♪ [APPLAUSE]
WELCOME BACK.
ALL THIS WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING
THE CULTURE, HISTORY AND LEGACY
OF HBCUS IN HAMPTON ROADS.
WHEN THE NORFOLK UNIVERSITY
SPARTAN LEGION TAKES THE FIELD
-- WE INVITE YOU
TO MEET THE
SPARTAN LEGION.
♪
[DRUMS]
I WOULD DESCRIBE THE SOUND OF
THE NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY
SPARTAN LEGION BAND AS SOMETHING
THAT YOU CANNOT LOOK OVER.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE BAND COMING
YOU TURN YOUR HEAD AND YOU ARE
LIKE " WOW WHAT IS THAT SOUND?"
♪
HERE AT NORFOLK STATE OUR
BAND PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO THE UNIVERSITY.
WE CONSIDER OURSELVES
AMBASSADORS,
ANYTHING THAT IS
IMPORTANT IN THE HAMPTON ROADS
AREA SPECIFICALLY ON CAMPUS WE
WILL BE INVOLVED WITH IT.
WE CONSIDER OURSELVES THE SPIRIT
AND THE DRIVE BEHIND THE CAMPUS
,
SOMETHING THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
AND ADMINISTRATORS AND STUDENTS
ON CAMPUS CAN BE PROUD OF.
1, 2, READY AND.
♪
WE HAVE
200 -- 225 PEOPLE IN
THE MARCHING BAND PROGRAM.
TO GET THAT TO OPERATE WE HAVE
TWO FULL-TIME BAND DIRECTORS AND
WE ALSO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT.
PART-TIME STAFF IS 20.
WE GIVE STUDENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RUN A LOT OF THE
REHEARSALS
AND ALSO IN PUTTING
IDEAS FOR THE COLLABORATION FOR
THE FIELD SHOWS, DANCE ROUTINES,
AND OVERALL PRODUCTION.
GAMETIME IS THE BEST DAY OF
THE WEEK.
WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU WORK WITH
THE STUDENTS ALL WEEK TO PREPARE
THEM.
THIS IS REALLY FOR THEM.
GAME DAY IS VERY INTERESTING.
AS OPPOSED TO OTHER SCHOOLS
WHERE THE BAND DIRECTOR IS ON
THE LATTER CALLING ALL THE SHOTS
-- LA
DDER CALLING ALL THE SHOTS,
AT OUR SCHOOL IT IS UP TO THE
DRUM MAJORS TO CALL THE SHOTS.
IF THERE IS A TOUCHDOWN WE PLAY
DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS.
DURING THE FIELD SHOW WE GATHER
THE BAND UP TOGETHER ON THE
FIELD TO BASICALLY MOTIVATE THEM
BEFORE THEY GET ON THE FIELD.
♪
MY BEST DESCRIPTION OF OUR
SOUND -- IF I CAN DRAW A
PICTURE
I WOULD DRAW THEM AS A SPARTAN.
WHEN YOU SEE 300, THAT IS WHAT I
PICTURE OUR SOUND AS.
I PICTURE A MIGHTY
SPARTAN
MARCHING AROUND TAKING CONTROL.
THAT'S WHAT WE BRING, BIG OR
SMALL, ANYTIME WE COME TO A
PERFORMANCE.
♪
[APPLAUSE]