When Ohio State traveled to the Rose Bowl in January 2010, six members of the 225-piece outfit stayed back in Columbus. One of them was freshman Kyle West. At the time he was a sousaphone player still getting a grasp for life in The Best Damn Band In The Land.
Three years later, he enters the football season as the incumbent drum major. If the Buckeyes make a return trip to Pasadena, this time for the national championship game, West will be front and center in the Rose Bowl.
A native of tiny Hebron, Ohio, 30 miles east of Columbus, West has a lifelong background in music. He has the distinction of being the lone band member to ever play sousaphone and be the top drum major. And his high school has played a prominent role in recent seasons in the marching band.
In 2008 and 2009, Josh Halter, a fellow Lakewood High graduate, was the drum major.
When Aug. 31 rolls around, West will sprint down the ramp at the north end of Ohio Stadium, race through the band, perform a backbend with his cap touching the turf and signal the start of a football season with stratospheric expectations.
He recently sat down with Eleven Warriors in St. John Arena to discuss life in the band, expectations that go with his lofty position and a beef between the athletic department and TBDBITL.
Eleven Warriors: How did the Ohio State drum major start out in the band playing the sousaphone?
Kyle West: I was the drum major all throughout high school, and I started at Ohio State on D-Row. You have to be on that for at least year. It’s like a drum major training squad where you learn the ins and outs of the position. Then you have the opportunity to try out. I didn’t get anything that first tryout. All you do on D-Row is hold ladders. You never have the chance to march, so I didn’t want to do that again. I’d played tuba before and I thought I could make it. Sure enough, I tried out that summer (entering sophomore year) and made it.
11W: Why did you make the change to drum major? It’s certainly a prominent position in the band, but most people identify with the sousaphone player because they dot the “i” in Script Ohio.
One of the many highlights of football Saturdays.KW: It was something in high school I took very far and I was pretty good. I thought I could compete well. I picked it up really fast and wanted to continue that and be the drum major at Ohio State. I knew I had the potential and skills to do that. It was just a matter of getting better. That was always the case, especially in tryouts. It’s all about execution. The first tryout you’re so nervous, your fingers barely work. Personally, having that experience being the band, it’s a lot more fun for me being the drum major. I missed the performing side of it. You don’t really get that when you’re carrying an instrument. The drum major gets to perform for the audience and make those connections.
11W: Most young athletes in the state grasp onto Ohio State sports, especially football and basketball. Was being in the Ohio State marching band always a goal of yours?
KW: Just by playing an instrument you’re almost obligated to want to be in the band. But I wasn’t gung-ho on Ohio State from the get-go. I’d never really gone to football games, so I essentially didn’t even know about Ohio State. But once I got into drum majoring it became synonymous. You train at Ohio State in the winter and summer. I was primarily an athlete and just happened to be drafted into it on a whim. My name came up as a replacement for the drum major before me (in high school). People told me I should try it and I didn’t think I’d like it, but I picked it up very fast and enjoyed it.
11W: The drum major does several strenuous activities, including the famed backbend. Is it something that’s as difficult as it looks?
KW: No, not for me at least. I was able to do it off the bat as well if not better than everyone else. A little bit was natural flexibility, but also my gymnastics flexibility. It’s something I’ve never struggled with and barely ever practice. I know some guys do struggle with it. It’s not just the back, it’s through the hips, quads and ankles.
11W: Is becoming a part of the band essentially like football and basketball, where you are recruiting to become a member?
KW: Yes. It’s almost like a self-perpetuating thing with the band. With the drum major it’s not so easy. Part of our scholarship criteria is we have to actively recruit high schoolers and if we don’t fulfill certain things we get docked on our scholarship (The No. 1 drum major has full tuition). So we have a really active recruiting process and we have to do a lot of work behind that. We set up a program here during the winter where we train high school drum majors.
11W: Kids in Ohio are aware of the Ohio State band. But how much national attention do you guys get from high schoolers?
KW: I honestly don’t know, but we are a global group. We’ve been everywhere and even with our alumni groups, the marching band, especially with the viral YouTube video, helps spread our name. As far as where people come from for tryouts, it’s mostly local kids. But we have kids from Michigan and a lot of different states that try out.
11W: Last year was your first season as the No. 1 drum major. Before the Miami game what were your emotions like? Does having Skull Session beforehand help calm you?
KW: The big stage and things like that, a lot of band members will tell you they’re really nervous at the top of the ramp. I never really had that. I did theater and choir-type things in high school and also already being a drum major, I was really comfortable performing in front of people. Yes, it is a different scale, but it feels the same as a 30-person crowd. I was really focused and it felt like a run through. We’ve done this a ton of times, its just like practice. There isn’t much you can mess up.
Even if the football team loses, you hear people say, ‘Well, we still have the best damn band in the land.’
11W: Do you guys do a run through in the stadium before the season?
