The Ohio State Marching Band is in the national spotlight again.
The Best Damn Band in the Land turned heads across the country this past football season with it's groundbreaking, animated halftime shows.
That work is getting rewarded in another way.
The band is now featured in Apple's new iPad Air commercial.
Band director Jonathan Waters says the high-tech tool has transformed the way the band prepares for each game.
"This was a wonderful surprise this season, the technology we used. I didn't expect to be this instrumental, pardon the pun, in our daily operations," said Waters.
He said the idea to go digital came from two band members last spring.
"We were able to learn more drills more quickly, more music more quickly than I think we ever had been before," explained Waters. "This movement with even more detail on the screen is transformed to the iPad, and they can see how it moves from place to place."
Waters said next year every band member will have an iPad and get instant feedback about their music and marching performance.
But he says this technology does not change the core of what the band represents.
"When our students here the crowd start to recognize and come to life, they then perform better, then the crowd sees the next thing, and it's a great cycle that happens in a live performance with our students and crowd and the stadium. It's just awesome, nowhere else in America," said Waters.
And plans are in the works to break even more new ground next year.
"It's the 75th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz , and so I think we're going to do a Wizard of Oz show, with the wicked witch from that state up north, and some other crazy and fun things, so just stay tuned, and I know you're going to love what we do next year."
Watch 10TV and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
The Best Damn Band in the Land turned heads across the country this past football season with it's groundbreaking, animated halftime shows.
That work is getting rewarded in another way.
The band is now featured in Apple's new iPad Air commercial.
Band director Jonathan Waters says the high-tech tool has transformed the way the band prepares for each game.
"This was a wonderful surprise this season, the technology we used. I didn't expect to be this instrumental, pardon the pun, in our daily operations," said Waters.
He said the idea to go digital came from two band members last spring.
"We were able to learn more drills more quickly, more music more quickly than I think we ever had been before," explained Waters. "This movement with even more detail on the screen is transformed to the iPad, and they can see how it moves from place to place."
Waters said next year every band member will have an iPad and get instant feedback about their music and marching performance.
But he says this technology does not change the core of what the band represents.
"When our students here the crowd start to recognize and come to life, they then perform better, then the crowd sees the next thing, and it's a great cycle that happens in a live performance with our students and crowd and the stadium. It's just awesome, nowhere else in America," said Waters.
And plans are in the works to break even more new ground next year.
"It's the 75th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz , and so I think we're going to do a Wizard of Oz show, with the wicked witch from that state up north, and some other crazy and fun things, so just stay tuned, and I know you're going to love what we do next year."
Watch 10TV and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.