Lessons from Band Camp

This week I got an education. I attended Band Camp for the first time even though I have been out of High School for over 30 years. Well, I attended three mornings of Band Camp - as a parent volunteer. Though I was not marching in the hot sun, but sitting under an awning distributing water and freeze pops to parched, tired, and sweaty students, I learned a ton. I was amazed at the progress the students made both musically and regimentally during this short week. While our daughter entered camp with a year of marching band under her boots, our son began as a bright-eyed rookie. I expected lots of yelling and berating of older students to younger. But I was pleasantly surprised to watch our daughter and the other veterans gently teach and encourage the perhaps too enthusiastic and confident newbies. By the end of the week most students were not only marching in proper formation, they were doing so while playing the newly learned music. Of course there were a few students who looked more like they we're "shopping at Kmart" instead of marching in step and time. But even the rhythmically challenged individuals eventually learned techniques to properly complete the complicated moves and formations and. It was a joy to watch the daily progress.

As I have been planning the new year at the college ministry where I work I could not help but make some connections between band and Christian discipleship.

My wife as drum major (right front) many years ago

• Learning occurs differently for each person. Some get it immediately, while for others the educational process is lengthy and complicated. Patience and creativity is required by the teachers and more experienced learners.
• Though there is a plan or formation for the "program" that the band performs, not everyone moves the same way. Some members take large steps, some small, and others walk in place only "keeping time." There are times that the drum corp stands in one spot maintaining the rhythm while the trumpet line moves one way, the tubas another, and the flag line transitions to the sideline to exchange flags. Sometimes one or two instrumentalists slide to the fore to play a featured solo or ensemble. This is never done to take away from the whole band, but is also a part of the carefully orchestrated program. 
• The entire time the band is visible in the stadium, every movement has been planned and rehearsed - even marching in to the stands or the points in the program where each member "moves casually" or "free dances." Each part has been written into the script and has been practiced. Yes, there are times when each person is able to do his or her own thing, but that does not take away from the plan, only compliments it and moves the program to the next formation on the field. 
• There is a director, who is not always visible, yet is always watching and influencing the teaching/learning. Sometimes he offers individual critique, but usually only provides overall instruction and direction. 
• There are assistant directors who oversee and provide instruction to "sections." These are former students who have graduated and who are now in college bands. They provide in-depth, personal guidance to groups and members as needed. Basically they are mentors. They are on the field with the band, walking through the regiment as they move through their routine. 
• Each section has a peer leader who provides guidance, encouragement, and instruction before, during and after practice. These leaders are responsible for cohesiveness and peer pressure that results in a sense of responsibility within the corps. 
• The hierarchy from director down to the rookies provides a sense of challenge as well as order for the whole.

On Saturday following the week of camp, our family accompanied the NOHS band director, Rob Akridge, and his family to DCI (Drum Corps International) Southeastern Championship. This is an all day marching band championship. Twenty-two corps were represented. Each is a privately funded, auditioned group of drummers, horns, and flag lines. The programs are over the top and the execution spectacular, if not flawless. When one particular band marched onto the football field our band director leaned to me, pointed to the drumline (from our seats in the upper deck), and said, "That snare player that just turned around is one of my alumni. He marched with NOHS last year." I was amazed. I asked him how in the world he identified him from this far away. To me they all looked the same in their uniforms, complete with gloves and helmets adorned with plumes. He said that after working with kids for a few years you learn the individual movements and marching style. To me they all looked identical. But Rob effortlessly noticed tiny nuances that I missed. While I could watch a band and miss the individual performers, he saw each individual and the whole. Amazing.

I'm confident Christendom could apply these same lessons to our discipleship practices! I will be thinking about this as school begins in a few weeks and our corp of students assemble at the Baptist Center for worship and learning!