Eastern University welcomed its new marching band in the fall of 2024, a dream come true for many students and faculty. As with all new activities, a lot of preparation and planning went into place to start this program. However, as Eastern enters its second year with the marching band, practice location continues to be a topic of discussion among both the leaders and members of the band. It has also led to multiple complaints from students due to the seemingly double standards with other sports activities and the effects this has on practice time and mental health.
There are multiple reasons why the band can’t play outdoors on Eastern’s campus. One of the reasons is Eastern has many different academic places all spread out. These different areas provide the solitude needed to learn, so louder music is limited in order to not disrupt learning. Eastern is also known for its gorgeous scenery and multiple quiet study spaces, or reflective places. The Marching Band doesn’t want to disturb these places of reflection which makes the number of available spaces even smaller. Professor Hallahan mentions, “It’s not so much as a cannot, as much as it’s a where and when we can that we are exploring.”
Drumline Captain Isaiah Samuels claims while marching band practice is loud, its noise level can be compared with the practice music other athletic teams play. Practice for marching band is also less frequent than most sports teams. This would result in only occasional high noise level, possibly once or twice a week. Athletic teams also have the ability to reserve the different fields for practices. These fields are not the same as the one a marching band would typically practice on, but they would still allow for students to practice their drill and the half-time show.
Deciding to play at Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VFMAC) was band Director Professor Hallahan’s clear choice, stating, “We needed a nearby place, and it’s definitely the most nearby place.” The field at Valley Forge was finished in Spring of 2024 with new bleachers, press boxes, a turf field and a training facility for athletes. The field was made to be a shared space for VFMAC as well as Eastern. Although this field and training facility was suitable for practice, it has led to numerous problems.
Assistant Drum Major Jonathan Walker states, “Given set up and take down, rehearsal time is about 50 minutes to an hour.” As of right now, the band has to use two school vans and to get to the Valley Forge field. They have to load them up with students and instruments (typically requiring two trips)…The student leaders then have to set up microphones, yard markers, the drum major stand, etc. The band members then have to warm up physically, as well as warm up instruments, and then hopefully run the show, work on troubled spots, run the show again, and then load back up instruments and students to head back to classes. All this must happen in an hour and a half.
These questions of transportation and attempting to learn marches in less time than should be allotted is hard on everyone, but specifically on the leadership team in the band. The consistent stress of being able to learn marching and music in minimal amounts of time is overwhelming for the students. “It’s really constricting. Just the ability to really play and feel welcome to play,” claims Brass Section Leader Lakeem Davis.
The marching band performs at three more games this year. Many people support having a facility for the band, better transportation to the field, buffer time for students, storage facilities for the band, a place on campus for the band to practice, etc. But these solutions aren’t achievable for this year. Head Drum Major Cathleen Saunders said it best: “We need support from students and faculty to see that they want us to flourish as much as we want to.”