum Major 2009

[The Four Horsemen]

In case nobody knows; at the intro of the halftime show from last week game; our drum major fell at the intro. This is what happens when the MMW DM style is lost. We are not Southern...we dont do backbends. Derrick Yates? you need to bring our Drum Major style back to what it was. Get rid of this one drum major thing. this has gone on TO LONG!


Lets Discuss

Signed,
The FourHorsemen #2

[The Four Horsemen]

I feel ya Horsemen #2!! My problem is not just the fall, I've seen so called good drum majors take a fall, so he is off the hook as far as I'm concerned. My problem is with the overall performance from the DM. This had to be the ABSOLUTE WORST performance from a DM in a long time. It doesnt seem like he posseses the skill to be a DM in our band or any band for that matter, along with the total loss of the AAMU march style(Band included), this young man was set up for failure. SAD.

In the band world the DM or DM's(supposedly) represent the best of the best, the cream of the crop when it comes to march style and showmanship for the program that they represent. If this is the best person that could have been selected, out of 200+ band members, then that speaks volumes for the state of our band program and future leadership!!!! I find it very hard to believe that this is the best that we could do for a position that represents the showmanship and attitude of a band program. If he was selected by the future leadership, then it was a very selfish decision based upon control and not the performance of the band. Anyone with eyes can see that he has no business being out there. SAD

Out of 200+ bandmembers no one can tell me that we can only field one drum major. So I will give a little history lesson for the FAM.............................

The one drum major first appeared just after one of the worst hazing incidents in our bands history. In the CENTER of the controversy was a certain female drum major at the time.(her name is also on the alumni band list and there is no way that someone who has disgraced the program should be allowed to represent the alumni base.....thats a whole nutha' conversation so back to the topic) Due to the nature of the incident at the time, the program decided to go to ONE drum major to regain control of the situation. I applauded this decision then and I stand by it now. At the time it was a great move by the administration. This black eye on the program happened 5 or 6 damn years ago!!! and we still have one DM. I smell a rat. This is what makes this a damn shame!! Screw tradition, screw style, and people say that this was a good show.............KILL YO SELF. A show can never be good with a DM performance such as this.

THE HORSEMEN WANT TO BE THE BEST, OR AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT TO BE THE BEST. IF wanting to be the best makes the Horsemen anti-AAMU in your eyes then so be it. We will not continue to praise what is wrong, piss poor, or even mediocre. Anyone who does definetly does not have the best interest of the program in mind. You too should want the best for our staff and our kids that participate.

FOURHORSEMEN #1

[Rodney D. Williams]

What controversy? Just like Paul Harvey, its time for the "rest of the story" I have been out of the loop. Tell me what happen. Don't use code words because I want know what it mean.

[Brian M. Lyles]

Lord knows I have tried hard not to entertain this but I can't help it....Please get a life....to all the horses men...lol...you guys are the only ones replying to your posts. Messy as hell...and I guess I don't support the program cause I (along with many others) definately don't agree with you horse people. The "Four Horsemen" WTF!!!

[The Four Horsemen]

Well-Well-Well BLyles.

First of all; this is not your battle. Why are you so emotional? So you are Captain Save-a-man? LMAO Wow! The truth can not be defended; so if there are many others (as you say) that don't agree with the Horsemen; then there can't be many of you all. Besides, from what the Horsemen has posted; what is it that you (and many others) don't agree with? You didn't mention anything about that.

Secondly (and for the record); the Horsemen does not have an issue with you OR the sound of the band. The sound has never been a problem, we thank you for your work. At least you bringing something to the table; the question is, what has/does Derrick Yates bring to the table? Hmmm?don't worry, we'll wait. Anyway, "sound" does not make a band good. A College band is SUPPOSED to sound good; what else can you(band) do? We are a Marching Band first. Can you march(high knee lift)?Is the drill tight?How about the dance routine? showmanship?characer, etc. Don't worry, we'll wait.

Thirdly (and final); MESSY? How is telling the truth being messy? Lieing is messy? How many lies has your Boss(Derrick Yates)told? The Horsemen will only speak the truth, and everything that has been posted(about Yates) is the truth. I will stop right here for now. But I will leave with this? Is there anything wrong with wanting a good band? Who wants mediocrity? I don't! Are you mediocre BLyles?

