40
MARCHING TO THE BEAT
In 1998, the Trojan PRIDE Marching Band had approximately 50 members. Today, the PRIDE has nearly 200 members. One might
assume members quadrupled as the Lincoln County R-III School District underwent an explosion of growth in the early to mid-2000s.
To the average eye, you’d never know Band Director
Eric Blankenship and Assistant Band Director Dr.
Tracy Thomas have a unique philosophy for their
marching band. Although the PRIDE competes, the
nearly 200-member band approaches competition much
differently than most high school bands. Blankenship
and Thomas are firm believers in individual growth.
“It’s not about the trophy. If we are getting better and
learning that’s what matters to us,” Blankenship said.
Their philosophy about competing isn’t the only
atypical attribute for the PRIDE. Many bands
have try-outs, but not Troy Buchanan High School
(TBHS). Everyone can be a part of the PRIDE. At
Troy Buchanan, students enrolled in a band course
are required to be a member of the marching band;
however, typically schools the size of TBHS do not have
t
this type o requirement. According to the PRIDE’s
yp of
pe
p
b
band direct
directors, it’s more typical at smaller schools. Still
i ec
c
maller schools.
having the requirement may be past remnants of being a
“small” school, but today, TBHS is far from being small.
Thomas, who was hired in 2010, applied for the job
of Assistant Band Director at TBHS with memories of
the small Troy school he competed against while in high
school. “When I was coming for my interview and saw
the school, I was shocked. Troy wasn’t small anymore,”
Thomas said. Blankenship and Thomas agree the same
is true for many of their comp