Like a football team with its coaches and team captains and quarterbacks, the Million Dollar Band has leaders who strive to make sure the band always wins no matter what happens on the field.

The six drum majors conduct the band during performances, keeping time so the 400 members can play and march in sync. But there is so much more to the role.

“It’s a huge honor and huge responsibility for sure,” said Will Pettry, a second-time MDB drum major and senior music education major from Guntersville.

“We are ambassadors for the University,” he added. “It’s about setting the standard for how we are as a university, as an organization, as a band. It’s not just a fun after-class activity that we do. And we’re very proud of that.”

So, what goes into becoming the leaders fans see every Saturday?

Making the (Drum) Major

Because the position carries a lot of responsibility, the process to find each season’s leaders does, too.   

“It’s a tough process over two to two-and-a-half weeks,” said Josiah Cooperwood, a graduate student from Texas studying biology education. He plays the tuba and this is his second year being a MDB drum major.

Anywhere from 20 to 30 students audition each year to fill the six drum major spots.

“All 30+ (students) conducted in front of directors and went through an audition,” explained Kevin Welborn, associate director of bands. “Second round went down to approximately 12 or so, then those had to conduct at A-Day with a live band, as well as interviews. Then we selected six.”

Why six?  “The band is so large and we take up the entire field and face different directions, having more people and hands that inform them when to move their feet or play their instrument only makes sense,” said Welborn.

(Photos courtesy of Jason Homan.)

Practice Makes Perfect

After drum majors are selected in the spring, they immediately get to work.

Drum majors attend a leadership retreat in the summer where they discuss the upcoming season and fortify their team.

This year’s team members come from different parts of the country and a few even have non-musical majors.

“Me, Josiah and Michael, none of us are music majors,” said Abby Moore, a sophomore nursing major from Birmingham. “That was just really inspiring to me and shows that the Million Dollar Band isn’t just about music. It’s about servanthood.”

As summer winds down, it’s time for the band to get ready for the season. The last week before school starts, the entire band heads to Butler Field for an intense week of learning the season’s theme. The band, Crimsonettes and color guard practice from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Once school starts, that schedule shifts to 3:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“We have rehearsals every single day and depending on how everything went during the week, we have extended rehearsal on Friday,” said Sarah Beth Black, a junior music education major from Pelham. “Then we also have rehearsals on Saturday morning before the game.”

Leadership on Game Day and Beyond

All the drum majors get a chance to lead the MDB in some way. They either lead the President’s Mansion performance, Elephant Stomp or pre-game.

While observers can see their hand movements and hear the whistles, there’s a lot more going on inside the drum major’s brain.

They must constantly watch the feet or sticks of the drum line to start the count. They keep an eye on each other to make sure they are conveying the correct hand gestures. The drum majors are also keeping up with the beats per minute of each song.

They’re also swallowing down the nerves that come with having millions of eyes and ears watching and listening.

“Sometimes it occurs to me in the moment and it can be nerve-wracking,” said Michael Maurer, a senior business cybersecurity and management information systems double major from Oklahoma who plays trumpet.” It’s also a lot of fun knowing that there’s several hundred musicians watching you and their music is playing for 100,000 people in Bryant Denny and potentially millions more watching on television.”

Aside from conducting, drum majors are responsible for many things. They make sure all daily rehearsals are set up and ready each game day. Above all they serve as leaders, setting an example of excellence for their fellow band members to follow.   

“Sometimes it’s up close and personal. Other times it’s in the shadows,” said Emily Diaz, a junior flute performance major and neuroscience minor from Louisiana. “We’re background characters, but we’re giving our best effort to make sure everything’s running smoothly together.”

See the Million Dollar Band drum majors in action.

Character Conducting

Leading one of the country’s most recognized and respected collegiate marching bands is teaching the students about more than just music. It’s a character-building experience.

“There’s a lot I’ve learned about being a leader and maintaining relationships,” said Mauer. “Just trying to find that balance.”

“I’ve gotten really good at controlling my emotions,” added Diaz. “It is not an easy job by any means. It really puts you in a different perspective on how to manage people and manage yourself.” 

It’s also brought the six leaders closer together.

“Having the five others is of utmost importance,” said Abby Moore, a sophomore clarinet player from Birmingham majoring in nursing. “Everything can be hard if you do it all yourself so it’s nice to have five other people to depend on.”

Leading with Gratitude

Drum major for the Million Dollar Band is a revered position and an honor not lost on this year’s leaders.

“It’s genuinely one of the most amazing opportunities I have ever gotten,” said Black. “I think it’s super cool to be walking down the Quad and see little kids be like, ‘Whoa! That’s a drum major of the Million Dollar Band!”

“That’s really cool because I was in that position at one time of wanting to do that and now being in that position is just very rewarding.”

“In the last few years, the drum major team from the MDB really has taken off to a new level of professionalism, maturity and talent,” said Welborn. “Handing the rigors of us being rather demanding on such a position with other logistics is something I’ve noticed them handling even better as the years pass. We’re very proud of them and their work.”