KW: We do. We don’t actually go on the field, but we do the opening part where we line up and go down the ramp. We do the turns where we get to the field and that’s usually it.
11W: On game day, are there particular things that are on your mind, whether it’s the backbend or catching the baton over the crossbar?
KW: Not really, I’m a pretty laidback guy. When it comes to performing, I’m pretty consistent throughout. I just try to have fun with it. Some drum majors live and die by their drops on the field. The first couple games it’s hard because it’s so hot and you’re sweating like crazy. If I have drops I’m not going to be broken up about it for the rest of the day. It happens, move on, there’s nothing you can do about it. You’ve got to put that behind you. It’s not a big deal, its really not. It happens.
11W: 105,000 people attend each home game. Not every single one is there to watch the band, but a large majority is. It’s a very unique thing. What’s it like to know that so many people consider the band such a big part of the day and the event surrounding the football game?
KW: It’s pretty cool. Most colleges don’t have that sort of recognition. Even if the football team loses, you hear people say, ‘Well, we still have the best damn band in the land.’ That’s a cool recognition to have and to have the support. People want to catch pregame just to see the band. That’s a pretty cool thing to have, that people want to see us.
11W: Do you guys have rivalries with other bands and most notably Michigan?
KW: I don’t personally, and I’ll probably be one of the only ones to say that. I love watching other bands. There are a lot of elitists in the marching band. A lot of them if they even hear or see another band, they think, oh, we’re better than them. It’s like apples to oranges. It’s like a band camaraderie, like slapping hands after a game saying, ‘Good game.’ Whether they are musically better or march better is irrelevant. I think it’s cool to just see their style.
11W: Aside from Ohio State, which bands do you think are the best?
KW: I haven’t really seen that many live. When we had Purdue come last year, I thought they were great. I thought they were really cool. I liked their stuff. Wisconsin is shaky in some stuff, but liked watching their pregame when they came here. Ohio University, I’m a big fan of theirs. I love watching them.
11W: Musically, do you prefer all brass?
KW: I’m not against woodwinds, but I like brass as far as a utility standpoint. If it rains the woodwinds are affected, whereas brass isn’t. As far as sound goes, if you want a huge sound that comes inherently with brass. You can’t get that same sound with woodwinds no matter how many instruments you used to try and fill that void. All brass bands sound pretty cool, I’m not saying other bands sound bad because I’ve been in mixed bands. To each their own, I guess.
11W: How big a thrill is every home Saturday when you run down the ramp into Ohio Stadium with 105,000 people watching you? Does it ever get old?
KW: That’s a pretty cool feeling, and it’s a different feeling with the drum major. The band leaves you and you’re the last one at the top. I just quietly stand there and bide my time waiting for the whistle. I have a pretty good idea, but it’s neat to have the camera on you. You can just see my silhouette at the top of the tunnel, then I give a point to the cameraman, the guy drops his head and the student section goes crazy. That’s when I sprint down the tunnel hauling it. I feel like a train coming down that thing.
11W: During Script Ohio, there’s a buildup in the crowd. Is it that way on the field, too, as you’re going through the letters?
KW: It’s more so me being tired marching. But it’s pretty cool. We always have the pre-game stuff before it and then script is the last thing, so you’re trying to march your heart out. I think there’s definitely a build up. You really feel it when you look at that sousaphone player and turn into the little ‘o.’ that’s when the crowd rises, and I turn around and give them a high-five and inspirational words. That’s pretty cool and to smack that spot and show them where the “i” is at. Most of these guys are some of my best buddies since I was in K-Row, so it’s a unique sensation.
11W: For road games, obviously you get booed sometimes because you’re associated with Ohio State, but opposing fans and bands appreciate the Ohio State band. What’s it like for them to applaud you and show appreciation?
KW: That’s pretty cool, too. It really does show that camaraderie. I try to do the same thing when bands come to Columbus. I think it’s genuine from those people, it’s touching almost.
11W: Are you a local celebrity back home? It seems like the Ohio State drum major would be a prominent person.
KW: Back home, yes. It’s a tightknit small humble little town. Everyone knows about it. People will tell me they’re proud. But campus is huge. Some people will come up and say something to me and I’ll have no idea who they are. I was a really social guy anyway. Some people ask me if girls are interested in me and I tell them they were really interested before, and I don’t use this as an advantage. It’s really when you’re in the uniform. That’s when people want pictures.
11W: What has the overwhelmingly positive response from the Nebraska halftime show been like? A lot of people consider it the best show in the history of the band.
KW: That was a pretty cool show. Chris Hoch, our assistant director, is the one who wrote that. He’s put together some really good shows and I feel like he hasn’t got the recognition. He’s excellent at writing shows and having those leadership qualities. Anytime people find out I’m in the band they always comment about that horse. Everyone remembers that videogame show. Being in it, I think it was just really good timing, especially because it made it on ESPN. The electricity of a night game, people are much more excited.
