Bulldog Brigade (Band)
Bulldog Brigade is where music meets school spirit. You’ll catch us hyping up home football games, basketball games, rallies, and showing out at marching band competitions. We compete during two seasons each year — Fall is our Marching Competition Season, and Winter is our Drumline Competition Season — with performances both locally and out of town. Bulldog Brigade is all about teamwork, energy, and making memories while growing as musicians. If you’re ready to have fun, level up your skills, and be part of something big at Golden Valley High School, Bulldog Brigade is calling.
Meet the Teacher:
My name is Anthony Hicks and I am the current Band Director here at Golden Valley High School. I started music when I was roughly 5 years old with the trumpet being my main instrument. I performed in the Tulare Western Marching Band as a featured soloist both in Marching band and concert season. After my high school years, I joined the Marine Corps as an artilleryman. Throughout my years in the Marines, I was able to attend many courses such as Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course, HIMARS Launcher Chief Course, and obtained a black belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts. After leaving the Marine corps I found my way back to music where I began playing trumpet once again. This led me to attend Cal State Bakersfield and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Music Education. Nowadays, I am a frequent collaborator with the CSUB concert band, Bakersfield College Summer Musicals, and any other freelance jazz gigs that may pop up alongside building and overseeing the Golden Valley Bulldog Brigade.
My name is Anthony Hicks and I am the current Band Director here at Golden Valley High School. I started music when I was roughly 5 years old with the trumpet being my main instrument. I performed in the Tulare Western Marching Band as a featured soloist both in Marching band and concert season. After my high school years, I joined the Marine Corps as an artilleryman. Throughout my years in the Marines, I was able to attend many courses such as Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course, HIMARS Launcher Chief Course, and obtained a black belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts. After leaving the Marine corps I found my way back to music where I began playing trumpet once again. This led me to attend Cal State Bakersfield and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Music Education. Nowadays, I am a frequent collaborator with the CSUB concert band, Bakersfield College Summer Musicals, and any other freelance jazz gigs that may pop up alongside building and overseeing the Golden Valley Bulldog Brigade.
Why Band:
Band is something special to be a part of. It can become a place of enjoyment for even the newest members. It builds creativity in each member that is unlike any other class and allows students to have an emotional outlet through their playing.
Band is something special to be a part of. It can become a place of enjoyment for even the newest members. It builds creativity in each member that is unlike any other class and allows students to have an emotional outlet through their playing.
Outside the Classroom:
In my free time I like composing music, playing gigs as a freelance musician and watch sports.
In my free time I like composing music, playing gigs as a freelance musician and watch sports.
Skills students learn:
• Focus and concentration
• Listening and communication
• Following directions and working toward shared outcomes
• Improves focus and attention during lessons
• Strengthens math skills (rhythm, counting, patterns, timing)
• Builds reading comprehension (music notation = another language)
• Encourages critical thinking and problem solving
• Boosts confidence when presenting or speaking in class
• Reinforces teamwork used in group assignments
• Focus and concentration
• Listening and communication
• Following directions and working toward shared outcomes
• Improves focus and attention during lessons
• Strengthens math skills (rhythm, counting, patterns, timing)
• Builds reading comprehension (music notation = another language)
• Encourages critical thinking and problem solving
• Boosts confidence when presenting or speaking in class
• Reinforces teamwork used in group assignments
How it helps in other classes:
Band helps relieve the normal stresses of everyday school life. Many students learn collaboration skills that help them boost their grades. Students also are incredibly helpful to one another and promote a culture of acceptance and confidence in the work they do.
Band helps relieve the normal stresses of everyday school life. Many students learn collaboration skills that help them boost their grades. Students also are incredibly helpful to one another and promote a culture of acceptance and confidence in the work they do.
How it will help them in the real world:
Students create the habit of building schedules that help balance their work and their life while confidently putting out quality work. Not only do they find pride in their work, but their time spent in band is looked on favorably by colleges and many employers due to the skills students acquire while participating.
Students create the habit of building schedules that help balance their work and their life while confidently putting out quality work. Not only do they find pride in their work, but their time spent in band is looked on favorably by colleges and many employers due to the skills students acquire while participating.
Student Testimonials:
“Band is a place where everyone is here for a common interest. You're able to just connect with so many people and receive so many opportunities.”
“I think band is a community where everyone involved gets to be a part of performing, either marching or in concert, these beautiful pieces of art in their own respective ways.”
“I absolutely love performing any show and being able to express myself through music, as well as being able to connect with different kids in my section and watching everyone grow as musicians.”
