Episode 82: Meet Mr. Michael McElroy

0:00Well, if I'm doing a voiceover introduction, then we must be officially back for season 4 of the podcast. Thanks so much to everyone who's been listening. We're so excited to continue sharing all the these fun episodes from Beyond the Blue and Gold. Well, on today's episode, we sit down with our new band director, Michael McAroy. Today, we're going to talk about re-aligning the Good Pass Your Culture across Fine Arts and Athletics, as well as the incredible growth that's happened in the band program in just a few short months. It's going to be a wonderful episode and you definitely don't want to miss it. And I think Heath is even going to find a new best friend. So, as always, let's get started. You got a haircut? Well, come back. I did get my haircut. How are you feeling? I feel pretty good. Why did you get a haircut? My barber shop, I have to get there on a day that

1:07works for me. And so yesterday worked for me. Okay. So yeah, the cheapest barber shop in East National Ingewood area. Where is that? 615 barber shop. You need to check them out. Where do you go to the Get your haircut? So I'm actually in the market. Hi, everyone. God brings it all together. Yeah, I was like, we have guests today. We need to haircut. He doesn't need one. Oh, no, I need one. I was like, my hair is licking my ears. We don't have that. What did you just say? I said, my hair is licking my ears. I feel like this is... Yeah, what is that? This is great. You all... You don't know this because you probably never listen to this. This man said some of the craziest sentences from from growing up. But that licking your licking my ears, that's good stuff. So I've heard that, but not all on time. I promised that I wasn't always like this. I was like, when I grew up in New York, I didn't have anything interesting to say. Then I spent 10 years around Cajun men. And then suddenly, it rubbed off on me. My inheritance kind of showed up.

2:16Well, let's just... And with that, let's get stuff. It's moved on. A lunch today. You mean Buddha? That's right. That's right. And Buddha is a breakfast. So our guest today on the podcast is Michael McRoy. They'll put the claps in. Michael McRoy. Yes. No relation to Rory. McRoy? Probably distantly. It's got to be somewhere. Somewhere along the night. Yeah. The clans fought together somewhere in the Highlands. Yep, that's exactly right. That's probably not historically accurate at all. Yeah. So yeah, we have Michael McRoy, who is our new band director. New faculty. Yeah, new faculty. This is technically this episode will be a new faculty Friday. How did you get here? Let's start there. Yeah. The short version is that my sister, who is now Mr. Zareng, works here at Good Classroom. Good Classroom. She has for me a great teacher. I think hopped on that hardening pipeline. Yes. The great schools, leading the great schools. She shoots me a text. And I remember who's

3:21during class in April. And she says, good pastor is looking for a band director. And I'm like, I'm always like I said, I'm doing well, by the way. Yeah. Did you forget to ask how I am? I think we're in like had just come off of our state concert assessment. We had just gotten all superiors at state first time ever. And she was like, you should come up here to Nashville. We were where your brothers, where your sisters are. Yeah, that's really what it is. It was a purely personal event. They had invested interest. First sister messages, me second sister message, me apply, come to Nashville, apply, come to Nashville. And I looked to the school and I was like, what a wonderful place to work. And I was having, you know, unfortunately in small town, Louisiana, there's a lot of issues systemically in the school boards and how they run. And I just,

4:25I was done fighting the good fight for a little bit. And I did keep the faith. Yes, I definitely kept the faith. And I mean, we accomplished a lot over there. But yeah, I knew that I wanted to raise my daughter in a place that I could trust the education system. And where she would have everything she could want, which is what my parents fought for. So she has been very visible. We have seen her. Oh, me as a modern celebrity. Yeah, she is. She's just, I mean, it's not like, you know, there's no hibernation and waiting for her. You know, she's one year old and like a celebrity brings her out in public. No, she's been out here in the middle of it all. She's been in it for sure. I love seeing that. I was going to say it's kind of the side effect of being a band director's daughter. She's been strapped to me for her. Her soul is already I mean, she's going to be singing tunes before she knows that her pitch that cast. Oh, I wish. I was like, I sure don't have it. There's some trivia for you. Okay, here we go. And now I'll witness John Hayes, the late John Hayes and Stephen Hayes' argue over this one time. But

5:26okay. Band is the most successful state champion on campus. We've had a lot of state champions in basketball. A few in basketball baseball, softball of the years. We've had some football success, but band has had more. Yeah, they're the most successful program, which is great. And the argument was over how many? And it was like nuance between the Hayes is like, no, not 18, 20 or whatever it was. Was it 14? Yeah, it's something like that. What don't? It's a lot. It's double digit. I think if you get to double digit, I mean, it's like, oh, it's like, you're like the best baseball team in the world, the New York Yankees. Yeah, you're like you're up there. Or rings, then fingers and toes. They go. No, it's I mean, it's such a beloved program. And the alumni love it so much. And so it's so where were there any reservations that you had coming into a program that had had the such success and then it's kind of taken a different route? What my some of my colleagues at Columbia would tell me is that I'm a glutton for punishment. And I love to build. I love to build things. And when I started my high school program