11W: How difficult is it to manage your schedule with band and school?
There’s so much talk about loving the band, but then when it comes to game day, they don’t let us play. It’s kind of silly.
KW: I think definitively it’s very hard to juggle. I’m still trying to get used to it, and I’m going into my fifth year of college. Marching band is essentially a full-time job. We have practice Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. People are getting there a half hour early and leaving a half hour or an hour later, and that isn’t time they’re spending outside of band learning music. For me, I have to do a lot more work because I have to get my twirling down. We all have to put in a ton of time.
11W: How much do you adlib during halftime shows?
KW: Most of it is choreographed, especially solos. I’m not improving everything. I know the music and where the hits are, but my filler tricks are improved. I like to make everything as musical as possible to fit in. A halftime show takes me a couple days to get down. The show is together by Thursday, but my work only begins then.
Only drum majors tend to know if a certain trick is hard. All the audience cares is launching it really high in the sky. They like big tricks.
11W: Do you ever miss playing an instrument in the band?
KW: No, I still dabble instruments occasionally. You love playing, but when you’re in the band it’s almost like a job. What I don’t miss is having to memorize music.
11W:Tryouts for the band are known to be extremely difficult and cutthroat. Is it the same way for drum majors? How stressful and pressure packed is it?
KW: The actual marching band tryouts, I tried out for sousaphone and wasn’t nervous. I thought it was just a matter of having confidence. But I did put in a lot of work. I was very confident I could make the band because I practiced so much. Drum major tryouts were a different story, especially that first tryout. Your fingers don’t work and all this anxiety comes up. It’s very hectic and stressful because a lot is on the line.
11W: Visually you know where to be during Script Ohio. But do you also have it down by steps? Could you do it with your eyes closed?
KW: Oh yeah. It’s really more nerve wracking in practice. I’m trying to march and all my friends are trying to distract me. Once I got to the game, we’d done it so many times that there was no nervousness. Once you get to the end of the season, you’re so comfortable.
On the crossovers, I’m getting through there no matter what. I’ve never had a problem with it, but I’m the first one. We all know who our crossovers are, it’s the same person every time you cross. You’re making eye contact with that person throughout script. If it’s ever off, that’s how you know someone screwed something up. It’s just a matter of repetition.
11W: What’s it like to see so many alumni members come back each season? Obviously it’s such an important part of those people’s lives.
KW: As far as the alumni band, it’s really cool to see how much they still care. There are 90-year-old people coming back every year. It shows our strong the commitment is to the band, how much the love exists and how much it influences people. It’s cool to talk to everyone about how different the band was back in the day. The actual performance of four giant scripts is crazy. It’s a really nice experience.
11W: I imagine it has to get pretty loud on the field, and how does the weather wreak havoc?
West recently won a second season as drum major.KW: During Script Ohio there’s a trumpet right behind me. That’s kind of irritating because I’m big on my hearing. I wear earplugs constantly. If I know I’m going to be in the middle of drums, I’ll wear earplugs.
That uniform is sweltering. You lose a lot of water. You have to hydrate constantly throughout the day. The weight of the hat adds to it. November is primetime for me. I don’t wear any layers under my uniform, not even for Michigan. I felt pretty good. Other people were freezing and shivering, but I was fine.
11W: Coaches going back to Woody Hayes have preached the importance of the band. Are you ever surprised how important the band is to the entire university?
KW: Whenever we go play for the football team, that interaction is great. A lot of them really like it and tell us what songs to play. That appreciation is nice. We’re in their corner and they’re in our corner.
11W: What do you think of the new Buckeye Swag song that became kind of an anthem for the football team last season?
KW: I wouldn’t have much of a problem with it if we didn’t play it as much. The football team loves it, so they want to hear it all the time. I think they’re crazy for it. It’s a cool song, we just play it so much.
11W: There have been rumblings about a strained relationship between the band and the athletic department. Some of it has centered on the band playing less and more entertainment on the scoreboard being shown. Are you aware of the rift?
KW: That’s a big issue with us. Let me say a few words on that. That’s always been a big thing with us. The band knows the fans would rather hear us. That’s where the ridiculousness comes in. We always say, let us take a vote. We try and play as much as possible. When we don’t play, we’re told not to by athletics. Last year it seemed like we were downplayed a lot. We just want to play. That’s what we are there for, to get the fans and the team amped up. There’s so much talk about loving the band, but then when it comes to game day, they don’t let us play. It’s kind of silly.
11W: What’s your major and what do you plan on doing once you graduate?
KW: I’m majoring in nutrition and have an exercise science minor. I want to be a strength and conditioning coach, involved specifically with athletic preparation. I’d like to open a gym when I’m ready for it. There’s almost a thought of I’d like to get out and experience the world, do a lot of traveling and just live life.
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