bands at Texas A&M University, currently Dr. Timothy Rhea, who coordinates the band. List of directors of bands Joseph Holick (1894) Arthur Jenkins (1895) George W. Gross (1895–1897) F. H. Miller (1897–1902) George W. Terrell (1902–1904) Bradford Pier Day (1904–1917) Alois Slovacek (1918–1919) Howell Nolte (1920) George Farleigh (1920–1924) Richard J. Dunn (1924–1946) E. V. Adams (1946–1973) Joe T. Haney (1973–1989) Lieutenant Colonel Ray E. Toler (1989–2002) Colonel Timothy Rhea (2002–present) Associate Directors Joe T. Haney (1972–1973) Major Joe K. McMullen Bill J. Dean (1982–1988) Lieutenant Colonel Ray E. Toler (1988–1989) Colonel Jay O. Brewer (1989–2020) Major Travis Almany (2004–present) Captain Russell Tipton (2016–present) Dr. Lance Sample (2021–present) Assistant Directors Captain Jay O. Brewer (1986–1989) Jim McDaniel (1990–1993) Lieutenant Timothy Rhea (1992–2001) Cadet life The Aggie Band is unique among college bands; no other band eats and lives together as a military unit, even at the Service Academies and military colleges. Bandsmen wear their cadet uniforms to class, drill, meetings, and other functions on campus. As a requested component of football away games, they perform at more football games than any other band. As of 1993, the band performed at 125 of the last 131 football games, including a streak of 42 straight from 1981 to 1984. Demand is extremely high for the band and one person, upon finding out the Aggie Band would not be performing at the local football game versus A&M, returned and requested a refund for 40 tickets. The Aggie Band performs a new show each week during the football season and does not generally repeat drills from week to week. During the fall semester, the Aggie Band practices for 90 minutes every weekday morning and on Saturdays every week with a football game. In addition, some components of the band also practice on Sunday afternoons and planning of the drills takes place throughout the fall semester. All told, drills can take eight to nine hours per week on top of a full academic schedule and Corps/ROTC activities. All seniors in the Corps of Cadets wear distinctive cavalry riding boots with their uniforms. These boots usually cost more than $1,800 and are generally made at Holick's, formerly owned by the family of Joseph Holick, the first band director. Organization The members of the band are called BQs and, since the band's inception, are part of the Corps of Cadets. The Aggie Band is a major unit