Marching to Different Drummers

emphasize that football players in Texas deserve more attention than they receive

Show that marching in a band is as demanding as playing football

imply that football should not be the most popular sport in Texas

suggest that marching bands are as important as football players

raising of funds

scheduling of practices

recruiting of members

supervising of details

emphasize that marching bands in Texas are a common sight

explain why students join marching bands in Texas

describe the equipment required by Texas marching bands

identify the most popular instruments in Texas marching bands

there is a large number of Texas marching bands

Texas marching band members are dedicated

Texas marching band members are talented

there is a variety among Texas marching bands

Griffin's organization was formed in 1991 to better represent small schools at band competitions

Known as the Allen Eagle Escadrille (French for "Squadron"), Allen's band is considered the largest in the country - high school or college

At some small schools, roughly half of the student body is in the band

We all know that Texans are mad about football, and the players usually get the attention

"you have your preps, your jocks and your band nerds," said Jolynn Harwell, 24, who played clarinet and served as drum major for two years at Stephenville High School.

"In some places, being in the band is not the in thing; it's not cool. It's cool to be in the band in Sundown," he said.

"It's like camaraderie," Harwell said. "For four years, it's your family."

"We always called ourselves "band nerds." I don't think it's derogatory or anything. It doesn't bother me one bit."

The results of studies about Texas high school marching bands

The popularity of being in a high school marching band

The high quality of Texas high school marching bands

the benefits of being in a high school marching band

Parent supporters

Competition judges

former participants

College applicants

Texas boasts the largest high school marching band in the nation, the Allen Eagle Escadrille, which has 650 members. Ther are also many small, award-winning marching bands in Texas, such as Sundown High School's 117-member marching band, which has won many marching band titles

With 5,000 students, Allen High School is a very large school. Its marching band has 650 members, which makes it larger than the bands at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. On the other hand, the Sundown High School marching band has only 117 members.

There are many marching bands in the state of Texas. Some of the bands are very small, consisting of as few as a dozen members. Kenneth Griffin's organization, the Texas Association of Small School Bands, represents some of these small high school bands at competions.

Class 5A Allen High School has the largest marching band in the United States. It is larger than any other high school marching band or any college marching band. This band's 650 members fill and entire football field when they are playing. It takes 20 buses to transport the members to away games

It is possible for a school of any size to have a successful band program.

More band members should pursue creers in music

Band camps would be more effective if they didn't occur during the summer

Large schools should consider including middle school students in marching bands