Featured Image
Redmond, N. (2021). Hark the Sound: The Return of the Marching Tar Heels [jpg]. Tar Heel Blog. Chapel Hill, NC, United States. https://www.tarheelblog.com/2021/9/9/22659863/unc-tar-heels-football-return-of-bands-live-music-stadium-fans-interview-jeffrey-fuchs
Link:
Presentation Slide References
Redmond, N. (2021). Hark the Sound: The Return of the Marching Tar Heels [jpg]. Tar Heel Blog. Chapel Hill, NC, United States. https://www.tarheelblog.com/2021/9/9/22659863/unc-tar-heels-football-return-of-bands-live-music-stadium-fans-interview-jeffrey-fuchs
Surry Central High School. (2019). Surry Central High School student Breana Avalos participates in a performance with the UNC Marching Tar Heels Honors Marching Band during a football game earlier this year. The Mount Airy News. Chapel Hill, NC, United States. https://www.mtairynews.com/news/81448/surry-central-pair-take-part-in-unc-band-performance
UNC Development. (2019). Carolina to host its giving day April 9. UNC-Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
https://www.unc.edu/posts/2019/04/02/carolina-to-host-its-giving-day-april-9/
Wang, F., Huang, X., Zeb, S., Liu, D., Wang, Y. (2022). Impact of music education on mental
health of higher education students: moderating role of emotional intelligence. Frontiers
in Psychology, 13(938090), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.938090
Presentation Script
Here at UNC, the Marching Tar Heels, a group of 275 students, perform at every home Carolina football game and keep UNC’s spirits high (Athletic bands, 2022). Drummers, wind players, the color guard, and the three drum majors conducting them, play all of UNC’s songs such as Tag (I’m a Tar Heel born…), Here Comes Carolina, Carolina Fight Song, Carolina Victory, and many more (Athletic bands, 2022). Being in my high school’s choir for four years, I would always watch our band’s concerts and rehearsals. When I came to Carolina, I was instantly intrigued by the Marching Tar Heels, and I wondered if my experiences in choir in high school were any similar to those of the members of the band here at UNC. Some of my favorite memories were made in choir rehearsing our songs every day and performing them in front of crowds of our friends and families. This led me to my research question of: how does being a part of the Marching Tar Heels affect UNC students’ quality of life?
For my first observation, I attended their Thursday evening rehearsal that was moved from Kenan Football Stadium to the Indoor Practice Facility. I observed not only their formations and songs, but their interactions with each other. When Director Jeffrey Fuchs called a water break, everyone breaks away, and they form clusters together with people who were near them in their formation. They erupt into cheerful conversation. At this moment, I noticed that I didn’t see one person who was alone. All of them, no matter their differences, all engaged in conversations with one another. I admired their inclusivity because it reminded me of being in my high school choir. It is made evident to me by their interactions that they are happy to be there and are proud to be a part of this program.
For my second observation, I attended the UNC football game against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Throughout the game, the Marching Tar Heels, positioned behind the student section, played snippets of their song TAG, at each interception and touchdown. When it was time for their halftime show, one member of the band stood out to me. She appeared to be playing in a wheelchair, with an assistant next to her with the purpose of moving her into her next formation, so she could still hold and play her instrument. I found it fascinating how they made accommodations for her when she was not able to walk on her feet to change formations. As I continue to watch the show, I notice that they are beginning to play the same song I heard at their rehearsal: Here Comes Carolina. They seem to be more enthusiastic in the stadium; they are moving more and are using more emphasis in the ends of the measures of the song. I can see their excitement to perform at the game in their movements and in their facial expressions, and I can hear it in their songs.
From my time spent observing the Marching Tar Heels, I have no doubt that each member is proud to be a part of this talented organization and is excited to have the opportunity to raise school spirit at UNC. My preliminary research made it clear that students studying music have a better chance of not just performing well in school, but also improving and maintaining their mental health (Wang, Huang, Zeb, Liu, Wang, 2022, p.1). Both my observations and research allowed me to conclude that being a part of the Marching Tar Heels does improve the quality of life of UNC students.
I. Preface
I was in my high school’s choir for all four years that I went to my school. Some of my favorite memories were made sitting in class with my best friends making music and performing it in concert for all our friends and families. We had a tradition of watching the band rehearse their songs during class, the weeks that they had concerts. When I first got to UNC, I saw the Marching Tar Heels perform at the Rah Rah Carolina Pep Rally. I was instantly intrigued and wondered what their rehearsals were like compared to the ones I witnessed at my high school, and if they felt as connected to their group as I did. Reflecting on my experiences in choir and watching my high school band lead me to my research question of: how does being a part of the Marching Tar Heels affect UNC students’ quality of life? Having the opportunity to witness their Thursday evening rehearsal as well as their performance at a Carolina football game allowed me to get closer to the answer of this question.
