Harding University Band Improves Quality Hard times hit the Harding University Marching Band just as they did the Southern farmer. All over the state, the need to bring in a little extra money sharply decreased the number of people able to devote the hours of practice vital to a successful band program. But what the 80 members lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality. Student director and drum major Mark Hudson said, "I was more pleased with the 80 members this year than the 110 in last year's band. This group picked up the new music and marching drills very quickly." The band, under the direction of Dr. Eddie Baggett, was blessed with a high degree of experienced members. This experience plus a well-planned format for half-time performances meant less time spent in learning. The extra time was used to polish the performance - and polish they did! Every afternoon from 4-5 :30 p.m., the "Thundering Herd" rehearsed over and over on their practice field. The rifle and flag corps also added a dimension to the marching band. The rifle corp members, with 116 Arts and Sciences-Music 12 combined years of experience, spent many hours of planning and practice. Ron Duer, president of the band, said of the corps, ''Seeing the riflers work was an inspiration. They took something that had never been tried here and made it work." The flag corps, though working with only five memt>ers, attempted to incorporate manuevers with a higher difficulty in order to add flair to the performance. The band participated in several area parades including the Beebe Christmas Parade and the White County Fair Parade. The band also combined their talents with those of high school bands from Des Arc and Memphis' Harding Academy in the homecoming show. - Rene Lindsey Begin with your basic marching band; take out those interested in marching only; add a few others, and there you have it - the Harding University Concert Band. Although made up of the same core people, the concert band was slightly different than the marching band. The obvious difference was the fact that the marching band marched and the concert band did not. Less obviously, the instrumentation was changed, and the music played was of a more serious nature. Several of the selections performed by the concert bands were extremely difficult, but due to the high degree of skill possessed by its 55 members, this posed minimal problems. The band's repertoire included pieces by Tchaikovsky, Gianini and Shostakovich. Their mid -February tour through eastern Arkansas was a major highlight for the group members. On tour, many stops - Cour/ny 0/ Publidly O/fier
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