Fans of the Band - Inside Westlake Marching Band

Send us Fan MailTalking with Drum Majors Ved and Aubrey about their band experiences and what it means to be a Drum Major of a marching band.  Hear how they got started in band, how they chose their instruments, why they recommend band and how the drum major audtion process went for them.  This episode has a serious issue with sound as one of the microphone chords was not doing its job and we did not know it until listening back.  We apologize for the bad volume control.

Send us Fan MailLooking back on the season with Mr. Turpin.  Where did Westlake marching band succeed?  Where did they fail?  Where are they headed?  What is everyone up to now that they are not marching anymore this year?  Get all of your questions answered here.  Check back for show links.

Send us Fan MailMr. Turpin got sick, so we just discussed the shows that we saw this season.  There were so many good shows and things that we loved.  Apparently, Ayren loved the Marcus show and we never learned how Round Rock used their big orange ball.  The Marcus Band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvHYaxVIrlsThe Westlake Band:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQxZOzeDjoH/

Send us Fan MailLearn all about Westlake Band's fundraising.  How much do they raise? How is that decided? Where does it go? How can you give?  How can you help with fundraising?  So many questions!!A small warning about a hard story here.  The Guillots have suffered a huge loss and she talks very openly about it.  Ms. Guillot does give a warning right before she tells the story, so skip ahead if you need to.Coming is a link to the Leukemia program that she mentions.

Send us Fan MailA very serious and not serious conversation with music writer/arranger, Robert Selaiden.  Hear about the writing and arranging process for the Westlake Marching Band show.  Ayren and Tania make an announcement that is huge for them and Robert gets behind it completely.  Hear his ideas for cake music and what band meals were his favorites.https://selaidenmusic.com/about/LD Bell's 2007 show:  https://youtu.be/H4ofXehLk1w?si=I_5vMb_vf2Fv5nm8

Send us Fan MailHow do you feed over 200 people on a regular basis?  Find out here as we talk with Nancy and Carolyn, a couple of volunteers in charge of feeding the band for games and contests.  Discover why it is one of the best volunteer jobs and how to get involved.  

Send us Fan MailCBS Austin Morning Meteorologist, Avery Tomasco, joins us.  He was recently knighted the Westlake Band Meteorologist and credits Westlake Marching Band with changing the direction of his life.  Find out how marching band can help influence the rest of your life and if the time commitment and effort are worth it.

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Send us Fan MailWe learned so much talking with Kaysey Thompson about colorguard in Eanes ISD.  Hear how hard they work, when you can start and how well they compete.  So many things that band people do not know about the extra-visual part of the marching band.  Westlake's colorguard is very extra, just listen to how they have placed nationally.

Send us Fan MailA short episode where we talk with two brass players that are both Seniors and in band leadership.  We ask them to think back about instrument selection day and their first days of band as a Freshman.  We also hear about the bus rides today and the foods they like to eat.  Most importantly, we learn what kept them in band and how band has made their high school experiences.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode we learned about the requirements and rules for props, their entance and removal from the field and all of the time requirements.  We answer a listener question about the uniform and hear how Mr. Pearson made his mark on the Eanes School District.Here are the links to the videos of band shows that are referenced in the podcast.Tarpon Springs 2010 (7:30 in the video) - The rising bedKennesaw Mountain 2008 (11:15 in the video) - The bowHere is a link to the Intro for MacGyver:https://youtu.be/yOEe1uzurKo?si=BAVKo_WRSNhuTcVt

Send us Fan MailBOA (Bands of America) is one of the band's main competitions throughout the season.  Listen as judge Glenn Fugett talks about how and what they are judging as they watch the bands perform.  Hear about some of the differences in judging for UIL and BOA for the high school level and even some about DCI.  He shares his favorite programs throughout the years and really gets down to exactly when marching began becoming choreography within the band.Find out when marching band officially started changing style.It is also funny because the Cicadas were so loud when we started and seemed to hush when we hit record.

Send us Fan MailThis week Assistant Band Director Austin Byers is featured.  He is the great implementer of marching basics and choreography.  Learn how they teach different moves, what he likes to eat on band trips and much more.  Video link  below.  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGJPJKSx6oI/

Send us Fan MailWe have a very thorough discussion with percussion teacher, Mr. Armeni.  He is full of information both interesting and obscure and very excited to share it.  He turns the tables at the end, so both Tania and Ayren have to talk about themselves more than they had planned.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KbEnGnymk

Send us Fan MailMr. Taylor returns to the band office to chat with us about some of his favorite memories, share some information about judging marching band, and to let us know what he has been up to since leaving Westlake after 35 years.

Send us Fan MailWestlake High School marching band season started at the end of July.  We talk with head band director, Thomas Turpin, about his plans and ideas for the band this year.  He also shares some memories of his life in marching band.Intro music is provided by the Westlake Marching Band Front Ensemble.