Middle Tennessee state university marching band

[sexygirl1j95]

i just seen them last night proform at COC mannn it was amazing there band is so big and there sound is can't ven put into words our band was okay be nothing compared and i mmean nothing compard to theres wow

[GoldEagle86]

Ok, as far as the technical aspect of college marching band... I think every college marching band faces that problem. With more members, more distractions, and less incentive (no marching contests for college bands) its bound to be any issue for any university. Even colleges with good music programs are going to face that.

[bhkidd]

@GoldEagle86 tell that to Jacksonville State, Troy, North Alabama, North Texas, Western Carolina, and the list goes on. MTSU could have a much better program if they had director that believed in discipline, polish, and musicianship. Cornish is an obese joke of a director that destroyed everything Joe Smith built.

[asneMMan]

What a level to come to in defense of Joseph T. Smith. Spoken like a pitiful BOB office drone! Craig Cornish proved himself as a director prior to arriving at MTSU. I was also in the Band of Blue and my memory of Smith, the demigod, is that he, along with Linda Mitchell, was an egotistical, racist, bully! An effective college band knows its primary purpose and demographics and ENTERTAINS! A good college band evolves from the esoteric crap and realizes that it is not a competing body.

[bhkidd]

@asneMMan Joe had his rough edges, but he was never racist. Tough, yes, but never racist. I am of mixed white and black descent, and he never treated me with anything but respect. Take that card elsewhere. And Joe does reserve mucho respect. He built this thing from the ground up, and as I can see, you have videos of the Smith days up on your profile, so it could not have been that bad. It sure beats this crap on the field today.

[asneMMan]

@bhkidd It is certainly your prerogative to be a pacifist and see through eyes with a less than keen focus! You don't know me, so you can take that "race card" rhetoric to some weak mind to win his/her support. I KNOW my experience with the man and I do not waver from my position. Since I have no posts, I assume you're referring to my favorites. My choice to favorite certain videos is not to be construed as homage to the son of a bitch! I marched alongside many that I held to be friends!

[bhkidd]

@asneMMan If you didnt like him, so be it. My point about todays BOB is that they have no focus or discipline. If Cornish wants to put MJ and Madonna out there, so be it. Just direct it up and do it well. The current BOB overblows, has lousy basics, such as POA, and they fall apart constantly. At COC three years ago, several HS kids I saw were rolling their eyes at the sloppy performance. They fell completely apart in the middle of the second song. They can do better than this.

[asneMMan]

NOW we find common ground! I agree that there should be a sense of pride and commitment applied to whatever you do. Craig Cornish directed band programs that were named champions at COC, so I don't think your arguments about his competence are credible especially when you resort to calling the man "obese"! COC as well as the bands in the Middle Tennesee area are but a shell of what they once were and Smith is not their salvation. Holding onto tradition can be the ultimate downfall of a program

[bhkidd]

If you have ever seen Craig run a practice, you can tell that he has gotten complacent. He is not the same guy that ran NHHS. The students lollygag around in their flip flops (really), schlep through about an hour of rehearsal, and leave. Maybe I should retract the obese comment, but he seems like he got out of the competitive ranks and said "To hell with it". Its almost like he is afraid of hurting anyone's feelings. Joe would have this group playing well and working hard. Rick too!

[bhkidd]

@asneMMan I also realize that college bands dont compete, but exist for entertainment. When we wore the uniform, did you not sometimes wish we had these resources and this number of students in the program? We would have blown the doors off. They just schlep through it. I know Joe could be an SOB, but he did make us better (hell, he demanded it), even if we didnt always like his methods.

[asneMMan]

It's apparent that you are one of Smith's greatest supporters, but when I was at MTSU, one of the biggest complaints among majors is that he ran the program like a high school band. He has a military background and he attempted to run the band much the same way. I did not enjoy going to the IRH feeling intimidated by Joe Smith and Sgt. Mitchell dawning a muscle shirt and overflowing with testosterone. Bottom line, Joe Smith was mediocre at best and his former students reflect that.

[bhkidd]

@asneMMan Well, you dont sound too bitter at all. Im am not a drone, but I give respect where it is due. Why is everything an attack with you. You sound like an angry man with issues. I also played in wind ensemble, and he was good at that too. I also joined the Marines after college, and can see where he comes from. A little discipline never hurt anyone. And your last line sounds like an insult toward me. I play professionally now at Sony. How is that mediocre?

[asneMMan]

I am glad to know that you are a musician for Sony if that's what you enjoy. I hope you are equally as much of an advocate for your private lesson instructor who deserves more credit than anyone since it appears your livelihood doesn't come from being a marching band director. You had to desperately dig deep, like you did with the "obese" statement, to formulate your unfounded assessment that I am bitter. I call it like I see it FROM EXPERIENCE! Nothing is an attack but rather it is TRUTH!

[asneMMan]

Because I try not to live a life of regret, it's really a waste of time to think about the "what if's" that are all confined to the past. I do recognized that the band has experienced tremendous growth and more exposure. NONE of that was done under the arrogance and ego of JTS. It is up to the music department to determine the direction of the marching band program. You should also remember that mb is NOT the only aspect of instrumental music education. That is the problem I saw at MTSU.