#2

[Quentin Pearson]

Im with B Lyles on this. You ask what has Derrick Yates brought to the table. well to name a few he has cleaned up the sound of AAMU band as well as update the drill styles. whether people want to acknowledge it or not but when we marched we made bowties and arrows on the field and occasionally we will make a heart when it was homecoming. but now the drills are a bit more innovative. Not to take anything away from Mr. Wesley or his drills cause they all were good for the time we marched and where A&M was, I mean he won awards for his drills so we know they were good but now its 2009, so if you want to take A&M to the next level you have to start from somewhere. Derrick Yates is also a man that knows how to lead. he put together a strategy, implemented it and now has a great product that shows up every saturday and sunday and gets nothing but complements about the sound quality and the drills from School Alumni, Band Alumni (A&M and other Bands), Directors and so forth.

Secondly, sound does make a band good. thats apart of being a great program. If we sounded like Alabama state last year (loud and wrong yall would have a problem with that), or Miles, or any other bad sounding band. I personally dont think the band is marching wrong. you say high knee lift. ok so what is the band giving you if thats not what you see? No year have i have ever seen A&M march 90's an entire show. We have pride in the years that we marched but you got to call a spade a spade. if you have proof of a year when the entire band marched 90's the ENTIRE show please post it! I doubt if you will ever find one. The Dance routine has to do with the talents of the dance band commitee so if the dance band sucks you have to blame the committee. the band has good showmanship. i mean you will not see anybody in the stands on the cell phone or in the stands pulling out alcohol bottles getting drunk. they are sounding off and doing what the band does. Are they having a party in the stands and getting the crowd crunk. well from where i sit (right beside the band up from the pep squad) they seem to be doing a good job. I cant speak on their charachter since i dont know them. This band is not perfect but its a lot better than what you guys seem to make it sound like.

Nobody wants a mediocre band. I dont feel like we have a mediocre band. if we have a medocre band this year just imagine what we had when we marched! If all you have to say is the drum major suck and the band is not marching 90's to your standards we are mediocre then your opinion really doesnt hold any weight. This drum Major is better than alot of drum majors that we have had in the past. I wont name any names but you know it just like i do. Besides high knee lifts and the drum major, what else can you find fault in, or is piss-poor and mediocre?

I personally believe that the band is not the issue here! It seems like its personal issues involved. is it his charachter, teaching style, or just plain out dont like him?

[Brian M. Lyles]