6:32at Mamu, which was long four years ago now, the kids couldn't read music at all. And we did, we had no insurance. There was water rot in every wall. Like anything that you could think of that was could be wrong with a band in a program, it was happening. Okay. Behavioral all the way down top to bottom, it was rough. And last year, we got fifth place and stay out of 16 bands. Wow. So when I heard about this position and its history, I knew that something if the kids wanted, that we could tap into and that we had, it's nice to have the resources to actually create real art, which is at the end of the day, what I think every director really wants is to create something that's special and worthwhile to the performers and the audience. So like having a marimba is something that I literally couldn't fit through the doors of my old band. And now, here we are. We have a beautiful percussion selection. And our normal instrument stockpile could

7:33use some help if anyone got any old instruments in your closets. I will more than happily take them off your hands. But overall, the fact that we have resources and kids that want to do the work, they're so intelligent and willing. And I saw it as only a plus in that I knew that with the right things in hand that I could do good work with kids that want to do good work. Yeah, well good. One thing that came back was marching band. Okay. And so is that like, I mean, I'm trying to parallel it because I have my mom works. It's like you have cheerleading at the games and stuff. And but then you have a group of cheerleaders that sometimes, it's not always the whole squad, but some of them bow out, some of them don't, but they go and do computational cheerleading. Is it kind of the same thing? It's like you have band, you're in the band, you're in all these, you know, ensembles, concerts, you might be pepping at the pep, you know, pep band.

8:33Is that what y'all call it peping? I don't know, I just made that up. I've never called it that, but I'm not against it. If it takes off, I do want credit. We heard it here. But now I'm marching band is a different level, right? It's a different, it's a different reality. It's a different dimension. What is it? Like, what is it to just band? So it is the combination of the musician and the athlete is kind of how we describe it. And we directly associate that to like your upper body is the musician, you're controlling your air, you're making the best sounds possible, you're playing the music. And then you're now adding this athletic element of marching and jazz running and all of the other sorts of things that get added on. But furthermore, marching band is just a more encompassing experience. I mean, the rehearsals are way more strenuous because we have to rehearse way more to put on a production of this size. The competition season is not something that you would typically see in concert band to where we are our first

9:35competition is Hendersonville this Saturday. Yes. I think we've all met one 30, but double check that before you trust me. I write this schedule and then promptly forget it. That's all right. And then we have station camp the next weekend and then Liberty Creek the next weekend. That's it's busy. Yeah. I was like, and the Tennessee system works different than Louisiana to where more of the competitions are stacked in September than October, which is really interesting. That is interesting. And so we're on a really short timeline to try to get as much of the show out as possible. But what that does, it's definitely like pressure makes diamonds kinds of things to where the level of leadership that students have to take on and the level of accountability is higher. But just like if you are on that that top level cheer team and you're going to Disney to perform at the varsity tournament, you need to be on your endgame. And you have to take on that extra responsibility compared to the concert band, which I mean is very important. And especially

10:35in spring season, when we do compete in that as well, that is a higher level. It's focused in a different way. I mean, what's been really neat is I can't remember how many you started with when I came out and just I mean, just with, you know, it was just like I was here one day in the summer. I'm going to come up there and see what you all are doing just working on your show. And I mean, I was like, I loved it. The kids who were out there, you know, I just, what I really remember is there were two girls doing guard. Yes. That day. Then on Friday night when you all did the, are you all calling that something like the Cougar walk or the so have you branded that? I feel like not yet, but I think Cougar walk is a nice, nice, nice, proud, well, come up with some. Cougar, proud. We'll come up with something. But whatever that walk that, you know, yeah, Cougar dance band, no, no, no, but you have with band dancing cheer when they walk through. And then just to see all those girls and, you know, that were now in the guard, I was like, this has gotten like I had those some of those girls run into me. Let me just pick you. Guess what?

11:39I'm now doing color guard. Yes. And you know, it's just like everything. That's like when a friend is passionate about it, like you can do this. I know you know how to do this already. Right. Right. And it's been really exciting. I mean, and those girls are the girls I have that work hard anyway. Right. Right. And so they're going to be great for it. So the fact that that much growth has happened. And it's almost like, I know you were really working. But you know, sadly, you're working behind the April, you know, oh, yeah, I mean, be able to be in front of the student. Yeah, I was here. Yeah. But then I mean, it's to see that much growth in a short amount of time. And also to see the students excited to see the parents like walking through that tailgate section, all those parents were just like, we should be we should have been doing this the whole time. You know, you see that's that's exactly it. And I think that's where the the quick success is coming from is that it's a almost a it's an alignment of culture. Right. Yeah. This is something that should I was like should exist here. It's something that people want here.