[bhkidd]

With the size and talent level available in this band, it is a shame the director has no sense of discipline or polish. With 300 plus on the field and some of the best musical talent the state has to offer, this is a shame. Want to see a real college band, look up Jacksonville State or North Alabama. They are real marching bands. This is sloppy crap, and a shame. MTSU could top either of those two. Cornish is sloppy and has no self discipline,and it shows on the field.

[bhkidd]

Joe Smith would never have put up with this "funky" crap. And for those of you who dont know who Joe Smith is, look on the wall in Wright Music Building. He was the guy who started the Band of Blue, and has to be crying when he sees this sloppy crap, especially when he had to beg, borrow, and steal to build it. They could top any band in the country, if the director would demand excellence.  Cornish is a joke. Love, a Band of Blue alum from when we cared.

[DelaWhere09]

umm get on the University of Delaware Fightin Blue Hen Marching Bands level

[starsmtsu12]

you get into a band like this--we call ourselvesx "funky"--and the technical bull crap is pushed out the window. we exist to excite people, and I've seen more than you can imagine. If you're not that to entertain the crowd then you're musically masturbating on the field. JPCentertainment sounds like a total band-o command-o, and I'm willing to bet that the people in his band resent him/her. who's with me and wants to have a good time? leave the technical stuff at your old high school.

[spambotFTW21]

lmao yea you're there to entertain alright haha i went to the basketball game they had this year when they honored my dad and some of his teammates for their perfect season and i gotta tell you i couldn't believe they let you guys play during games... but i ended up just laughing hysterically at the performances and decided i hope to be in a band like that who knows how to have a good time.

[bhkidd]

The "technical bullcrap" you refer to is technique and musicianship, both of which are sorely missing in this band. Louder than hell, yes. Cool, kinda. Jacksonville State, Troy, and North Alabama also light the joint up, and they dont have half the resources of MTSU. I played in the BOB when those things mattered, under Smith . The BOB is a joke now. We would have killed for these numbers to go with the polish we used to put on the field with 185 members, and you guys waste it.

[danceash05]

umm we do march...look up "MTSU Band of Blue"...plus this IS from the back...

[JPCentertainment]

i hate bands that dont actually march

you arent a marching band if ya dont march.

instead ya step sideways?

cmon!

LAME.

look up pride of highland marching band

from medina ohio.

[sparklergirl]

just because it's not a high step doesn't mean it's not marching...plus, we have a blast! We have so much energy and enthusiasm, which is what people want to see during halftime...not some stuffy arrangement of classical music (save that for concert band!)

[mchstrojan]

yea...um i just watched one of your videos of the band you listed above....not bad...but seen way more better band programs down here in tennessee....and here is food for thought...a video for you to watch of our show this yr

watch?v=kQdzZvsr4fc&feature=re­lated

[ffej0440]

Send it to Knox Central High School and watch them do it with no problems! They do way more technical shows than that.

[Hammytl]

Let's be fair here, I have yet to see a great technical program with 300+ people on the field. I also doubt that many of the band members at Knox Central High have a job, or an apartment, own a car in their name, can tell me how much their insurance premium is, have a credit card, or have ever taken loan out for something they want. As you can see, when people grow up, time becomes a premium.

[Asreial]

I'm on that field.

[jng2p]

This is not high school-ish, I would have loved to play something like this in high school! It has been said that the drumline needs work as well but you're listening to a video with bad sound, anotherwords, there is nothing wrong with the drumline. Don't put down a band just because it's not YOUR band, we're all good....seriously, grow up...you can have pride while also maintaining a certain level of class, it's not that hard...try it!

[ucantwin2000]

good hornline. drumline and guard could use quite a bit of work.

[MTSUTrumpet]

High Schoolish? I'd like to see a high school try and do the kind of shows we do!

[blueraiderpride08]

I would love to see a high school do this show.. come on! The Band of Blue is one of the top five bands in the nation as voted by band directors from all across division I.

[CMSdline]

For real? That's cool!

[sparklergirl]

ohhh i wish this was shot from the front! and chartervol, is that really necessary? all that matters is that we have a blast on that field and entertain the crowd. i really don´t consider that high school-ish. i wouldn´t twirl anywhere else!

[Chartervol]

High schoolish. They don't call it MTHS for nothing.

[mchstrojan]

we dnt even have to talk....we let out performance out there on the field do the talking....and thats why the band of blue is voted in as one of the top five bands in the nation at division 1 college and universities

[bucknut51989]

oh jesus not this again...

[GoldEagle86]

@mchstrojan Voted in the top 5? Who makes these rankings and where can I find them? I'm not, like, challenging you or anything, I just am really interested and curious. I've never heard of these rankings!

[bhkidd]

@mchstrojan how can they be rated in the top 5 when they cant even stand at attention properly or cant play with dynamics, intonation, and some semblance of togetherness. I would put them more in the middle of the bottom 5. Top 5 would be more like LSU, JSU, UNA, UNT, and maybe Auburn. And I played in the BOB in 1991 and 1992.

[MTsparky]

im on that field

[nscalabrino]

I Was At This Game