When it comes to an HBCU homecoming and the entertainment that comes with it the people all depend on the marching pride band and what they bring during halftime.
The band brings in the music and entertainment during the game and has various sets lined up to keep the the audience engaged. Leading up to homecoming, there are preparations that the band has to go through to ensure that everything goes well.
Professor Mark Gordon, the head band director of LUMP, said, “that when it comes to Homecoming, he and the band spend two weeks working on routines and field show material so they can have little surprises for the audience, while also bringing back old-school traditions for the alumni. “
Gordon passed out a total of 20 songs to his musicians: Eight for the show and the rest to play during and after the game for what they call a 5th Quarter.
Within that time frame, Gordon makes sure the drill for the halftime performance is perfect and does not go over a certain time. It takes about a week to ensure all the music is learned and ready to play on the field with the drill.
This attraction alone brings the audience for homecoming. Gordon uses this time for all the alumni to come and reminisce on old traditions that they had while they were in the band. “They like to see a lot of stuff that they did while they were here,” Gordon said.
Some consider this the main component that brings friends and family to the game and homecoming alone.
For Jonathon Seymour, a junior music education major, being able to play at his homecoming is life-altering.“Being black and being at an HBCU gives me the joy of being able to play for my people,” Seymour said.
Seymour has been in the band since his freshman year and every year he sees homecoming as an opportunity to showcase his talent and feel good about performing in a safe space.
He feels that the field show is a monumental thing because the band works on it for two weeks straight, with almost 70 hours of practice time. For him, the field show is also a chance for him to see growth within himself and growth as a musician.
His experience is tedious; he tries to make sure everything that his director is telling him to do is perfected.
“Homecoming week and the week before are times when I get under the weather of wanting to sit out because of the late nights and stress that comes with participating in band and homecoming,” Seymour said.
Ultimately, the band comes to feel like a big family that struggles together and plays together.
This year feels special. It’s Langston’s 125th anniversary. When the band plays tunes that the crowd knows, they have the chance to create a fun time for all Langston students, family and alumni to come together and unite as one.
Gordon feels it as much as the students. “It’s going to be special because [we are] the number 4 band in the second division of HBCU schools. This year is going to be monumental for the band as they are trying to get higher in the ranking for musicality and the field show. They are trying to give the crowd a show but also give the crowd a reason to keep coming back for games and homecoming.”
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