“Always listen … it’s about airflow,” said Concordia College Selma band director Bailey Dawson Sr. after he listens intently to his band during its regular practice.

Though the “Magnificent Marching Hornets” are only three years old, their sound is far more mature.

For Dawson, who’s overseen hundreds of students at Francis Marion High, Selma High, St. Jude High of Montgomery, Litchfield High in Gadsden and Alabama State University before coming to Concordia in 2010, it’s all about experience.

“I bring successful experience,” Dawson said. “And being in administration for a while, I know the administrative side of the program. We’re small in size but we have a big sound. We have a good arranger who arranges for our band to give us a unique sound.”

With more than 60 members — including dancers, percussions and the newly added flag corps, the band has received many awards and traveled to such places as Miami, Orlando, Texas, Ohio and Louisiana.

Launched by Darryl Johnson and Bobby McKenzie in 2008, Dawson said the two set the stage for what the band currently does.

“We try to bring precision and excitement and entertainment,” Dawson said. “We don’t try to be like anyone else, we do what Concordia does. We want to represent the city in the best way we can. Hopefully people will come and want to be a part of the tradition.”

Gathering every evening, Dawson said every moment with the band is spent “practicing, rehearsing and learning.”

“There’s no down time,” Dawson said. “We spend every moment of band practice productively.”

Head drum major Midan Green has been with the band since 2009. Deeming himself as Dawson’s “right hand man,” Green makes sure everything runs smoothly.“I bring order,” Green said. “They (members) don’t see the band how I see it … I make sure everyone is on one accord and in unison. I find my comfort zone with the band as a whole … I have a relationship with everyone in the band … (but) when I mean business, I mean business.”

Above all, Dawson said hard work and dedication is key to success.

“I want my students to be responsible for what they do, don’t look for anyone to make something happen for you. Set goals high, work through difficulty to get to those goals.”