The South Carolina football team had its best season on the field in 2011 and right there behind the team were the Mighty Sounds of the Southeast. The South Carolina marching band has made incredible strides since the arrival of the three new leaders of the program.
The band used to be mocked on message boards and radio call-in shows as dull and far from loud enough to make a significant impact at Williams-Brice Stadium. As the band would march onto the field at halftime, fans would march to the restrooms.
Now, under the direction of Director of Bands Scott Weiss along with associate directors Dr. Rebecca Phillips and James Taylor, the South Carolina band is winning over the fans and they, too, had perhaps their best year on the field in program history.
Just like there has been a change in mindset in the football program that big success is possible at South Carolina, there is also a new sense of belief and pride the members of the band that they can also be the best in the Southeastern Conference.
“The biggest challenge was encouraging the students who were already in the program,” Phillips said. “There was a lot of negativity from a lot of different outlets. They felt bad about themselves. It was convincing them that they really are good. As directors, we had to give them the tools to show them that they are good.
“That was our goal this year was to put them in position to be successful and we believe that we were. We believe they made an impact on the game day atmosphere.”
The new leadership of the band just finished their third season at South Carolina and there have been significant changes, with more forthcoming, during their time.
One of the biggest changes is the growth of the band in terms of members. When Weiss and his associate directors took over, there were 248 members of the band. This past season, there were 280 with a goal of 300 for the 2012-13 academic year.
Phillips, who is responsible for directing the Mighty Sounds of the Southeast, said the optimum number is 325 members for the marching band, which they hope to achieve in 2013. That number wouldn’t be the biggest in the conference, but it would be “in a real good range” in the SEC, according to Phillips.
" The hardest part is convincing kids that they do have time for band,” Phillips said. “A lot of them think that they’re going to college and they won’t have time for anything extra. Studies have been that teens who are involved in something like this to give them structure actually do better academically their first year in college.”
Just like football, the band program has scholarship money to toss around. Each student gets a $400 scholarship. The three directors travel the country to go to functions and visit high schools to recruit. Out-of-state students receive a tuition reduction in which approximately 75 percent of their fees are waived. Phillips says that deal is “the best in the SEC.”
“Once they come to a football game and they see what’s going on, most kids are really excited to be a part of that,” Phillips said.
One of the other major changes in the program since the regime change is the fact that the band is putting on a different halftime performance every week. Shows used to be recycled, but now they’re fresh week in and week out.
It takes a lot of hours and practice to put a show on the field, but there is an extra bit of pep in the step of the members, especially after the successes in the 2011 season.
“To go through a season like last year where the outpouring of appreciation from the fans was so high, they just started to feel better,” Phillips said. “They were standing up straighter and working harder. All it does was inspire them. The fact that the students, their peers, stood up and cheered that first pregame, they couldn’t believe it they were so grateful.”
The band rehearses from Tuesday through Friday each week from 5-6:30 p.m. Phillips says that a lot of bands go for a longer period of time but only three days a week. Their research says that students prefer to practice more often for a shorter period of time.
“When we told them last year that we were doing a different halftime show each week, they all shook their heads like, ‘How are we going to do that?’” Phillips said. “College fans are coming out to be entertained and they like the music to go with it. We told them just to trust us and we’ll help you be successful. They’re great kids, wonderful students, and when they put their head to something, they can do it.”
Phillips says that it takes a week to put the marching drill on the field, which is perfectly doable, assuming the weather is kind. The fastest the band had to learn a performance was in two days last season.
The administration, both at a university level and athletic department level, has increased as well since Weiss and his brigade took over. Phillips said the administration, including the Board of Trustees, has put a “tremendous amount of faith” into the leadership.
“They put faith in us before we ever stepped foot on the field last year by increasing our budget,” Phillips said. “The Board of Trustees and President have really been very helpful with being sure we have the support we need to be successful. The administration has put us in a place to be successful.”
while there have been changes in the past, there will be more going forward. The band is set to unveil new uniforms for the 2012 season in the coming weeks, which were paid for by the President’s Office.
The new Farmer’s Market property will also give the band a platform to show their support, and the fans their support for the band, prior to each football game. There will be a concert area and, of course, the Gamecock Walk that athletic director Eric Hyman has mentioned.
“No longer will we have that Georgia red on the field,” Phillips said. “There’s going to be some garnet and a lot of white in the uniforms so they stand out more. The new Farmers Market is going to be fantastic. The whole band will play for the team walk and then play a pep rally and a concert for the fans.”
There will also be a “twist” to the pregame show this season. Phillips didn’t want to give out too much detail, but she said it would involve the fans and believes that it is going to be a welcome addition to the show.
The changes are designed to improve on an already remarkable year for the Mighty Sounds of the Southeast.
