Band marches on despite suspension of director
By Lucia Tayo
Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: News
Members of the Langston University Marching Pride Band (LUMP) remain a family despite the suspension of their director Albert Jackson, who has led the band for almost 17 years.
According to the university officials, Jackson is being investigated for misappropriating school funds, and was placed on administrative leave without pay in January. Since then, Assistant Band Director Larry Birden Jr. has stepped up to lead the band.
Birden began working for the university in August 2009. He said he came from Lane College, where he was the band director for two years. Birden said he met Jackson while working at Lane College, and Jackson suggested he bring his talent and skills to Langston.
Even though the opportunity to work with Jackson was a major part in Birden's decision to be here, Birden said is still looking forward to working with the band.
In fact, Birden said that since he is in the position of leadership, he and the band are beginning to learn one another.
"Initially, it was a culture shock in the fall because there was a new guy, and they were so accustomed to Mr. Palmer [the former assistant band director]," Birden said. "That's always a transition when somebody has been there for so long, and you're a close organization like a marching band, there's always a period of uncertainty on both sides."
With Jackson gone, Birden is in charge of rehearsals, class instructions, recruiting, and advising the band students. He also said he is now in charge of the administrative work, which Jackson handled.
Members of LUMP do not seem to feel that the lack of a band director has heavily impacted the band.
Reginald King, the band's head drum major and a junior accounting major from Dallas, Texas, said that the recent changes have been a reality check for people, but it hasn't stopped the band a bit.
"The job is still going to get done whether it's two people or 200 people there," King said. "So the fact that one person is missing isn't going to stop the whole band."
Mario Triggs, a freshman music education major from New Orleans, La., is a Jackson recruit. He said he feels the band will progress more now that Jackson is gone because they have more to prove. He said he would like to see Jackson back, but thinks Birden will do a good job.
"He [Birden] gets down to business, but he still lets us know that 'hey, I'm family now,' Triggs said.
Birden has many plans for the band, which revolves around what he calls a "3-R strategy": recruit, retain, and release.
"We want to get them here, keep them here, and let them graduate," Birden said.
Birden said, the band has approximately 50 members and they are still practicing and performing at different events. Under Birden's leadership, the band is traveling to different states to recruit band members.
Even though Jackson is missed by the band, everyone has their different hopes for the band, and feels that the show must go on!
According to the university officials, Jackson is being investigated for misappropriating school funds, and was placed on administrative leave without pay in January. Since then, Assistant Band Director Larry Birden Jr. has stepped up to lead the band.
Birden began working for the university in August 2009. He said he came from Lane College, where he was the band director for two years. Birden said he met Jackson while working at Lane College, and Jackson suggested he bring his talent and skills to Langston.
Even though the opportunity to work with Jackson was a major part in Birden's decision to be here, Birden said is still looking forward to working with the band.
In fact, Birden said that since he is in the position of leadership, he and the band are beginning to learn one another.
"Initially, it was a culture shock in the fall because there was a new guy, and they were so accustomed to Mr. Palmer [the former assistant band director]," Birden said. "That's always a transition when somebody has been there for so long, and you're a close organization like a marching band, there's always a period of uncertainty on both sides."
With Jackson gone, Birden is in charge of rehearsals, class instructions, recruiting, and advising the band students. He also said he is now in charge of the administrative work, which Jackson handled.
Members of LUMP do not seem to feel that the lack of a band director has heavily impacted the band.
Reginald King, the band's head drum major and a junior accounting major from Dallas, Texas, said that the recent changes have been a reality check for people, but it hasn't stopped the band a bit.
"The job is still going to get done whether it's two people or 200 people there," King said. "So the fact that one person is missing isn't going to stop the whole band."
Mario Triggs, a freshman music education major from New Orleans, La., is a Jackson recruit. He said he feels the band will progress more now that Jackson is gone because they have more to prove. He said he would like to see Jackson back, but thinks Birden will do a good job.
"He [Birden] gets down to business, but he still lets us know that 'hey, I'm family now,' Triggs said.
Birden has many plans for the band, which revolves around what he calls a "3-R strategy": recruit, retain, and release.
"We want to get them here, keep them here, and let them graduate," Birden said.
Birden said, the band has approximately 50 members and they are still practicing and performing at different events. Under Birden's leadership, the band is traveling to different states to recruit band members.
Even though Jackson is missed by the band, everyone has their different hopes for the band, and feels that the show must go on!
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