Harder Than It Looked in "Drumline" Movie

Photo credit: Floyd Ingram The tuba section stood out as the Benedict College Marching Band performed Aug. 23 in the first annual "Defeat the Beat" Battle of the Bands competition in Charlotte, N.C.

By Tawain E. Kelly
Black College Wire

Unlike the popular movie "Drumline," about life in an HBCU band, the real life of such a band is much different. Take a look at the proud marching 90 at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.

Like the one in the movie, Benedict's band has fancy moves and drummers' beats, but there's more to the band than the drums, as one band member says. "It is about hard work, dedication and total commitment."

Yes, there is some "off the chain" drumming and fancy moves, say its members, but they also offer supreme respect and appreciation to the band director, Sean Daniels, and the assistant director and chief music arranger, Isaac Bell.

Benedict's recent band program is just seven years old, but it is making its presence felt. It came in fourth place recently at a Battle of the Bands competition in Charlotte, N.C. The program has grown from little more than 25 members in 1996 to about 90 members today.

Said Bell of himself and Daniels: "He and I are both grads of Alabama State University, where we were both under Dr. Thomas Lyle, and his philosophy was instilled in us to always try to build quality over quantity."

Photo credit: Floyd Ingram Taji Sewell, the band's only female tuba player, says, "We have become one big family."

"We would rather have a 100-piece band that's excellent than a 200-piece band that's sloppy. We have to practice, practice, practice to become proficient," Bell said. "We tell our students the perks don't come without the work. What keeps them going is that they want to be good. That's what drives them."

The band practiced as the directors spoke, mixing horns, winds and drums, playing one of Steve Wonder's songs. Their blend was clear, and as the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip" began, the horns sounded louder and hotter. Then they practiced another of the summer's hottest jams, �Crazy in Love.�

The music made one want to get up and go-go. They broke it down again with Heather Headley�s �I Wish I Wasn't.�

�We have become one big family," said Taji Sewell, the band's only female tuba player. Daniels and Bell are not simply leaders of the band, she said. They also represent father figures.

During band camp in August, members practiced four times a day, with practice beginning at 4 a.m. Once school started, the practices continued. Now they take place on a nearby field every night from 7 to 9 p.m., or until it's dark, and sometimes later.

Not only must the band members practice the music, they have to learn the moves and precision steps. They are also expected to read their music and learn whatever style the band is focusing on at the time.

The band members have to keep a good grade-point average. Several have a 3.0 or higher. �We give 120 percent in everything we do," said Oree Simmons, one of the band's three drum majors.

For incoming freshmen, transitioning from the high school band to the college counterpart can be hard, especially if they are used to one style of playing. But they have adapted.

When new members come aboard -- 47 incoming freshman joined this fall -- the first thing they learn is how to be big brothers and sisters to each other. Some dropped out, said Williams, because they felt it wasn�t like "Drumline."

�No, the band is not like the movie," said Nevell Bein, the band vice president. "We work hard; some students cannot adjust to that fact. They couldn�t separate reality from fact. Our practices are not easy, unlike the movie. This is real life, this is our job, and we are doing it, It takes all the instruments to make the band.�

Felicia Burly, the band's first female drum major, added that though the work is hard, she was selected for that job after showing that she is a leader.

"Some of the guys test me and it�s all in fun, to see if I�m strong enough to be in the position. But I don�t let anyone keep me down. If you have goals, you should go after them. Don�t let someone steal that away from you.�

Tawain E. Kelly is a student at Benedict College who writes for the Tiger News. Photographer Floyd Ingram's band photographs can be found at Floyd Ingram's Resources Center.

Posted Oct. 31, 2003