On a Water Break is a podcast for everyone in the marching arts. If you’re talking about it, we’re probably planning to talk about it on an upcoming episode. We want to entertain and inform you-the performer, instructor, designer, adjudicator and enthusiast.
We bring you the Marching Arts news, interview, advice and so much more each week from amazing hosts
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On a Water Break is a podcast for everyone in the marching arts. If you’re talking about it, we’re probably planning to talk about it on an upcoming episode. We want to entertain and inform you-the performer, instructor, designer, adjudicator and enthusiast.
We bring you the Marching Arts news, interview, advice and so much more each week from amazing hosts
How Rowan University Built a College Marching Band (and Survived Bandtober)
On A Water Break
45 minutes
2 weeks ago
How Rowan University Built a College Marching Band (and Survived Bandtober)
This week, Stephen McCarrick is joined by Neil, Art Grossman, and guest Megan Cooney, Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands at Rowan University, to talk about the rapid rise of the Pride of the Profs Marching Band and the realities of surviving Bandtober.
🎺 Discover how Rowan's program expanded from 130 to 180 members in just three years, what it takes to build a college band culture from scratch, and how joy, trust, and community keep musicians coming back through the busiest month of the season.
🗞️ NEWS
• Wisconsin State Championships – Baldwin-Woodville, Greendale, River Falls & Oak Creek take top honors.
• HBCU Red Lobster Band of the Year – Florida A&M's Marching 100 lands #1.
• Minnesota Youth & Music Championships – Rosemont High School wins gold.
Plus, big shoutouts to every band wrapping up state finals weekend!
💼 Peak Group Travel Tip – @peak.group.travel [https://instagram.com/peak.group.travel] | Lock in your early-bird fares before finals season hits full stride.
⚙️ 60-Second Tech Block
Neil fires up the field with a pep talk on staying motivated — from Halloween rehearsals to senior night celebrations.
💦 Water We Doing?!
Stephen questions why "bad" college bass lines still exist,
Megan vents about practice-room noise complaints,
Art calls out Bandtober burnout,
and Neil just wants one Saturday for pumpkin patch season.
🌟 Gush & Go
Neil's band heads to the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade,
Megan's students earn a 2026 Philly Thanksgiving Parade invite,
Stephen performs with the Eagles Drumline Kelly Green Game,
and Art celebrates how the marching arts are thriving nationwide.
👥 This Week's Panel
Stephen McCarrick – @yeah_bass [https://instagram.com/yeah_bass]
Neil – @neildrums1 [https://instagram.com/neildrums1]
Art Grossman – @arthurjuhl [https://instagram.com/arthurjuhl]
Guest Megan Cooney – @prideoftheprofs [https://instagram.com/prideoftheprofs] | Rowan University
💧 Find On A Water Break
🌐 onawaterbreakpodcast.com
🔗 linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
📧 onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.
🏆 Sponsors
🥇 Peak Group Travel – @peak.group.travel [https://instagram.com/peak.group.travel] | peakgrouptravel.com
🛍 Guard Closet – @guardcloset [https://instagram.com/guardcloset] | guardcloset.com [https://guardcloset.com/]
🎙 A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.
On A Water Break
On a Water Break is a podcast for everyone in the marching arts. If you’re talking about it, we’re probably planning to talk about it on an upcoming episode. We want to entertain and inform you-the performer, instructor, designer, adjudicator and enthusiast.
We bring you the Marching Arts news, interview, advice and so much more each week from amazing hosts
