Winchester News-Gazette, Nov., 1977.
By Janet Fuller.
A little boy-age four or younger-was at a church supper in Danville (his father was the minister). He had been promised by his father that he would get to go to the high school football game after the supper. There were games at the church for youngsters that evening and his father who was busy visiting with his parishioners, figured that the games would keep his small son occupied for a few minutes.
But, the youngster went to the front door of the church where he heard the high school band's drums. He returned to his father and nagged him until they left for the football game.
The little boy was Winchester Community High School band director Max Jones and from that evening in Danville on, he has been stuck on bands.
However, it took Jones a little while longer to decide on a career-he didn't decide that until he was in the seventh grade! Prior to that it was a toss up between being a band director and a railroad engineer.
Max recalls when his family lived in Winamac, a girl down the street played tenor saxophone and he used to beg her to practice near a window so he could sit outside and listen. When the girl would have to take her instrument to school, young Jones would volunteer to carry it for her-no small task since the horn was about as big as he was. But, when it came time to decide on what instrument he wanted to play, the decision was relatively simple-tenor saxophone.
It was in Princeton-ministers move around a lot-that Jones finally gave up on trains and settled on a career as a band director. He was in seventh grade and a member of the Princeton junior high band at the time. He recalls that a railroad track ran next to the band practice field and one day during a rehearsal it came to him-he was definitely going to be a band director.
Well, his choice of a career was an excellent one and the Winchester community has been the one to benefit most from his seventh grade decision.
Since taking over the instrumental music reins at Winchester Community High School, Jones and his bands have built a music dynasty that has gained both state and national recognition for both the school and the community. In the past five years, the band has won three state marching championships and been runners-up twice and has participated in numerous other marching contests and parades of national importance.
What goes into creating a band of this caliber? A lot of hard work-that's what! But, in addition to the hard work on the part of both bandsmen and director, there are a few unknown qualities that make the difference between good, better, and best-and Jones manages to come up with "best" year after year.
He is quick to say that the current band is the best he has ever had and notes that at the start of the season two goals were set by the band: to win the state and to go undefeated. both goals were achieved. But, perhaps, the best story is not that they were achieved, but rather how they were achieved.
Anyone who has any dealings with a Max Jones' band knows that being in the band will not be an easy road to travel-he is a perfectionist and he demands perfection. There is no living on past laurels.
"After we win a competition," states Jones, "we celebrate briefly. Then I remind the band that the victory they won last weekend has no bearing on next week's competition. I tell them that last week means nothing."
He then gets his kids out on the practice field and works the legs off them.
Do the band members complain? You better believe they do. From time to time throughout a marching season one is liable to hear great cries of woe from bandsmen who feel overworked and unappreciated-there are tears-there is talk of quitting. But, by the end of a week of practice, Jones has his band psyched up again. The tears have long since been wiped away and the thought of quitting has been replaced by a strong desire to win.
This method of practice was perhaps best exemplified a week ago Thursday night. On Friday the band was to leave for Morehead State University in Kentucky for a competition of championship bands-but the trip and competition was to be a "fun one." On October 29, the band had won not only the state championship in it's division (class B), it had also out-pointed every other band in the state of Indiana-even Ben Davis, the class A champion.
So, what were Jones and his band doing on the evening before their departure to Morehead State? Right, they were out at the high school athletic field practicing. This was not just a short "run through" either, it was a session where the entire show was picked apart and mistakes noted in the state championship performance were corrected. Jones commented from the top of the football stands that night: "we're being super picky tonight!" But, then he didn't get his band where it is today without being "super picky."
Jones, as was said earlier, is a perfectionist. He wants his bands to be perfect and with perfection, winning naturally follows. But, his overall band program encompasses much more than mere victory.
He believes that through the band program, his bandsmen build character through discipline, self-pride and desire to be the best. The character building process not only includes the band's on-the-field performances but also the bandsmen's appearance, manners and public relations.
"We push travel in our program," states Jones. "The kids and I take a lot of flack both at school and in the community for taking so many trips. But, I think travel is important for the educational experiences it provides. A lot of these kids will never again have an opportunity to visit some of the places we visit as a band."
He cited the band trip to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. last Thanksgiving as an example of the educational value of travel. "Now, when these kids see or read something about Washington, D.C. they feel much closer to it-they have been there."
Jones would be quick to agree with some of his critics of the band trips were it not for the educational value. "Some people say the band program is a 'frill' and others criticize us for taking money out of the community," states Jones. "I would agree if it were just for the winning or the time out of school or the music alone, but when you think of the things these young people get to see and do, it is well worth the money spent."
"We never go to just one place over and over," he says. "I try to plan things so the band will get different experiences. Travel was always very important in my life and I am often amazed at what some of these kids haven't seen." He then noted that when the band marched at the Indianapolis 500 parade and race two years ago, many of the members had never before been to Indianapolis.
If feed-back means anything, the Jones' program is definitely working. His bandsmen conclude their years in band as well-rounded individuals and the letters received by school officials and Jones concerning the behavior of the young people on the road should be enough to make even the staunchest critic swell with pride. Letters have returned to the community with such comments as: "Never before have we hosted a more well-behaved and well mannered group of young people" and such letters are from very critical people-motel and hotel owners, restaurant owners-people who have observed the worst young people can dish out.
Jones, who interestingly enough graduated from Princeton High School (Princeton has been Winchester Community's toughest rival in state marching competition the past few years), has received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Ball State University.
However, the area of his job that has brought both him and his band the most acclaim-field show marching-is one in which he had no formal training.
"I just went out on my own," stated Jones. "You just know what a show should contain."
In fact, it wasn't until this past June-after designing two state championship shows-that Jones received any training at all in his specialty. He attended a clinic.
"I spent five hours in a clinic and it was only in a 30 minute session that I learned something that I wasn't already incorporating in my show planning. They taught me how to chart a show on paper.
The rest of it I already knew-I didn't realize I knew it, but I did.
As for winning state championships and all the glory the band has achieved, Jones says it is an odd feeling for him. "Oh, when they announce we have won, I jump up and down like a little kid," he says, "but after it is over, I have no desire to do it again just so I can say I have a championship band. I am thrilled for the kids and want to compete because of what it means and will mean for them but for me it isn't the 'ego thing' I thought it might be.
"You know, I never tell a band that it is great unless I think it is," comments Jones. "I might tell the kids that following a certain championship they were the best in their division but it wasn't until this year that I really felt in my mind that our band was the best in the state of Indiana-in any division-and I guess their achievements throughout the season have proven me right. We just keep knocking off the big ones."
Again, I go back to an earlier statement "there are a few unknown qualities that make the difference between good, better and "best" and I suppose if Jones could bottle his success formula, he would make a fortune.
Meanwhile, until he gets his bottling operation underway, Winchester Community High School youngsters are being trained by one of the best in the business and are hopefully going to be better adults for the experience.
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