Band season is here, but often, people do not see the work HBCU band directors put in behind the scenes.
Many do not think about the decision a student has to make when choosing a school to march for. Tuition and scholarship money can be a huge factor, even when a school has a prestigious name.
The term "Black Ivy League" is an unofficial cultural term often used to describe historically Black colleges and universities known for their academic prestige, selectivity and strong reputations. Think Hampton University.
Hampton's marching band, The Marching Force, has performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and at other major events. But convincing a student to choose Hampton and march for The Force is not always easy. In fact, recruiting at a school like Hampton comes with its own unique challenges.
We sat down with Dr. Jones, Director of Bands at Hampton University, to talk about how he approaches recruiting and what it takes to build a successful collegiate band.
One of the biggest factors is money.
Tuition and the amount of scholarship money a student receives can play a major role in deciding which school they attend. Unlike some public universities where tuition may be lower and more scholarship opportunities may be available, private HBCUs such as Hampton can face an additional challenge when competing for talented students.
So, how does Dr. Jones do it?
He says it starts with having systems in place.
"This year, we recruited 93 freshmen into the band. Sixty-one of them are instrumentalists," Dr. Jones said.
But those numbers did not happen by accident.
Dr. Jones says recruiting requires having boots on the ground. That means traveling across the country to find a specific type of student, someone who can not only play at a high level but also handle the academic demands of college.
That balance is especially important when recruiting at schools that carry the reputation and academic expectations associated with the unofficial "Black Ivy League" label.
Schools such as Howard University, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University are just a few examples of institutions that attract students because of their academic reputations, culture and legacy.
For Hampton, however, the recruitment process appears to be working.
We also talked with Dr. Jones about retention and what it takes to keep students in the program once they arrive on campus. He says Hampton has been successful in that area by creating a balance between academics and the demands of being a member of The Force.
Ultimately, this conversation offered a unique look at how recruiting can differ from one HBCU band to another.
For The Marching Force, there could be even more competition on the horizon.
Dr. Jones says he has been in talks with other HBCU band directors about possible gym battles for the 2026 season.
If those conversations come together, Hampton's band could have an exciting season ahead.
Stay tuned.