II. Background Information
At UNC Chapel Hill, the Marching Tar Heels is composed of 275 students, and they rehearse three times a week from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 4 to 6 pm on Fridays during the fall semester (Athletic bands, 2022). Directed by Jeffrey Fuchs and Erin Cooper, they claim to be “one of the largest and most spirited groups on campus,” and I do not disagree (Athletic bands, 2022). They attend every home football game and at least one away game each year, playing songs like TAG (I’m a Tar Heel Born…) at each touchdown and interception, Here Comes Carolina, and many more (Athletic bands, 2022).
For my preliminary research I focused on sources relating to how studying and practicing music affects students and how music can be a strong force for connecting communities. According to a music education study conducted from 265 students at different private and public Chinese universities by five researchers, music students with a high level of emotional intelligence have a better chance of not just performing well in school, but also of maintaining their mental health and even improving it. (Wang, Huang, Zeb, Liu, Wang, 2022, p.1 ) Evidently, studying music can almost only be beneficial to university students’ mental health and academic success. Additionally, that same source claims that “previous research has linked hours of music practice and self-reported music achievement to improved emotional competence” (Wang, et.al, 2022). Not only can music improve the academic success of students’ in college but it can also allow them to withstand the mental effects and stress that comes with being a college student, especially here at UNC Chapel Hill.
III. Observations and Analysis
Observation 1
September 29th, 2022, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Kenan Football Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
For my first observation, I attended their Thursday evening rehearsal that was moved from Kenan Football Stadium to the Indoor Practice Facility. I observed not only their formations and songs, but their interactions with each other. After they finish a song, the members of the color guard throw their flags into the air and catch them, and the drummers continue drumming to a unified beat as the entirety of the band changes to their next formation in an extremely organized fashion. When Director Jeffrey Fuchs calls a water break, everyone breaks away, and they form clusters together with people who were near them in their formation. They erupt into cheerful conversation. At this moment, I noticed that I didn’t see one person who was alone. All of them, no matter their differences, all engaged in conversations with one another. I admired their inclusivity because it reminded me of being in my high school choir. It is made evident to me by their interactions that they are happy to be there and are proud to be a part of this program.
Observation 2
October 1st, 2022, 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm, Kenan Football Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
For my second observation, I attended the UNC football game against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Throughout the game, the Marching Tar Heels, positioned behind the student section, played snippets of their song TAG, at each interception and touchdown. When it was time for their halftime show, one member of the band stood out to me. She appeared to be playing in a wheelchair, with an assistant next to her with the purpose of moving her into her next formation, so she could still hold and play her instrument. I found it fascinating how they made accommodations for her when she was not able to walk on her feet to change formations. As I continue to watch the show, I notice that they are beginning to play the same song I heard at their rehearsal: Here Comes Carolina. They seem to be more enthusiastic in the stadium; they are moving more and are using more emphasis in the ends of the measures of the song. I can see their excitement to perform at the game in their movements and in their facial expressions, and I can hear it in their songs.
IV. Conclusion
From my time spent observing the Marching Tar Heels, I have no doubt that each member is proud to be a part of this talented organization and is excited to have the opportunity to raise school spirit at UNC. There was no evidence of stress or students being overwhelmed from how often they rehearse or perform; all I saw was students who seemed happy to be there socializing with other members and excited to perform at the football game. My preliminary research made it clear that students studying music have a better chance of not just performing well in school, but also improving and maintaining their mental health. Both my observations and research allowed me to conclude that being a part of the Marching Tar Heels does improve the quality of life of UNC students. However, if I had more time for this project, I would most likely interview a few members and ask what they do socially with each other outside of rehearsal and games. I would also like to ask a little more about if they do get overwhelmed being a part of the Marching Tar Heels because I was not able to make any conclusions from the observations that I made.
V. References
Athletic bands: the Marching Tar Heels (MUSC 213, section 1). (2022). UNC Bands.
https://bands.web.unc.edu/athletic-bands/.
Wang, F., Huang, X., Zeb, S., Liu, D., Wang, Y. (2022). Impact of music education on mental
health of higher education students: moderating role of emotional intelligence. Frontiers
in Psychology, 13(938090), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.938090