August 29, 2006

Still marching with the band

• Graduate in four years
• Get involved in as many musical activities as he could
• Play in the marching band every year
• Be selected as a drum major

He will make good on each of these.

Brimeyer, who expects to graduate next May with a music education degree, has been involved not only in the marching band, but has had roles in the last three SOV productions, and is a member of the Iowa State Singers, the ISU Symphonic Orchestra and the basketball pep band.

And last fall he was selected as one of three drum majors for the Cyclone Football "Varsity" Marching Band.

"I knew when I was a freshman I wanted to be a drum major," Brimeyer said. "It just looked like a lot of fun."

A former drum major for the Ames High School Marching Band, Brimeyer made the final cut for ISU's drum major openings after his freshman year.
While he was not selected that year and he came back to try out again after his sophomore season.

This fall he's entering his second year as one of the ensemble's three drum majors.

"Ted has been able to apply his conducting experiences from choral studies to his field conducting (for marching band)," said Matt Smith, director of the marching band. "He also has a personality which enables him to work well with anybody, a valuable asset for someone in charge of a group of over 300 of his peers."

And while Brimeyer says it's still a lot of fun, he has a much different perspective on the job.

"I laugh a lot at every rehearsal and have a lot of fun – probably more than I should. But there are parts I thought were going to be the most fun that are actually the hardest part of the job," he said.

One of those jobs comes at the end of every marching band rehearsal. Smith calls the members over for a final meeting before dismissing them for the day. He calls on the drum majors for announcements and the final dismissal. More than 320 people are standing around listening to the drum major, wanting to leave on a high note.

"You have all these people wanting you to be funny," Brimeyer says. "Sometimes it works out that you are. Other times it doesn't. When it doesn't you sure hear about it from the older members."

The job of the drum major is much more than it appears from the stands. Prior to the beginning of rehearsals in mid-August, the drum majors arrive a week early to prepare for band camp.

Staff meeting are held regularly and Brimeyer says he has spent a few late nights, among other things making and remaking the seating arrangements for the ensemble at Jack Trice Stadium.

"That's a real concern because there are some sections where they have all dated each other. You don't want to put people together in the stands who aren't speaking to each other," he said. "As a drum major you have to have your ear to the ground.

"We serve as a liaison between the band and the directors. It's important for us to know the temperament of the band. I never had an idea I would be doing so much of that before I signed on."

One thing that didn't come as a surprise to Brimeyer was the fact that he had to put down his mellophone.

"The band experience was really different for me last year," he said. "I missed being part of a section, being around all my friends."

Instead Brimeyer's rehearsals are spent walking up and down the band's ranks, giving advice to section leaders and new members. He also spends a majority of his time conducting the band.

"You're up there on the ladder by yourself instead of being with 15 or 16 people you've become pretty close to," he said. "But that's how leadership works. You take on a position and you have to leave some things behind."

Tomorrow: A look back.

Past Stories:
A way of life