12:39And I mean, we took on yeah, we went from two color guard to up to nine. Now and my my wonderful wife is a their instructor and she's yeah, yeah, she's remarkable with a flag or a rifle or anything, absolutely, God send that we decided to pair up dream team. Yeah. But yeah, it's it's nice having that growth. We've added like three to the field since okay, the summer. And I'm hoping that some of the students that are starting instruments in intra to fine arts or music appreciation are going to want to stay with us for the for next season. And I'm optimistic that the numbers shouldn't come. Yeah. Oh, it's definitely exciting. And shout out to Terri and Lewis who's a currently serving as percussion tech. Oh, yeah. She's been meeting fantastic. 24 is that right? I think she still got like a band or something in the office or a jersey she has to come get her. So I think she has finally received that jersey.

13:43Okay, good. I saw the in there for not a month, not a couple months, but over year. Yeah, I was like, yeah, so yeah, so with that, what is what do you what are some goals or some things you want to achieve this year when it comes to band? So I think really in this first year that I just really want to have a product that we're proud of, right? I want to I'm trying my best to establish as much of this marching band culture stuff back into the system to where they're having pride in their work. They're showing up ready to practice. And they have been adapting really quickly to all these sorts of things. There are some like minute traditions that we need to like return to. But really, if we can go to a competition and get a superior rating, even despite placement, I would be happy with that because that would mean that we are achieving at a high level. And that's really what I need to say. What are ratings? What's the difference? Just not an inferior is there? No, okay. No inferior. So I was like, depending on the festival, they use the box

14:49system here in Tennessee. So a five is like your five out of five. And then your one is you don't want you should not have walked on a field. Nobody's, I've never seen a one given out. It's purely performative. But yeah, I'm a competitive sort. I want this. I want us to be champions, but I want to make sure that we've earned it and put it in the work towards it. And I'm always going to be gunning for that every year, but that is not the point of music making. That's not the point of art. But it is fun to compete. And if that's pushing us all to be better, then it's worth doing. I mean, I'm super excited for the NFL start tonight. And I have competition with my bones. I was an athlete as well as a musician growing up, just like many of my staff were and your sisters, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I was like, Christina, the middle one was a very competitive volleyball player. And then Megan is in missurang through javelin for Harding. And she is a basketball player. Yep, she was

15:54also a basketball player. I mean, we all kind of found our niches young. And I thank my parents for letting us, you know, providing that opportunity. And we got to do both. Yeah. And I think that's one thing that I would like to see if I get to give a goal. But I would love for good pastor students to feel like what you just said, that's is that they could do both. Yes. And you don't have to just do one thing. And so the thing I have always enjoyed is seeing, and this happens every now and then. I don't think it happened Friday. But like, it would be like, there always be like a cheerleader we have a cheerleader. Yeah. But yeah, I'm just a guy. Yeah. You have the visual. And I know she changed her to put on like her outfit. But every now and then, you know, that cheerleader wouldn't get to change. Yeah. No. And then she'd be out there doing the show in her uniform. I was like, this is it. This is exactly what? And it was, I mean, it was just it was a good visual. I remember seeing that a long time. Yeah. And that would every now and I get it. You obviously want to be

16:55in costume. But it's sometimes it's like, it's a good reminder that like our kids can do multiple things. And it's encouraged. I think that's the big thing that it's a good selling point that it is encouraged to do more. Yeah. Just one thing. I was like, if that's a message I can get out to you guys, Cougar Nation is that I'm fully supportive of people being everything that they can be. Yeah. I was an athlete and a musician. And I mean, if Travis Kelsey can play this extra on his high school marching band and then make the NFL, then I think and Mary Taylor Swift and Mary Taylor Swift. And I think that that might be a template for success. Right. Um, a little bias. Yeah. Um, but I want to see some football players carrying bass drums. I want to see Sharon dance members playing an instrument or spinning a flag. Yeah. There's just, I think that's a problem in America today is that we are over specializing our kids to. Yeah. Yeah. I want dimensional competitors. Yeah. I don't know why. I mean, private schools definitely have a

