I I
L " r
i 1
Thursday, October 1G, 10C0
Drum ma
r.
J I I i
iS SiUii iOi' iff0i
in
r rteeis
r U u V T CTu
1-4
P
Oy .KIMSERLY. ICLEMAM
n
E has worked perhaps harder than any
ll iL.II l iL- I i.
x looiDan piayer Tor mis weeKena s
Li j game, putting in about 16 hours of
practice time a week.
This, in fact, has been his routine for the past
three years. It is one that has paid off; he has
actively participated in more games than any of
the players.
Yet when Harvey Leavitt puts on his blue and
white uniform to face N.C. State, he won't be
planning to play football. As drum major he will
head the other participants in the game more
than 200 Tar Heel band members onto Kenan
field to perform.
"When the band comes out on the field
they're proud and I'm proud of them," Leavitt
said. "You can tell they're in it for the fun. I like
to take time out to watch the crowd's reaction
to them." ' ,
Though the senior drum major works with the
band all week distributing charts to squad
leaders and teaching pregame and halftime
shows arid basic maneuvers to freshmen, his
most enjoyable work comes on Saturdays.
"Then, all I do is get the band on the field,
start the numbers and. . .show off," he said. "I
get a really big thrill standing in front of the
band and watching it come together."
With three years of experience,Leavitt said
he feels comfortable leading the band.
"It would be hard to make a mistake at a
game; I don't do very much," he said. "Even if I
did, the band would go along with it. The
mistake wouldn't show. The only maneuver I
could see causing problems is the script 'Heels'
we do. Now that has great potential for a
mistake," he said. - '
Neither is he nervous or self-conscious in
front of the football crowd at the stadium.
"I have no illusions of grandeur when I'm in
front of the fans' he said. I have too much
responsibility to worry about the crowd."
This, however, was not always the case.
"The first time I performed with the band I
was conscious of Kenan's crowd. I was awed,"
he said. "In high school maybe a couple of
thousand will show up for the games. Here, it's
50,000."
Granted, Saturday afternoons are exciting for
Leavitt and for all band members, for that
if
f i
IS
-
, , Tcr 'zz Cmm rr.:Jcr Lcsvltt
Iccds tha Saturday hdftima psrsda
matter. But considering the inconveniences,
you have to wonder why he's stuck with it.
Leavitfs suit, for instance, is made of 100
percent wool. If you thought you were hot at
games in your sundresses and summer suits,
you can only imagine how he feels. -
He's certainly not drum major to get choice
seating. We have terrible seats they're in the
front row," he said. "If I want to see highlights
of the game I have to watch the Dick Crum
Show."
There is no academic incentive to be in the
band. For one hour's credit, a typical band
member practices for seven or eight hours per
week, not including game time. Leavitt works
14 to 16 hours weekly.
"I guess I'm in the band because I just
couldn't give it up. I've been in band since I was
in sixth grade, and I was drum major in high
school," he said. "You know, you'll meet more
people in band than in any organization on
campus."
The senior also cites his school spirit as a
reason he's kept his position. "I'm definitely,
definitely school-spirited," he said. "The band is
not in it for the band. Our No. 1 job is to
support the athletic team; then, it's to
entertain."
In both roles, the band is dedicated. This
year, for example, nine straight football
weekends are scheduled, only one of which the
band won't march in.
"It's always a thrill when someone says
something about our halftime show," Leavitt
said. "The suggestions and feedback are
reinforcing. If no one ever said anything we
wouldn't know what type of things to plan."
Leavitt said he had no specific plans after he
graduates this spring with a degree in business.
There is no doubt, however, that next year he
will return to Kenan Stadium for the football
games as a spectator for the first time,
Kimberly Kleman is a staff writer for The Daily
Tar lies!.
S . 4 t i
i-
j
S b
'.
j h - I y
7
Countcy
cFrcch Vczztzblz3
Tli2 Occt Scuihcrn Fried Ch!c!:cn
OPEN 7 am 9 pm
Phono 942-5837 405 VV. Rocomary St.
114Hr.-:.tcnCt
X ) ;
T-T-1
?
n
V
nil C7 TfH
oil C vLui. iiv- .
A
I t I i i i
n.
f 5
O1 "
?m
or