In this episode, Provost Kimberly D. McCorkle talks with Dr. Joe Moore, Director of Athletics Bands, Associate Director of Bands, and Associate Professor of Music, about the incredible ETSU Marching Bucs. In 2014, Dr. Moore was tasked with revitalizing the Marching Bucs, which had been dissolved a decade earlier. Under his leadership, the band has grown in both size and prestige. In 2024, the marching band became the first collegiate marching band from Tennessee in over 60 years invited to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.Transcript: Dr. Joe MooreSo, I actually began applying in 2019. 2020, they did not have the parade. It was virtual because of COVID, and then continued applying and, then got the word that we were selected.Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkleHi, I'm Kimberly McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Tennessee State University.From the moment I arrived on this campus, I have been inspired by our faculty, their passion for what they do, their belief in the power of higher education, and the way they are transforming the lives of their students.This podcast is dedicated to them, our incredible faculty at ETSU.Hear their stories as they tell us “Why I Teach.”In this episode, we will talk with Dr. Joe Moore, Director of Athletic Bands, Associate Director of Bands, and Associate Professor of Music.Dr. Moore joined the ETSU faculty in 2014 and was tasked with revitalizing the Marching Bucs, which had been dissolved a decade earlier.Under Dr. Moore's leadership, the group has enjoyed explosive, exponential growth year-to-year, from a membership of 165 students in its 2015 debut season to well over 300 active members at present, continually and consecutively breaking the record for the largest band in ETSU history.Along with a surge in membership, the Marching Bucs have quickly established themselves as a premier marching arts organization with national recognition.The group was chosen to represent the state of Tennessee in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first time a collegiate band from Tennessee has been featured in over 60 years.Enjoy the show.Dr. Moore, welcome to the show.I start my podcast with the same question for every guest. Take me back to your first day of teaching at ETSU as a faculty member and looking back on that day, what is one piece of advice you would have given yourself?Dr. Joe Moore Thank you for having me. Yeah.I remember at first feeling a little overwhelmed with the idea of totally starting a program from scratch, basically because it had been dormant for so long.But what I would go back and tell myself now is enjoy the process, document the process. I think I was so fixated on the goal that I didn't always appreciate and enjoy the stepping stones along the way.You know, talking with students for the first time who were excited about the program starting back, and they were sharing their stories with me and things like that.So, I think just if I could go back and just soak all of that in rather than being fixated on creating a product.Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkleWell, I have been looking forward to having you here. What a year.The ETSU Marching Bucs just had what I would call a historic season. I had the privilege of cheering on the band at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I know from an observer's perspective, it was exhilarating.So, I can only imagine what it must have been like to be leading your students along this journey.Will you share the story of how the band was selected to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? What was the process like for you and the students?Dr. Joe MooreSure.I've watched the Macy's Parade as long as I can remember. Growing up, my family knew we couldn't have Thanksgiving dinner until after the parade was over.When I joined band, I thought, oh, that would be really nice to be in it someday. And then I became a band director, and I thought, oh, I would love to have a grou