First of all this is my battle... Second of all, I am emotional because I am on the inside and I see the hard work, dedication, demanding spirit and vision of Derrick Yates. I also see how the current MMW responds to Derrick Yates with a level of respect that is unprecedented. I see the good that he does for everyone including myself. I am not saving anyone. I am merely not allowing your viewpoints to go without answers. I cannot and will not understand your philosophy concerning the betterment of the band when your very words are contradictory and biased. ( more like personal towards Derrick Yates) I mentioned earlier that many people don't agree with you as I am sure that there are many that do agree with you. However,I base my facts on MMW that I have spoken to concerning this matter that were in the band ranging over the last 15 years or more. That is not speculation or a lie, that is truth. You praise me by saying " atleast you bring sometheing to the table" and you thank me for my hard work. But I must tell you like I tell everybody, I am just the arranger. All I do is arrange the music for the band. That means I take direct orders from Derrick Yates. I apply his vision and ideas to the music. That's what an arranger does. My goal is not to make myself bigger than the band or Derrick Yates. I know my role and follow the chain of command.
I would have to disagree with your statement .You said a good sounding band doesn't make a band good. However, That was one of the main problems with the MMW of the past. Not taking anything away from Mr. Wesley, but those bands wouldn't make it in 2009. What confuses me about negative comments from MMW of the 80's and early 90's ( I'm assuming you are from that era. If you are not I apologize for the assumption.) is that they constantly say you are not marching, there's no showmanship, where's the pride, etc. I then take those comments and research what you are asking about.( the current MMW does the same thing) I have seen band footage of that era and I must say I really don't know where you have grounds to address anything that the current MMW does. There was no discipline, band practice was completely non productive, and I am not even going to go into the countless amount of people with no plumes gloves, or spats, People pulling liquor bottles out of their hats in the game just to name a few. I mean come on, is this what you want to to go back to...That is the very reason why people disagree with your statements. There has to be some accountability for this (i'll use your words) piss poor and mediocre display of a band. Derrick Yates has the vision because he lived through that era. He knows what the problems were and knows exactly what to do to prevent them from ever happening again. And that is exactly what he has done. We all know that Mr. Wesley's health will not allow him to work at 100%. That is where Derrick Yates has come into play. He has taken orders from Mr. Wesley to carry on the band. He has not only done that but he has taken the band to the next level. The level that makes us competitive in 2009.
I speak to other band directors ( the people with degrees in music not people that just marched in the band ) from the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, CIAA, as well as High school and Middle Schools from the cities we travel to and all they do is talk about how great the band is. At the last BOTB that we participated in we had 10 high school students that refused to leave our buses without getting information on how to audition. We currently have 5 transfer students from MVSU, Bama State, Stillman, Miles, and Clark. They all say that we made them want to transfer because of the level that we were on when they played us. At the Jacksonville game this past weekend we had students from Lee, Johnson, and Butler hanging on to every note that we played. My wife received a phone call from one of her students that attended the game and he is already preparing for his audition for the MMW and those auditions won't begin until next semester. A piss poor band isn't going to bring that level of interest. People know when they audition for AAMU they have to be able to play. Money is tight so scholarships will be awarded to those that truly deserve it. That doesn't mean that they can't be in the band if they are not on scholarship. It just means that they are not scholarship ready. If they take offense to that. There are other schools who's standards are lower that they can be a part of. This philosophy is no different from Doc Greggs at SU,William P. Foster or Julian White at FAMU, Jonathan Wells at BCU or former director of Bands Lewis Lidell at JSU. Bands with a certain caliber of musicians have a standard that they demand you be on upon entry into their programs.

You are messy because you bring your issues to the internet and hide behind the name "Thefourhorsemen." I am not trying to stop you from having a viewpoint. Hell, opinions are like Arses...everybody has one... So i could care less if you continue to voice your opinion. i just feel like if you feel so strongly about what you speak of, call Derrick Yates and tell him. Tell him your name. Tell him you hate him and you don't like what he has done. That would be better that speaking this way about him on a public forum. To me that is cowardly and has bytch arse tendencies.

I'm Out!!!!

P.S. If you want to continue to talk email me at [e-mail]. I'm through discussing this on the internet!!!!!

[FLIPPER]

NOW I MUST SAY DURING 1981-1986 WE WON ALL KINDS OF AWARDS AND FOR BEST BAND DIRECTOR, BEST FIELD SHOWS AND BEST BAND, SO WE MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND NOT JUST DRUNK ALL THE TIME, I TAKE THAT AS A SLAP IN THE FACE WE CAME TO PRACTICE AND DID THE WORK TO MAKE US A GREAT BAND DURING THAT TIME . I AM NOT IN THE FIGHT AND I AM NOT A FOURHORSEMAN. I JUST WANT OUR BAND TO BE GOOD , I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST MR. YATES OR MR WESLEY I LOVE THEM BOTH, BUT DONT SAY THAT WE WOULD MAKE IT AGAINST TODAYS BANDS THAT IS NOT TRUE. THIS IS A BIG MESS. WE NEED TO HELP SUPPORT OUR MMW AND WORK AS A FAMILY. WHY CANT WE GET ALONG. THERE ARE ALOT OF BANDS THAT ARE MUCH BETTER THAN WE ARE. 1. Bethune-Cookman . 2. FAMU ARE VERY GOOD THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE NOT CHANGE THEIR STYLE AND THERE FIELD SHOWS ARE GREAT. WHY DID WE CHANGE FROM THE STYLE FROM THE LATE 70'S AND EARLY 80'S. THAT STYLE OF SNAP AND DRIVE 8 TO 5 IS WHAT WON US THE AWARDS OF THE 70'-80'S. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE LOOP FOR A WHILE BUT I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY ARE THINGS SO CRAZY NOW. THE BAND SOUNDS GREAT AND DOES LOOK GOOD, I HAVE TOLD MY THOUGHTS TO MR WESLEY AND MR YATES, AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS OF OUR BAND SO I HAVE NO REASON TO LIE. BUT WE MUST ALL STOP THIS MESS AND WORK AS ONE BAND OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL AND WORK FOR ONE GOAL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR BAND WIN

The Sudler Trophy.

