By james art
By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For the Birmingham Times
James Phillips got a rude awakening when he arrived at The Marching Maroon and White band camp during his freshman year at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU). With years of experience as a standout performer and section leader, the 19-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, thought the band’s camp in Huntsville, Alabama, would be easy.
Simply put, “I had a big head,” Phillips admitted.
“I didn’t think I would have this [humbling] experience when I got to college because I felt like I was always better than [drummers] around me,” he added. “My school didn’t have many percussionists and I felt like I was always working more than that [my peers].”
When Phillips arrived at AAMU, he learned a valuable lesson: “I saw that I wasn’t really working at all,” he said.
Overcoming the disaster
Having played the snare drum since fourth grade, Phillips was deprived of his favorite instrument during the band’s first week.
“I didn’t even make the noose line,” he said. “I played fifths, [a marching drum set of five tenor drums mounted on a single carrier]but by the end of the week I was able to re-audition for my place and got my noose back.’
Now a sophomore in mechanical engineering and taking 16 credit hours this semester, Phillips has come a long way since that rookie week. He is now assistant leader of the drum line section, a responsibility rarely given to a second-year member. His journey demonstrates not only his dedication to his craft, but also the trust and respect he has earned among his peers.
The 83rd annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola will be played between the Bulldogs of AAMU and the Hornets of Alabama State University (ASU) at 2:30 p.m. on October 26 at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field and The Marching Maroon and White prepare for an intense battle against their rival, The Mighty Marching Hornets.
“ASU is our rival and there’s something more exciting about playing against them because you know they’re going to give everything they’ve got, so you have to do the same,” Phillips said. “Although we are a complete group and will always play at our best, when it’s your opponent, you have something extra to give. The exchange between the band and the drums gets crazy.”
Phillips credits much of his success to his older brother, Miles Sewell, who was a member of The Marching Maroon and White from 2018 to 2023.
“I had the opportunity to march with him for one year, in 2023,” Phillips said. “He was ready to pick up his hanger, but he put it off for another year and waited for me. We were in a loop and he watched me face many misfortunes. He told me that just because he’s my older brother doesn’t mean I’m going to walk in here and have everything handed to me.
Discovering passion
Phillips began playing the snare drum in the fourth grade after failing to make the basketball team. Encouraged by his father, James Phillips Sr., to try something new, he discovered his passion for percussion.
“My dad liked to try something new and said I should do something extracurricular. My brother/best friend Miles and my sister Caitlin, [who was part of the color guard, a group of performers who dance and spin equipment to add visual appeal to a marching band show]were in the middle school band, so I thought I’d give it a try,” Phillips said.
“From all the instruments I saw in that hall with the orchestra, I already knew I wanted to be on the drum line. Miles had introduced me to the snare, and the drum line is the cream of the crop. I love that the looping creativity never ends. Different playing styles add to the art of percussion and I tend to add my own sauce and personality to it.
By sixth grade, Phillips made history as the youngest member to join the marching band at Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. His journey continued when he stepped into the role of drum line section leader during his freshman year of high school. He also joined Drills of Hope, a community drum line founded by a local percussionist dedicated to nurturing young talent in the area.
“It was to help local up-and-coming percussionists get a breath of fresh air to expand their palette and think outside the box,” he said. “Being on that drum line taught me confidence. It showed me that I can lead on my own and know what to do and when to do it. It built my confidence as a percussionist.”
Leading the charge
That confidence is critical for the sophomore.
“I’m the guy who counts it. Counting shows what cadence, [musical arrangement for percussionists that is usually played to maintain the correct rhythm in a marching band]is listened to and I have every section leader looking at me for guidance on what we’re going to play as we count songs in the stands during games,” Phillips explained. “The whole drum line, [which consists of 28]pays attention to me.’
As assistant leader of percussion, Phillips describes his leadership style as “casual,” but maintains high expectations.
“You have to hold everyone accountable, even your leaders. If you don’t hold your fellow leaders accountable, how can the standard rise?” he asked. “I’m big on communication and I know what style of communication someone needs to get the best out of themselves. I have seen in previous years, from high school to college, that section leaders tended to fuss a lot.
“I always thought there was a better way to do it. This is a moment of rallying against attack. Being calm rubs off on the people you teach and creates a relaxed environment that’s much better to learn in than a hostile one.”
Phillips leads daily rehearsals for the snare drum section. “We train every day from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the whole group. We focus mostly on confidence and skills,” he said. “Marching in a historically black college and university (HBCU) band, your confidence is everything. We’re competing against other groups and drums, so I need my line to be confident in their skills and abilities.”
One of the fun parts of being a leader is seeing his line grow, Phillips said: “Watching someone become more confident and achieve the goals they set before coming to [AAMU] it brings me joy. It’s great to see someone find their passion and get creative. … It’s fun to collaborate on this.”
Looking ahead, Phillips plans to retire from drums after graduating from AAMU.
“I’ll always love it, but I’ve been doing this for a long time and I want to focus on my other interests,” he said. “I might be interested in teaching drumline in college.”
Phillips found himself in Dallas, Texas, after college to be closer to other family members and for a change of scenery. “I want to work behind the scenes in civil engineering and oversee the maintenance of construction sites,” he said.
The assistant leader of the percussion section understands that the lessons learned in the band extend far beyond music.
“This is the best life experience and I know it will benefit me in whatever I decide to do. The band is the best example I have of real life outside of school. It’s constantly shaping me and proving to me all the things I can achieve,” he said. “It taught me that you achieve bigger goals by tackling smaller ones, which helped me realize that nothing is too big or unattainable.”
The 83rd Annual McDonald’s Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola will be played between the Bulldogs of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and the Hornets of Alabama State University at 2:30 p.m. on October 26, 2024 at legendary Legion Field in Birmingham . Details of road closures, accessible parking, transport services and more are available at magiccityclassic.com.