Famous Fleming Quotes                        We'll Never Forget...

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WGH MARCHING and CONCERT BANDS

“Things are going to be different now.  You will march and play exactly as I instruct you.  If you don’t like it, now is your chance to leave.” -- Mr. Fleming’s very first day with the Harding marching band, early August 1958.  Submitted by Dave Craciun, ‘61

“We have now played your music.  You have two days to memorize it ... no excuses.”

-- Mr. Fleming’s very first day with the Harding marching band, early August 1958.  Submitted by Dave Craciun ‘61

“What you will remember is the music.”  -- Submitted by Chuck Hefling '67

“Don’t be late for practice … not even once, or you’re gone.  I will not tolerate it.  No excuses.  Don’t tell me you hit a train on the way here.  Leave early enough that if you hit a train, you’ll still be on time.”  -- Prior to first outdoor marching practice, summer 1966. Submitted by Jim Brodell ’70 

"Pick one or the other, and don’t feel like you’re under any pressure from me to make band your number one choice.”  -- Briefly annoyed, inconvenienced, and insulted that there should be even the slightest question as to the superior activity, Mr. Fleming responds to a boy who inquired if he could be in band and play sports at the same time – as told to me by a superb athlete who, of course, joined the band.  Submitted by Jim Brodell ’70

“A perfect FREEZE takes no talent at all!” -- No fidgeting whatsoever.  Submitted by Rick Bartunek ’64

“Gee-Manee!!” -- Said when upset.  Submitted by Tom Montgomery ’68

“Pick up your feet! Get your dad to give you some Geritol!”  -- Said during downfield marching practice.  Submitted by Colleen Tomlin Janis ’70

"Brodell!  That was the best four-step about-face I’ve ever seen. Too bad you turned the wrong direction!”  -- North end dustbowl practice field, summer '66.  Submitted by Jim Brodell ’70

"If your brains were dynamite, you couldn't blow your nose!" -- Submitted by Maggie Ruckman Kiesow '67

"Just think, if each of you makes two mistakes on each piece in the concert, that’s a THOUSAND mistakes! Would YOU want to listen to that?  Young people, you need to CONCENTRATE!”  -- Said during concert band rehearsal. Submitted by Rick Bartunek '64

Assembling in the band room after a successful 1963 football season, we attempted a concert piece for the first time.  At its conclusion, Mr. Fleming slammed down his baton and yelled, “You people sound like a marching band ... this is a concert band!”  -- Submitted by Doug Johnson '64

“SMILE!  Smile BIG!  People at the top of the stadium should see it. Go home and practice!"  -- Said to majorettes during practice 1967, insisting a big smile was an essential ingredient of the band's appearance, and he absolutely hated having to remind a majorette to do so.  Submitted by Joyce Ormsby Meyer '69    

“You looked like a group of gazelles out there!” -- An unhappy Mr. Fleming observing his majorettes sprinting fast from one side of the field to the other in his required stiff leg, goose-step style.  Submitted by Colleen Tomlin Janis '70

“We call it a 'run-on,' but there should be no running. You are not a galloping horse.  It’s a forward chopping shuffle at 8-steps-to-a-bar.  I don’t want to see it done any way other than the correct way.”    -- Fall 1966 Monday morning video film critique of the prior Friday’s performance in which some band members were observed to be literally running onto the field.  Submitted by Jim Brodell '70 

“THAT was mediocre, and I won’t accept it.”  -- Submitted by Kay Iacozili Ralph ’66

“If able to get on the field, which I doubt will happen, they will NOT be as good as you.” -- July 1966.  Mr. Fleming reassuring his fledgling marching band about a persistent rumor that some of his Warren graduates, filled with well-trained, experienced musicians seemingly out to show the young whippersnappers a thing or two, were actively organizing an alumni band to perform at Band Night.  Submitted by Jim Brodell, WGH ’70

“They think running around yelling and screaming adds excitement … It doesn’t.” -- Very rare, disparaging comment about another band.  Submitted by Jim Brodell ’70

“If you’re going to make a mistake, be like Burger King, make it a Whopper!  Everyone makes mistakes.  I know I’ve made plenty.” -- Noting that sometimes during concert band practice student musicians tend to hold back while playing so if they make a mistake, it will be less obvious.  Mr. Fleming quoted in the Warren Tribune Chronicle, March 8, 2010

"Put in a kick line.” -- Ever the showman, this was his go-to solution to add pizazz to any dance routine that the majorettes were creating for the next half-time performance. Submitted by Joyce Ormsby Meyer '69

“Young people, it takes LOTS OF AIR!  Stop sucking on those horns!”