17:56like a narrative with that. Yes. That might be a podcast for a different time. They'd get a panel like a gym carder in here. So we always like, because we're going out. I mean, it was not, it was not uncommon to see some of us playing three sports and or like you said, like I played two sports and was in the band at that age. I mean, so it's just like, how does it, you know, and it can't be like you can't be great at those if you're separating. No, it's just, I think it's just like, you said, it's a cultural thing right now that narrative is being pushed. Yeah. And you'd be shocked at what transfers. Right. Like I grew up playing baseball and I did a couple years of soccer. I ran cross country. I did, I did it all. Ultimate frisbee ended up being my home sport as a, as a, yeah, high schooler and super. I don't know. We have to be super injective to do that at a conveyor. Oh, like, yeah, I was like, we were second place in state in New York. Shout out to John J. Aired. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely not. But I mean, we were self-coached and we were competing

19:01against teams that were well organized with coaches, but we had the heart to do it. And all of us were theater kids or musicians that happened to pick want to be athletes and have that second sport. So it's, it's fully possible. And I mean, we have a wonderful theater program. And most of our guard are involved in theater. I mean, they have had a train your dragon coming up, which is super exciting. I know. But those some of those girls are also running cross country. So like all this can be done. It's awesome. It can be done just with creative thought and commitment to hard work. Yeah. I mean, and I would say all the adults would want that to be the case. So it is just making sure our kids and our families understand that we would love to go back to that. It's a culture shift that we, you know, encourage the arts and we encourage extracurriculars. And just we want you to do something more than just coming and being a student. So maybe whatever that looks like.

20:03Okay. So is there anything else that you want to say that you didn't get to say? I just want to ask you that just I just want to say that I just want to thank the community for welcoming me so heartily. My wonderful booster system, the alumni have been very supportive. Yeah. And I appreciate all the help that's been coming out as we revitalize this program that is so beloved to so many. And thank you to the school for just being such a welcoming environment. I mean, I've experienced nothing but kind words on mass from football games to in the classroom. And I really think that there's a great group of people here that can really do great things for these children. And I am a very strict critic. I would not say that if it wasn't true. So it's just it's a great thing to be here. And I'm excited to see what things can come. I love the movie drum lawn. Everything should and get some Nick Cannon. There are some few things Nick Cannon does that I really like. I do. It's wild and out. Oh, that's fun. There you go. But I would like I know it's not easy. I'd like

21:09the flight of the bumblebee. At some point like I don't know if that's a pep band moment. It's not easy, right? But in that movie, he's like, throw him a little hit him with a little flight of the bumblebee when they're like, warring across the stand. Hit him with a little fight of the bumblebee. You're going to wear some white clothes. I probably would. Don't I dated a drum major. I just want to but anyway, it's pretty big, pretty big deal back then. She was pretty popular. They had three at an arm arch band. Oh, okay. Yeah. The wine in the middle and then the two on the side. So which one did you date? She was the middle center drum major. Yeah. Not dropping names. Just in case you listen to this. I probably not. I had a principal. Yeah. But no, the the final of the bumblebee. I was like, I can look into it for sure. I was like, these kids can tap and we have a very promising crop coming up next year. We used to play this song. It was it hang on Snoopy. Is it? Oh, hang on Snoopy. Snoopy. Yeah. Oh, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Yeah. I used to love that. That's one we could definitely bring back.

22:15Okay. So they got my request. I was like, I do take requests and this will drum off with the other marching band. That'd be awesome to see that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was like, shout out to him more county. They did that pretty clean line. Yeah. Yeah. I came to us. I was like, the their director is a percussionist and you could tell because those kids could tap. They had good hands. Well, and I love that they all came over and supported. I don't know if you all could see that. I was like, I'll join in our section. That's also. Yeah. I was like, I invited them because it's that was nice. That was a nice little moment. Yeah. At the end of the day, band kids are band kids and they're supposed to get along. Yeah. We want to be that way. You know, I just give you your, I don't know if it's your parents, your boosters, they could be the same people. But like, just I've heard more, just like, I saw parents were we were setting up for the tailgate. Parents were hanging like the, you know, doing setup in the band section. And so I was just like, I was just like, they were like, oh, yeah, they had palm trees last week. And then, you know, I'm sad to see what you're going to do. I was like, I was like, that is being spearheaded by the Hayes family. And yeah,

23:18that's so fun. So fun. So stupid. And it's just adding to the night. You know, just making it be a really good night. So, well, this has been wonderful. I'm sad we can't continue. We'll do a part two. We'll do a part two. Yeah. I'm all right. I'm all right. I'm all right. I'm all right. I'm all right. You know, that's kind of. Oh, it's just down the street. He's still here. He's accomplishing great things like. Well, we definitely gonna give you like a little update on how your season went. Yeah. What do that? That would be important. Because you said your goals. And then now, we can report that. Hopefully I will have a stack of trophies for you all. But you know, first season, let's temper expectations. But they are real. They are killing it. But, you know, they're doing a really good job for sure. They are. So, you want to sign us off. Thank you for for listening today and we will catch y'all down the road. Go beyond good pastures.