"The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence who have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a period of years."


Awardees include:


1982 University of Michigan
1983 University of Illinois
1984 Ohio State University
1985 Florida A&M University
1986 University of Texas
1987 University of Oklahoma
1988 Michigan State University
1989 University of Kansas
1990 University of Iowa
1991 Arizona State University
1992 Northwestern University
1993 UCLA
1994 James Madison University
1995 Purdue University
1996 University of Nebraska
1997 West Virginia University
1998 University of Massachusetts
1999 Texas Tech University
2000 University of Georgia
2001 Texas A&M University
2002 Louisiana State University
2003 University of Alabama
2004 Auburn University
2005 Penn State University
2006 University of Arkansas
2007 Indiana University
2008 Contacting the Sousa Foundation for the Awardee
2009 Western Carolina University

WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO GET TO THIS LEVEL OF BANDSMANSHIP, CAN WE GET THERE? I SAY YES WE CAN. LETS WORK AS A TEAM AND GET THERE

[Terry Neely]

Well said Flipper! Glad you chimed in before I did! Lol Whew!!!!

[The Four Horsemen]

NEWS ALERT....Bryan Liles, You too can be replaced sir! It's one thing to be confident but arrogance will get the TWO of you REMOVED!!! LMAO!!!

[Brian M. Lyles]

Finally a post I can live with!! Great words Flipper!!! And by all means point out those accolades and achievements that got us to where we are today. After all that's what Alumni should be doing. Instilling us with pride!!!

[Marlon Evans]

My what a spirited discussion!!! In my opinion this is the type of discussion that is needed. I personally have several issues to address as well as several responses to certain statements that I have read.

I must start off by saying that I dont have any personal issues with Yates, Lyles, or whomever. Over the years I have spoken to B. Lyles on the phone and in person, I have spoken to Yates on the phone and in person. I have told you both what I agree with and what I dont agree with. I have gone to war with my own generation in support of Yates and the new staff over some of the personal attacks that I felt were unwarranted. I wont go so far as to say that some of the statements were not true, but they were unwarranted because everyone deserves a chance. I also feel that the many attacks on my own generation are unwarranted and in my opinion you can not seperate any attack on my generation from Wesley himself because he was our leader. An attack on US is an attack on HIM. These issues must be addressed in order to move forward. The door swings both ways. So lets not take anything that I am about to say the wrong way or out of context. These are the things that a family goes thru and in the end it will make us all better. So I will call this The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good

Over the years I can truly say that I can only remember 2 or 3 truly bad sounding A&M Bands. For the most part we have sounded good, better in some years, but good overall. When the band had only 13 trumpets it still sounded good, maybe not the type of power that we are accustomed to, but the sound was good. The band we have this year is a BEAST with a wall of sound produced by 18 or so baritones, 25 or so trombones, 28 or so trumpets, 10 or so F horns, and at least 20 sousaphones. Dont let these numbers fool ya...............Bama State had twice these numbers and sounded like trash in 08. So we all must know that a big band or numbers wont make ya sound good. Maybe Loud, but not good. This band this year will be very hard to hold in those stands. They sound good, and have more than enough power to get the job done. I attended the Hampton game and as I sat on the visitors side of the stadium, this MMW was in my lap, face and chest the whole Game!! Anyone that knows anything about the open air in Crews stadium, knows that you got to have power to get across Crews like that!! If Hampton would have come, they would have felt the same heat that I was feelin!! Good job.

The BAD

As the years have gone by, and as the sound has been good, the Showmanship of the MMW has declined as the sound has improved. Yes we have been able to hold it down to a point, but it is a far cry from the showmanship of the past.

