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Thursday
March 18, 2010 Since 1922 |
More thoughts on lack of baton twirlers
By Wanda Orton
Contributor Published September 6, 2009 We saved our daughter's batons, thinking they'd be used one day by her daughter.
Not going to happen.
We didn't realize when Jan twirled in the Lee Brigadiers (class of 1979) that one day there would be no twirlers at Robert E. Lee High School. The band doesn't have them and a dance team has replaced the drum and bugle corps. Although granddaughter Olivia no longer lives in Baytown, the prospects for twirling are just as grim at her high school in the Texas Hill Country as in nearly all school districts.
Let's continue the discussion from the previous column, when the question was raised: "Where have all the twirlers gone?"
"Baton twirlers are becoming fewer and fewer as time passes," says Dr. Tommy Fain, band director in Plano and a former member of the Robert E. Lee Band, class of 1976. "The reason that flag lines – also called color guards – have been replacing them gradually since circa 1978 is because the flags are considered by those in my field as a way to better enhance the music visually...
"I'm sure critics would state that baton twirling is becoming a lost art form. When I was at Lamar University 1976-1980, we had both a flag line and a line of twirlers – and those twirlers were great. One night they twirled fire batons during a lights-out show when we played 'Star Wars' music."
Tommy mentioned that his mentor, band director Charles Forque, quit using twirlers when he left REL and went to Plano in 1978 because of changing times. "And his daughter Cheryl had been a twirler, then drum major during the time I was in the REL Band.
"... Twirlers still are used in two ways. They are still used in military bands where they are called majorettes and there are still occasionally feature twirlers – one or two of them who are out on the field twirling while the band is marching and the flag lines are doing their routines. The military bands are not real common any more, except they can still be found in East Texas. Most of these bands are smaller schools. I can think of several 5A schools that are military, but not many. Irving, Lufkin and Longview come to mind."
Adding more thoughts on this subject, Cheryl Forque Melton noted that twirling activity decreased when athletic programs for girls, particularly gymnastics and soccer, increased.
"Back when cheerleading's big trick was a sideline cartwheel, the most athletic young ladies wanted to be baton twirlers which demanded good eye/ hand coordination, a high kick and flexibility, a limber back, and good tone and cardiac stamina. It was an acceptable avenue for athletic, intelligent, and competitive young women ... It took a lot to remember competitive routines for weekend competitions, ballet and tap dances, and then, the marching band routine.
"I'm thinking Title IX opened up so many new athletic doors to young women ... Then, at the same time, there was this uprise of corps band competitions."
Cheryl also mentioned an image problem, with some band directors thinking that baton twirlers are just "fluff " and that bands marching to the music of John Phillip Sousa are archaic and old fashioned.
"It's sad what has happened to marching bands. It really is. We learned a new drill every week and new music. Daddy was efficient in his methods and always said, 'The Lee Band begins and ends on time.’ He loved what he did and he was the most optimistic person I have ever known. Every year was going to be the best year ever."
Along with the decline of twirling lines is the loss of college scholarships. Cheryl says many band directors don't realize they are shutting out opportunities for young women when they refuse to allow twirlers in their bands.
"Oh well. Times change and like the bumper stickers say around here, 'Nobody cares how you did it back home.' I just feel bad for all the girls who are missing out and all the band students who have no idea what it was like when marching bands did five or 10 shows a year and had fun just being kids."
Following in mom's footsteps, Colleen Melton is a champion twirler, and she’s thinking about becoming a band director. If indeed she does pursue that profession, there’s one thing for sure. Colleen will have baton twirlers even if she has to coach them herself.
Wanda Orton is a retired managing editor of The Baytown Sun.
Contributor Published September 6, 2009 We saved our daughter's batons, thinking they'd be used one day by her daughter.
Not going to happen.
We didn't realize when Jan twirled in the Lee Brigadiers (class of 1979) that one day there would be no twirlers at Robert E. Lee High School. The band doesn't have them and a dance team has replaced the drum and bugle corps. Although granddaughter Olivia no longer lives in Baytown, the prospects for twirling are just as grim at her high school in the Texas Hill Country as in nearly all school districts.
Let's continue the discussion from the previous column, when the question was raised: "Where have all the twirlers gone?"
"Baton twirlers are becoming fewer and fewer as time passes," says Dr. Tommy Fain, band director in Plano and a former member of the Robert E. Lee Band, class of 1976. "The reason that flag lines – also called color guards – have been replacing them gradually since circa 1978 is because the flags are considered by those in my field as a way to better enhance the music visually...
"I'm sure critics would state that baton twirling is becoming a lost art form. When I was at Lamar University 1976-1980, we had both a flag line and a line of twirlers – and those twirlers were great. One night they twirled fire batons during a lights-out show when we played 'Star Wars' music."
Tommy mentioned that his mentor, band director Charles Forque, quit using twirlers when he left REL and went to Plano in 1978 because of changing times. "And his daughter Cheryl had been a twirler, then drum major during the time I was in the REL Band.
"... Twirlers still are used in two ways. They are still used in military bands where they are called majorettes and there are still occasionally feature twirlers – one or two of them who are out on the field twirling while the band is marching and the flag lines are doing their routines. The military bands are not real common any more, except they can still be found in East Texas. Most of these bands are smaller schools. I can think of several 5A schools that are military, but not many. Irving, Lufkin and Longview come to mind."
Adding more thoughts on this subject, Cheryl Forque Melton noted that twirling activity decreased when athletic programs for girls, particularly gymnastics and soccer, increased.
"Back when cheerleading's big trick was a sideline cartwheel, the most athletic young ladies wanted to be baton twirlers which demanded good eye/ hand coordination, a high kick and flexibility, a limber back, and good tone and cardiac stamina. It was an acceptable avenue for athletic, intelligent, and competitive young women ... It took a lot to remember competitive routines for weekend competitions, ballet and tap dances, and then, the marching band routine.
"I'm thinking Title IX opened up so many new athletic doors to young women ... Then, at the same time, there was this uprise of corps band competitions."
Cheryl also mentioned an image problem, with some band directors thinking that baton twirlers are just "fluff " and that bands marching to the music of John Phillip Sousa are archaic and old fashioned.
"It's sad what has happened to marching bands. It really is. We learned a new drill every week and new music. Daddy was efficient in his methods and always said, 'The Lee Band begins and ends on time.’ He loved what he did and he was the most optimistic person I have ever known. Every year was going to be the best year ever."
Along with the decline of twirling lines is the loss of college scholarships. Cheryl says many band directors don't realize they are shutting out opportunities for young women when they refuse to allow twirlers in their bands.
"Oh well. Times change and like the bumper stickers say around here, 'Nobody cares how you did it back home.' I just feel bad for all the girls who are missing out and all the band students who have no idea what it was like when marching bands did five or 10 shows a year and had fun just being kids."
Following in mom's footsteps, Colleen Melton is a champion twirler, and she’s thinking about becoming a band director. If indeed she does pursue that profession, there’s one thing for sure. Colleen will have baton twirlers even if she has to coach them herself.
Wanda Orton is a retired managing editor of The Baytown Sun.