Green Brigade

[Christopher Walker]

Hi ya'll - 

Some big news in Green Brigade world. Dr. Nicholas Williams has accepted the incredibly prestigious position as Conductor of Wind Ensembles at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in Australia. I am super thankful for the generous spirit Dr. Williams always afforded me and his continued passion for athletics' success as a multiple degree-earned alumnus.

Today, his successor was announced.

From College of Music Dean John Richmond:

Quote

 

"I am pleased to announce that Daniel Cook will join the UNT College of Music faculty this fall as our new Director of Athletic Bands and Lecturer in the Wind Studies conducting faculty.  

Daniel is currently completing his final year of coursework toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at Northwestern University, where he studies with Dr. Mallory Thompson. A skilled conductor, he works with various Northwestern University wind ensembles and serves as the Teaching Assistant for both Basic and Advanced Conducting classes. Mr. Cook conducts Northwestern’s “Wildcat” Marching Band, provides visual and field-level instruction, designs marching drill, and arranges musical selections for the band. His drill has been performed during the nationally televised 2017 New Era Pinstripe Bowl and at a Chicago Bears NFL halftime. In addition, he is the Assistant Brass Caption Head and Instructional Staff member for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He previously served as instructional staff for Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and as tour manager for the Phantom Regiment. He is an active high school marching band clinician and drill designer.

Daniel’s recent accomplishments include selection as a Finalist and recipient of Honorable Mention at the American Prize in Conducting in 2018. In 2017, he won the NBA Young Conductor Mentor Project, hosted by The United States Air Force Band. He has been invited to give his presentation on Flow – The Secret to the Optimal Musical Experience at the 2019 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference and the 2020 Illinois Music Education Conference.

Daniel graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and holds his Master of Music degree in Conducting from Northwestern University. Prior to his arrival in Evanston, Daniel served as Director of Bands at DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida. Bands and chamber groups under his direction have enjoyed local and national success. Notably, his ensembles have performed at the Florida Music Educators Association In-Service Conference and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. He continues to offer clinics to high school ensembles throughout the country."

 

---

Welcome Daniel Cook!

[EagleMBA]

Here is a pretty good sample of the culture he's coming from and their on-field product. A story of homecoming.

Here is a pregame show sample:

 

Edited March 27, 2019 by EagleMBA

[MeanGreenTexan]

Incredible opportunity for Dr. Williams!   Proud of that guy.

Looking forward to what soon-to-be-Dr. Cook brings to the table.

Judging by his DCI background, I believe @SilverEagle's overtures for "pageantry" from the Green Brigade are about to be heeded.

His Phantom Regiment (a prestigious DCI group) profile: https://regiment.org/staff/daniel-cook/

[ipd054]

Here is his linked-in profile.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cook-b1375612/

• Collegiate Band Directors' National Association
• National Band Association
• Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity
• National Association for Music Education (MENC)
• Florida Bandmasters Association
• Florida Music Educators Association
• Volusia County Organization of Music Educators

 

[letsgiveacheer]

On the contrary, his DCI background almost guarantees another era of "corps style" marching. He is not the director of the Northwestern Marching Band, but a grad assistant.

Here is an example of his high school band on the field:

I must say I am very disappointed with the hire. I hope I am wrong.

Edited March 27, 2019 by letsgiveacheer

[emmitt01]

I am very pageantry to welcome him to North Pageantry.  I hope he is a pageantry fit for our Mean Green culture.  He certainly seems to have an impressive resume and should hit the pageantry running upon his arrival.  

[MeanGreenTexan]

5 hours ago, letsgiveacheer said:

On the contrary, his DCI background almost guarantees another era of "corps style" marching. He is not the director of the Northwestern Marching Band, but a grad assistant.

Here is an example of his high school band on the field:

I must say I am very disappointed with the hire. I hope I am wrong.

That’s still gonna be what the Music Ed majors are learning, so likely what they’ll be implementing, but the cited complaints around ‘moseying‘ onto the field & whatnot should likely change.

[SilverEagle]

17 hours ago, letsgiveacheer said:

On the contrary, his DCI background almost guarantees another era of "corps style" marching. He is not the director of the Northwestern Marching Band, but a grad assistant.

Here is an example of his high school band on the field:

I must say I am very disappointed with the hire. I hope I am wrong.

If this is an example of what he has planned here, then I agree with you totally. I don't dislike "corps style" per se. What I object to is a lack of energy and spirit in the performance. "Excellence" in the musical performance should go without saying. After all we are still North Texas.

Here is a sample of his undergrad roots at Georgia. From 2009. He was at Georgia from 2006-10, so he should have been part of this performance.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=2010+Georgia+Bulldog+Band+pregame+show&view=detail&mid=372BDF108C204327735D372BDF108C204327735D&FORM=VIRE

I vote for him instilling the spirit and pure enthusiasm of the Northwestern program. And it is my fondest hope that he brings back what used to be the pure musical superiority and excellence demonstrated by this version of the Green Brigade..... 

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youttube+of+Green+Brigade+marching+band+"Malaguena"+1991&&view=detail&mid=6B129B43B0395415F3916B129B43B0395415F391&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

Their entrance sucked and their uni's sucked. But DAMN the core of their show kicked ass! Folks, this 1991 band was half the size of the bloated shuffling/sauntering monstrosity that has been taking up space at Apogee, and they produced twice the sound......quality sound. 

 

So to the soon-to-be  "Dr. of musical arts" I say Cook us up something that is equal parts of the Northwestern Band and the Green Brigade of 1991.