The Ugly

I have one glaring advantage in this argument. I come from a A&M family. I just didnt decide to come to A&M, it was not an option. I have been able to watch this program long before I became a member. No disrespect to you B. Lyles, but I was in this band 2 years before your boss. Anyone that says this band or any band in the last 10-14 yrs has even closely come up to the level of marching and showmanship from my generation is delusional at best...........and I stand by that. In the written history of our band program(and I have been looking for a copy of it) MY generation accounts for over 80% of what I read!! I marched in many of the bands that you cats hear about and the PEOPLE still talk about. I can say that I participated in some of the most legendary shows in this bands history. Can you? I will ask HOW CAN A GROUP OF DRUNKS, UNDISCIPLINED INDIVIDUALS, AND PEOPLE WHO DIDNT KNOW HOW TO PRACTICE WIN ALL OF THESE DAMN AWARDS???!!! The drill design award was won by US!! I marched that show!!! What awards have you guys won???????????????? Name one show that was/is considered legendary that you have participated in????????????? Remember that I have seen all of your shows in person, and the best of them wouldnt stand a chance.LOL!! You have a lot of nerve to talk down on a generation that has done all that. A lot of Got Damn nerve! When you cats came to this program you were taught traditions and march styles that were created by US, now that aint good enough??? Oh I forgot we was just a bunch of drunks. You really throwing Yates up under the bus instead of having his back. "Derrick Yates has the vision because he lived through that era" I didnt say that.....you did. B Lyles and Quentin, you guys came way too late to know anything about that, and you basically saying that you got it from Yates. Very dumb.

For the record..........................................Yates came in 1990 and many of the people that he marched with will say the same thing about him during those years. I believe this is why it is a question about his abilities from his own generation. This is not speculation, nor hearsay, it is fact. You guys were not there and you know nothing about it. His generation believes that he does not particulary have love for his own generation, because many of them have decided to tell the truth. If a person couldnt play then dammit he couldnt play! Get over it. It is what it is and it aint no lie. That dont mean that I dont agree with a lot of the things he has done and I have told him this to his face. I agree with the majority of the decisions that he has made, and there are a few things that I dont agree with, its just how it goes.

I have listened to the attacks on my generation long enough, and I will say this.....................If I find that Yates sold you guys this dream, then I will be very pissed off and I will act accordingly. You had to hear it from somewhere and it damn sure aint from noboby that I talk to on a daily basis. So where do you get it from???? This generation is where you hail from and you obviously have no respect for it and neither does your source.

This is Marlon K Evans and I am proud of my generation! Anybody that got a problem with it, knows that I aint hard to find and I fear no man. I make no personal attacks and I am at odds with no one. I call it like I see it.....................AND I WAS THERE. I said it and B Lyles you got my number, as well as Yates.
It aint changed, and I will be at homecoming as usual.

[Derryl "D. K." Kinnell]

Great Post Marlon! The best yet! I dont think it's debatable when talking about the 80s and 90s shows as opposed to now. For the record, there has not been a Magic City Classic show better than average in a decade (yawwnnnn). Speaking of the Classic, the Classic should be to the Marching Maroon and White what the Iron Bowl is to Alabama or Auburn. Unfortunately I feel its just another game.

I dont think there is anything constructively that could be said on this site that could change the staffs opinion of the product that is being represented.

Nonetheless, let me try. I think there is one major component that's misssing....Inner city muscians. Recruit the inner city/the hood....please. I understand the emphasis in the music. The music is good. But I would rather have fair music, a good drill and a great show. The way you get the creativity is the type of student you recruit. I understand this philsophy may rub many the wrong way. But I would much rather have an average musician and a superior bandsmen. After all, you can teach trumpet (applied lessons) but you can't teach the creativity of a stand routine or dance routine.


I have posted shows on my page from the late 90s..take a look. I honestly can't tell the difference in arrangements or muscial quality. They sound the same to me. So, I can't imagine that the general public would know the difference (intonation,dynamics etc.). Which makes me ask the question who is the halftime show for? Does the football team play for football players or for the fans? It seem as if the band is performing for everyone except the A&M family?

I applaud you B. Lyles for engaging in the dialogue on this site or anywhere else. I imagine it is difficult not to take the suggestions/critcism personally. I appreciate the work you put into the music program and will be looking foward to seeing you this weekend. Don't be discouraged brother and continue to engage the alumni only positive things will come from it.