Directors of the renowned Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band made
some last-minute changes Saturday to the 200-member band's plans for
Inauguration Day.
They weren't satisfied with what they heard in practice the day before, when
the military-style, high-stepping band was testing a relatively new marching
formation on its northern Louisiana campus. So, they went back to the formation
they had practiced earlier in the week "to get better sound. The music is most
important," said Michael Hendrix, an assistant band director.
One problem:
Larry Pannell (photo right), the university's director of
bands, was out of town. So the assistant band directors warned band members that
Pannell makes the final decision and may have them change again.
"We kind of like this formation. We think it sounds good," Malcolm Spencer,
another assistant band director, told the band. "But if Doc (Pannell) wants to
change that formation, go with that flow."
Saturday was a time to smooth wrinkles in the band's 10-song repertoire,
which includes traditional marches and pop tunes. (The band may pare down the
list for the parade.)
Before practice, band members cleaned out their horns with soap and water and
polished them to a sparkling shine. During practice, they marched for about 1.5
miles, slightly less than the length of the 1.8-mile parade route, which will go
from the Capitol to the White House. They stopped in front of the cafeteria to
practice a scaled-down version of their traditional halftime performance, which
they were told to prepare in case they had to stop in place for a few minutes on
the parade route.
Reginald Bridges, 22, the band's Master Drill Sergeant, is a senior who plays
alto saxophone. His job is to keep tabs on the band's precision moves, such as
making sure band members walk in ruler-straight lines.
After practice, he declared the band ready, then helped load a truck with the
band's instruments and uniforms. "I'm not nervous, just excited," he says. "I
never thought I'd have a chance to be part of history this big in my
lifetime."
Band members will report to campus at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time Sunday
wearing their wind suits from the Bayou Classic. They will board four buses and
strike out for Washington, D.C., at 10 a.m., driving straight through to
Williamsburg, Va. They will spend the night there before heading to the parade
early Tuesday morning.
The drive to Williamsburg will take at least 18 hours.
"Oh yeah, I'll have my iPod with me," said Drum Major Paul Willens.