 

 

[southsideguy]

After watching the NW band I have to wonder if our band is that good of shape because that band is moving.  I hope it will not be like the HS band shown.  

A good band is a big part of the college game day.

Do the UNT dancers seem to be in lower in members in the last couple of years? 

I think the band at the pit does a great job.

[Mean Green Maniac]

3 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

If this is an example of what he has planned here, then I agree with you totally. I don't dislike "corps style" per se. What I object to is a lack of energy and spirit in the performance. "Excellence" in the musical performance should go without saying. After all we are still North Texas.

I vote for him instilling the spirit and pure enthusiasm of the Northwestern program. And it is my fondest hope that he brings back what used to be the pure musical superiority and excellence demonstrated by this version of the Green Brigade..... 

Their entrance sucked and their uni's sucked. But DAMN the core of their show kicked ass! Folks, this 1991 band was half the size of the bloated shuffling/sauntering monstrosity that has been taking up space at Apogee, and they produced twice the sound......quality sound. 

So to the soon-to-be  "Dr. of musical arts" I say Cook us up something that is equal parts of the Northwestern Band and the Green Brigade of 1991.

 

 

THIS. Honestly the GB has been at the point for sometime now where it is too big to be effective with "corps style" drill writing. Music choice is always subjective, but drill design leaves a lot to be desired for the typical half-time show audience member. Competitive high school marching band (UIL & Bands of America) is big in TX, and many of those students want to attend a top Music Ed/Performance program like UNT, so I don't know if reducing the size of GB to make it more competitive and improve quality would be the something the College of Music would consider, as Music Ed students (wind/brass/percussion) are required to participate in GB.

I think the new director can bring a mix of the corps style marching we are accustomed to, as well as the show band style that our TX counterparts at TTU and UT perform. A solid pregame and halftime show will greatly enhance the game day experience! 

[greenjoe]

Welcome aboard (soon to be) Dr. Cook. 

I know that the many music purists look down their noses at marching bands but the energy and excitement many college bands bring to game day is in many cases as much a part of the game as the football team. 

My first wish is for an exciting marching band product on the field.  But my second hope is that some sort of solution can be made to correct what I think is an error as far as uniforms during the beginning of the football season.  I hate the khaki shorts and the poorly thought out t-shirts.  Isn't there something that could minimize the heat and still look sharp on the field ?  I hate the thought of using anything from Southern Meth but their white trousers are certainly cooler (I guess) than a full blown band uniform late in August.

GO MEAN GREEN 

[Rudy]

So, no more Disney showtunes?

[UNTLifer]

My requests from a non musician. 

1. No more shorts, etc...  Wear our uniform. 

2.  Be musically excellent. That is expected of the GB. 

3.  Create an entrance and march on to and off of the field. 

4. Stop bastardizing our Fight Song with the start and stop and different versions Williams loved to do. 

5.  Cut down on the number of times Fly Like an Eagle is played. 

6.  Get the crowd going. Remember that you are there to support our team and represent UNT. Make us all proud. 

[Aldo]

More spandex less shorts, unless it's short spandex (it gets hot)

[SilverEagle]

2 hours ago, Aldo said:

More spandex less shorts, unless it's short spandex (it gets hot)

 

 

😎

Edited April 2, 2019 by SilverEagle

[SilverEagle]

On ‎4‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 5:11 AM, UNTLifer said:

My requests from a non musician. 

1. No more shorts, etc...  Wear our uniform. 

2.  Be musically excellent. That is expected of the GB. 

3.  Create an entrance and march on to and off of the field. 

4. Stop bastardizing our Fight Song with the start and stop and different versions Williams loved to do. 

5.  Cut down on the number of times Fly Like an Eagle is played. 

6.  Get the crowd going. Remember that you are there to support our team and represent UNT. Make us all proud. 

Agree with all of your list with the possible exception of #1. I don't mind the band wearing khaki shorts and polo shirts with caps at a August-early September game, as long as they all match.  The Band has to sit in the stadium under direct light and I can't think of a more brutal situation. 

[Rudy]

They can take the jackets and hats off while they are sitting in the stands.  Wear the uniform. 

[EagleMBA]

12 hours ago, Rudy said:

They can take the jackets and hats off while they are sitting in the stands.  Wear the uniform. 

That would be a great way to fire up the fans and start a new tradition. Get to their seating section, take their positions, and launch into this new addition to the music repertoire...

 

[THOR]

12 hours ago, Rudy said:

They can take the jackets and hats off while they are sitting in the stands.  Wear the uniform. 

that's what we did (95-97), but only for for the 3rd quarter could we take off our jackets.  

[Monkeypox]

I'm not a big fan of our band looking like Vacation Dad.

[Rudy]

7 hours ago, Monkeypox said:

I'm not a big fan of our band looking like Vacation Dad.

That picture is appropriate considering they played the Mickey Mouse theme. 

[SilverEagle]

On ‎4‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 8:42 PM, Rudy said:

That picture is appropriate considering they played the Mickey Mouse theme. 

👍👍

 

BTW, I wonder if they are thinking about getting new uni's. 

[DeepGreen]

2 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

👍👍

 

BTW, I wonder if they are thinking about getting new uni's. 

Going with Roundtree & York shorts this season instead of Dockers?

[DT 90]

Welcome to Big 10 football!!! 

[Christopher Walker]

14 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

👍👍

 

BTW, I wonder if they are thinking about getting new uni's. 

If you recall, there was an on-field recognition of a major donation for new GB unis back at I think the Rice home game from last year.