“Rock music will NEVER be popular!”

“Use BOTH lungs!”

“I love you all, but that STUNK!”

“Play it exactly the way he wrote it!”

“The breath comes at the END of the phrase, no matter what!  I don’t care if you fall out of your chair!”

“That second company front looks more like a pretzel than a line!”

“Believe me, young people, someday you’ll understand!” -- All submitted by Rick Bartunek ’64

“Come in here and you’ll be safe.”  -- During civil unrest at the high school in 1968, Mr. Fleming, with his arms folded across his chest, standing at the top of the steps leading to the band room.  Submitted by Bill Kush ‘71

 “We are all the same in here. No consideration of the color of our skin or backgrounds. Heck, if I was true to my upbringing, I’d be walking around wearing overalls with a jug of whisky on my shoulder.” Addressing the band during civil unrest at the high school in 1968. Submitted by Bill Kush ‘71

“I don’t care if we get a 1 (the highest ranking) this year.  All I care about is that each of you play your best and, as a group, play to the level I know you are capable of.  If you do that, I will be extremely proud of you, and everything will turn out fine.”  -- A pep-talk, or perhaps a reality check, for his very young, apprehensive, inexperienced band immediately prior to the Ohio state-level concert competition.  Spring 1967.  Submitted by Jim Brodell ’70

“Get a haircut, or else …” -- Mr. Fleming was a stickler for his band members being well-groomed. In the era of the Beatles, a young man was letting his hair grow long despite repeated warnings.  Eventually, despite being a skilled musician, he was kicked out. Submitted by Kay Iacozili Ralph ‘65

“Those majorettes make you girls look like nuns.”  -- Mr. Fleming speaking to his 1965 majorettes after watching another band’s halftime performance featuring their rather scantily clad, suggestively dancing counterparts.  Submitted by Kay Iacozili Ralph ‘65.    **(NOTE:  Mr. Fleming wanted his majorettes to appear glamorous in a wholesome and refined way:  attractive without looking “flashy.”  Additional requirements included a good reputation and good academic standing.)

“Inside of school, or outside of school, remember: You represent Harding." -- Said to the band and majorettes prior to our first practice '66.  He said this once, and once was enough.  Submitted by Joyce Ormsby Meyer '69

“Ladies and Gentlemen!   Presenting one of this country’s best representatives of a fine musical tradition:  The Warren G. Harding High School Black Panther Marching Band under the direction of Robert Fleming and Clinton Foster (John Kobasiar.)” --- Written by Mr. Fleming, the stadium announcer’s introduction during the band's musical fanfare after our run-on. Submitted by Jim Brodell '70

THE TOP NOTES

“No!  Stop!  It must go faster.  You’re only playing it HALF-FAST!”

“We’ve had a special request … but we’re going to keep playing anyway!” -- During a practice, and during many dance gigs while speaking to the audience.  Submitted by Rick Bartunek, WGH ’64 

THE W.D. PACKARD CONCERT BAND

“I love this band more than you’ll ever know.  That’s why I’m so tough on you!”

“We have to agree on a way and, as the conductor, MY way is the way!”

“I recognize I’m up here looking at a stage full of outstanding conductors, but as long as I am on this podium, you will perform according to MY standards!”  -- All submitted by Rick Bartunek ’64

"I love all the schools I taught at.  I love all of my students no matter how hard I treated them. But I especially love the W.D. Packard Concert Band.  Warren has been good to me."  -- Fleming is quoted during the dedication ceremony of the Robert E. Fleming Band Shell at Mollenkopf Stadium, in a news article that appeared March 8, 2010, Tribune Chronicle, by Bill Rodgers.