Belting out tunes that keep the crowd pumped in the stands during football games, the largest student group at Texas A&M University-Commerce is also one of the most visible and audible organizations on campus.
“This year’s band is bigger, and better,” Associate Director of Bands and Director of the “Pride” Marching Band Scott Atchison said. “It has a different personality. There’s a lot of young talent, a lack of experience, but a lot of ability. We’re building for the future.”
The Pride Marching band is made up of about 140 members, about 60 more members than last year, and about 70 of those students are freshmen.
“This year is my first year, but all the kids are committed to playing whatever is thrown at them,” Corey Doran, percussion graduate assistant said. “They go after everything pretty aggressively. We’ve all stuck on the same page and everyone is excited.”
Atchison joined the music faculty last year.
“I’ve always felt that if you’re going to do something, you’ve got to just jump in,” Atchison said. “My favorite saying has always been, ‘If your going to get wet, you might as well go swimming.'”
Atchison has taken this idea and has run with it.
“He’s taking us in a new direction,” Connor Pickle, percussion section leader said. “He makes things fun.”
Since the band practiced over the summer, the 10 new section leaders have had time to bond together. “The leadership is far more organized and more efficient,” Pickle said. “Things are more fun and focused.”
Because of the capability, dedication and leadership abilities the drum majors and section leaders possess, Atchison can focus on planning practices and writing music.
“The teaching assistants here do a lot as well,” Atchison said. “Corey Doran, the new percussion graduate assistant, writes most of the music for, teaches, and directs the drum line,” Atchison, said. “He’s a great asset to the band.”
Aside from new leadership, the Pride Marching Band is also playing a wide variety of new songs, such as ‘What is Hip,’ by Tower of Power and a ‘Tango,’ based off of ‘Roxanne’ by the Police.
The band will perform at the Bois D’Arc Festival Parade and A&M-Commerce’s home football game this Saturday, Sept. 26.