“The outpouring of support for these students and their work this year was incredible,” Phillips said. “We’re so grateful to Gamecock Nation for their support. These students are revved up about the season and they can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Just like the football team, the band wants to build on one of the most successful seasons in school history.
link: http://southcarolina.247sports.com/Article/Carolina-band-tuning-up-for-big-12-75158
The band used to be mocked on message boards and radio call-in shows as dull and far from loud enough to make a significant impact at Williams-Brice Stadium. As the band would march onto the field at halftime, fans would march to the restrooms.
Now, under the direction of Director of Bands Scott Weiss along with associate directors Dr. Rebecca Phillips and James Taylor, the South Carolina band is winning over the fans and they, too, had perhaps their best year on the field in program history.
Just like there has been a change in mindset in the football program that big success is possible at South Carolina, there is also a new sense of belief and pride the members of the band that they can also be the best in the Southeastern Conference.
“The biggest challenge was encouraging the students who were already in the program,” Phillips said. “There was a lot of negativity from a lot of different outlets. They felt bad about themselves. It was convincing them that they really are good. As directors, we had to give them the tools to show them that they are good.
“That was our goal this year was to put them in position to be successful and we believe that we were. We believe they made an impact on the game day atmosphere.”
The new leadership of the band just finished their third season at South Carolina and there have been significant changes, with more forthcoming, during their time.
One of the biggest changes is the growth of the band in terms of members. When Weiss and his associate directors took over, there were 248 members of the band. This past season, there were 280 with a goal of 300 for the 2012-13 academic year.
Phillips, who is responsible for directing the Mighty Sounds of the Southeast, said the optimum number is 325 members for the marching band, which they hope to achieve in 2013. That number wouldn’t be the biggest in the conference, but it would be “in a real good range” in the SEC, according to Phillips.
" The hardest part is convincing kids that they do have time for band,” Phillips said. “A lot of them think that they’re going to college and they won’t have time for anything extra. Studies have been that teens who are involved in something like this to give them structure actually do better academically their first year in college.”
Just like football, the band program has scholarship money to toss around. Each student gets a $400 scholarship. The three directors travel the country to go to functions and visit high schools to recruit. Out-of-state students receive a tuition reduction in which approximately 75 percent of their fees are waived. Phillips says that deal is “the best in the SEC.”
“Once they come to a football game and they see what’s going on, most kids are really excited to be a part of that,” Phillips said.
One of the other major changes in the program since the regime change is the fact that the band is putting on a different halftime performance every week. Shows used to be recycled, but now they’re fresh week in and week out.
It takes a lot of hours and practice to put a show on the field, but there is an extra bit of pep in the step of the members, especially after the successes in the 2011 season.
“To go through a season like last year where the outpouring of appreciation from the fans was so high, they just started to feel better,” Phillips said. “They were standing up straighter and working harder. All it does was inspire them. The fact that the students, their peers, stood up and cheered that first pregame, they couldn’t believe it they were so grateful.”
The band rehearses from Tuesday through Friday each week from 5-6:30 p.m. Phillips says that a lot of bands go for a longer period of time but only three days a week. Their research says that students prefer to practice more often for a shorter period of time.
“When we told them last year that we were doing a different halftime show each week, they all shook their heads like, ‘How are we going to do that?’” Phillips said. “College fans are coming out to be entertained and they like the music to go with it. We told them just to trust us and we’ll help you be successful. They’re great kids, wonderful students, and when they put their head to something, they can do it.”
Phillips says that it takes a week to put the marching drill on the field, which is perfectly doable, assuming the weather is kind. The fastest the band had to learn a performance was in two days last season.
The administration, both at a university level and athletic department level, has increased as well since Weiss and his brigade took over. Phillips said the administration, including the Board of Trustees, has put a “tremendous amount of faith” into the leadership.
“They put faith in us before we ever stepped foot on the field last year by increasing our budget,” Phillips said. “The Board of Trustees and President have really been very helpful with being sure we have the support we need to be successful. The administration has put us in a place to be successful.”
while there have been changes in the past, there will be more going forward. The band is set to unveil new uniforms for the 2012 season in the coming weeks, which were paid for by the President’s Office.
The new Farmer’s Market property will also give the band a platform to show their support, and the fans their support for the band, prior to each football game. There will be a concert area and, of course, the Gamecock Walk that athletic director Eric Hyman has mentioned.
“No longer will we have that Georgia red on the field,” Phillips said. “There’s going to be some garnet and a lot of white in the uniforms so they stand out more. The new Farmers Market is going to be fantastic. The whole band will play for the team walk and then play a pep rally and a concert for the fans.”
There will also be a “twist” to the pregame show this season. Phillips didn’t want to give out too much detail, but she said it would involve the fans and believes that it is going to be a welcome addition to the show.
The changes are designed to improve on an already remarkable year for the Mighty Sounds of the Southeast.
“The outpouring of support for these students and their work this year was incredible,” Phillips said. “We’re so grateful to Gamecock Nation for their support. These students are revved up about the season and they can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Just like the football team, the band wants to build on one of the most successful seasons in school history.
link: http://southcarolina.247sports.com/Article/Carolina-band-tuning-up-for-big-12-75158