Bob Jones band gets new location, new assistant director
new Bob Jones Assistant Band Director Kevin Smart (in red cap) instructs during band camp this week (Record Photo/ Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- Bob Jones marching band has moved to a new location for this year’s band camp which started Monday. The band is using the soccer practice field while their usual practice field off Eastview Dr. undergoes resodding.
Band Director Leah Thomas said that she is pleased with the soccer field which is in excellent condition.
“It’s working great for us, we’re lucky Bob Jones has extra fields,” Thomas said. “Our practice field had drainage problems from years of use and the administration has been great letting us use this field and making a priority getting new sod and sand for our practice field.”
Thomas said the band expects to be at their normal practice field when school starts August 5.
Also new for the band is Assistant Director Kevin Smart. Smart is a Tennessee Tech 2010 graduate with a degree in music. He was assistant band director at Fulton High School in Knoxville, TN.
Thomas said there was tremendous interest in the job.
“I had people contacting me almost every day. This is one of the most coveted jobs in the state. He is a percussionist and we have over 40 kids in our percussion section so he will bring experience there,” Thomas said.
Smart also has extensive marching experience both in the band at Tennessee Tech and in Drum Corp International.
This is Thomas’ first band camp as director after former director Doyle Thornton retired.
“It is a different role being in charge but its great to have Kevin. He has jumped in and helped a lot with band camp. It is going to be a great football show playing music the kids like and the crowd knows.”
Thomas works with the entire band from color guard to instrumentalists. She also deals with issues that come up related to kids who may lack confidence at first that they can learn the formations and the music.
“We have made a lot of progress through the first week. I’m proud of the kids work ethic. They have come back well prepared.”
Bob Jones will have two new drum majors leading the band on the field. Matt Daye returns along with first year drum majors Wenly Mu and Josh Todd.
Thomas in the tower
Thomas said that band parents who volunteer are critical to the band’s success especially this year.
“We had a team of dads come and assemble the scaffolding so we can get up and see the drill. Our leadership team lined the field and puts out the yard markers. Others cut watermelon and help keep the kids hydrated and during lunch they organize the uniform fitting,” Thomas said.
The football show is coming together and it should be on the field by end of band camp.
The opener is Crazy in Love by Beyonce, then Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, and the closer is Hey Ya by OutKast.
