I like marching bands that do drills, like the old Wiliiam F Swor Tiger Bands of the 70's--they blew away A&M and any other band I've ever seen. And the crowd response to marching bands is tremendous. Remember the short drill Tiger Band did a few years ago and the response it got? The Modern Tiger Band has mighty impressive soundpower that is unequalled, but the current director favors the drum-and-bugle-corps marching style that was hot in the 80's but I'm tired of it. No drills, no formations that resemble anything but abstract shapes. Tiger Band is a better band considering all factors, obviously. But the A&M military band is a marching band . . . not a drum corps. And incidentally, I'm tired of latin percussion, shuck 'n' jive cadences, too. Real 1980's stuff. Give me back some snare and tenor drums and a real military cadence.
My mistake, but it would have helped if he had put an "it" between "history" and "would". Eliminate the confusion.
Old School Vs. New School I would say it's just a difference in taste. It's much more difficult to perform a new style drum corps show; as oppossed to what you call "marching band". That's why there is competative drum corps (DCI). I say it's a step up. Think of how the cheerleaders looked and danced 40+ years ago. That would be out-dated today for sure! Shuck 'n' jive candences? Tiger Band starts the stadium march with the drumline playing "Blue Raiders". That's about as military as it gets! The other cadences that follow are a bit more progressive and advanced, though. :wink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh8VudEU4bM
Texas - It is the last little bit of unfinished business in the recent past. The Cotton Bowl loss still stings as I sit in Texas this morning.