The Mighty Maroon Marching Band of Brownwood High School was treated to a marching clinic Monday morning taught by the composer who wrote the music to this year’s BHS marching show “Rock Phases.”

Barry Hurt of Pagosa Springs, Colorado conducted the clinic and helped the band learn how to put more drama and excitement into the show, helping clean up their marching and getting the music out of what Hurt calls “B?boring,” said Brownwood High School Band Director David Lambert.   According to band members, during the clinic Hurt often spoke of playing music with feeling, stating “Don’t play it ‘mezzo-boring,’ play it forte!”

Hurt was a Texas High School band director for 30 years and retired from teaching in Plainview several years ago, is a Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA) judge and runs his own music publishing business.  Four bands under his direction won Texas State UIL marching championships.

Lambert (also a TMAA judge) met Hurt while teaching in Robinson, Texas when his band was judged by Hurt at many contests and knew he would be a great instructor to have fine-tune the band’s marching show.  When preparing for this year’s marching season, Lambert had listened to Hurt’s music on his website and thought the “Rock Phases” show would be a good one for Brownwood to perform.

Hurt will not be judging any of the competitions in Brownwood’s region, UIL Region 7-3A, according to Lambert.  He stated that the BHS band learned many things during the short one day clinic.

“The band learned a whole lot of things, they worked on making the music more dynamic and exciting,” said Lambert.  “He was able to speak to them where they could understand what he meant,” said Lambert who explained that Hurt did not talk “over the students’ heads” as some clinicians can do after being out of the band directing business and away from the kids for many years.

Hurt was in West Texas to judge two UIL competitions last weekend, had clinics in San Angelo and the Lubbock area, and will judge a UIL Area contest in Belton this coming weekend so Lambert was able to schedule the clinic with Hurt at BHS in between the competitions.  Lambert stated that Hurt is a very well thought of judge and band director.

Lambert stated that the BHS band worked hard during the clinic and had great results.  During the clinic, band members endured the cold morning air (low 40s) along with Hurt, Lambert and his wife and Assistant Band Director Lesley Lambert.

“The kids are really doing so good and I’m proud of them,” said Lambert.  “We are on track.  They are working really hard and we should be ready to perform well this weekend at the Heart of Texas Marching Festival.”

Lambert encourages the public to watch the Mighty Maroon Marching Band perform at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Early High School Longhorn Stadium.  He stated that the 75 member band has been working hard for marching season and its competitions.

“These kids are working hard, they were all there at 7:00 a.m. (on Monday for the clinic),” said Lambert.  “We have a really dedicated group of kids.”

Pictured above, Hurt directs members of the BHS Mighty Maroon Marching Band during Monday’s clinic.  Below are more photos from the clinic.