The story is about a young drummer from New York, played by Nick Cannon, who enters the fictional Atlanta A&T University and bumps heads with the leader of his new school's drum sectionals. served as the Executive Band Consultant for the Twentieth Century Fox hit movie, Drumline. He was responsible for training the actors, writing the precision drills, rehearsing the band, etc. James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. If you have a DVD of the movie, look for Seda in the scene near the beginning of the film, as one of the four musicians playing When the Saints Go Marching In.. He is a product of the Atlanta Public School System, having graduated from Southside Comprehensive High School. After the movie, record producer Dallas Austin tapped the marching band for a sequel. ABOUT USAtlanta Drum AcademyJames Riles III has been playing drums since he was a kid. 327. The SWD wrestling also have seven state championships, including those won by Rock Yasin, Daquan Warner, and Gabe Echols. He has also performed in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. More details are available in the progress report. The school is in a settled, established community. He was Multicultural Chairman for the Georgia Music Educators Association for four years (1998 2001). We do a lot of activities with While attending Florida A&M University, Mr. Seda was a very active performer, soon earning the principal trumpet chair in the FAMU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and the lead trumpet chair in the FAMU Jazz Ensemble. Our mission is to ensure student success, leading to higher education, work, and life-long learning. In 2009, Mr. Roberts served as the Musical Director and Executive Band Consultant for the Black College Football Xperience video game by Neriyzed Game Studios (bcfxgame.com). James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. assessment taken in the school year 2020-2021. Hailing from Decatur, GA, with a current membership of 170-plus students, the program offers many performance options. The SWD girls' basketball team won the Georgia 4A state championship in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and the 5A title in 2013 and in 2016. SWD HONORS ALL A'S 1ST SEMESTER 2022-2023. Southwest Dekalb High School will be moving to zero tolerance for dress code violations! Advertisement. Mr. Roberts also choreographed the drills and routines for the popular Natures Own Whitewheat Bread commercial, which featured marching bands and debuted during the 2005 Super Bowl. Actor Orlando Jones played the part of Dr. Lee, the motivating band director. There are more than 15,000 students participating in band, chorus, and orchestra in DeKalb schools. Southwest DeKalb High School Dekalb County Schools Registration Infinite Campus District Home Parents School Nutrition Bus Routes Quick Links Extracurricular Activities & Clubs Student Activities & Organizations Click here for flyer! However the focus and effort from all involved, especially the students, was much more intense [preparing for the festival]. We do a lot of activities with the elementary and middle school bands, so by the time they get to us, they know us well. As a member of the world famous Marching 100 Mr. Seda served as trumpet section leader for two years, as well as being elected business manager, vice-president, and president in consecutive years. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. [3], In 2011 the school was one of 14 recognized nationally by the College Board for leading the nation in helping African American and/or Latino students to succeed on Advanced Placement exams. In addition to his membership in GMEA and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Mr. Roberts is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Music Educators National Conference. Mr. Seda received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University. The movie directors studied several collegiate bands to accurately replicate the mood and characters of a college band. James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. In 2003, it was nominated by the NAACP as Most Outstanding Motion Picture and also nominated for an American Choreography Award for outstanding achievement in a feature film. Music has impacted and molded Mr. Sedas life, and he feels that he should share and expose his knowledge and experiences with his students so they may have the same opportunities. Southwest DeKalb High School. The Southwest Dekalb High School Band Program has established a tradition of excellence and quality in musical performance. In 2006 SWD was honored by the College Board as a model of excellence for AP class implementation. Hailing from Decatur, GA, with a current membership of 170-plus students, the program offers many performance options. The screenplay, which was inspired by The Southwest Dekalb High School Drumline or known as SWD written by Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps. Even a couple band slogans made it into the movie. Region 2 DeKalb Council of PTA Scholarshi. Mr. Seda received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Students applying for the high school high achiever's magnet programs font-family: "Cambria"; In March of 2016, the DRUMLine Live Marching Bandperformed for more than 8,000 "Googlers" as a part of the Google (Engage) Employee World-Wide Convention in Anaheim, California. While attending Florida A&M University, Mr. Seda was a very active musician. 2023 by DRUMLine Live Entertainment Group, LLC, Mr. Don P. Roberts, M.M.ED. He served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia from 1990 through 1996. Television and radio features are also to his credit as CNN displayed his talents in a television documentary on the life of jazz musician Jesse Stone. Were not here as an African-American band; were here as a band, period., Music for All Inc.39 W. Jackson Place, Suite 150Indianapolis, IN 46225Local phone: 317.636.2263Toll-free: 800.848.2263, Music for All, Inc.501(c)(3) not-for-profit|Terms of Use|Contact, A Unique Rehearsal Approach: Mt. The members wanted to do it and they understood the conditions. Be sure to subscribe and hit that notification button to see round #2? Presently, Mr. Roberts is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida. DISTRICT CALENDAR. He is a product of the Atlanta Public School System, having graduated from Southside Comprehensive High School. Southwest DeKalb High School won the 2016 Advanced Placement Honors from the Georgia Department of Education. Southwest Dekalb High School Unclaimed 2863 Kelley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA 30034 Contact info 4 /10 GreatSchools Rating 11 reviews 1,176 Students Grades 9-12 4 /10 GreatSchools Summary Rating 4/10 Test Scores below average 6/10 Student Progress average 2/10 College Readiness below average 3/10 Equity below average Last updated: Jul 31, 2022 Under Mr. Roberts' tutelage the band was invited to perform in the1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The band is a strong part of the schools identity. The Southwest DeKalb High School band was the first African American high school band to ever perform for the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention in state history (1996). The performances were followed by a performance of the five branch service songs by the Southwest DeKalb High School band. The movie received national and international acclaim. The school and community embrace the band and theres an expectation of the band to be successful., As a final thought, he adds, Southwest DeKalb is about 98% African-American. She met my Grandfather after the war (he was a Marine on the USS Missouri). If the actors ran into a problem like when Jones wanted to know how to cue a band they would ask the high school directors how to do it. Mr. Roberts' bands (Southwest DeKalb High School and McNair Middle School) received superior ratings for fifteen consecutive years from the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). There are also three Special Interest Magnet schools in Dekalb County. The marching band were invited to perform in the movie Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. It was a success at the box office, earning over $56 million in the U.S., and almost $1.2 million in foreign markets. About Us | Southwest DeKalb High School Bands | Decatur The Georgia Music Educators Association has rated the bands and ensembles superior in performance for twenty three consecutive years. According to Seda, Dr. William P. Foster was the brains behind the A&M band program; starting it in 1946 and not retiring until 1998. Nick Cannon, who in real life was not a drummer, performed the role of college drummer Devin Miles. The 2,474 sq. Mr. Seda has been the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School since 2001. Arabia Mountain High School - Environment, Energy, and Engineering, Columbia High School - Math, Science, and Technology, and the Dekalb School of Arts. font-family: "Verdana"; Fosters motivation and inspiration and high standards wore o on me., After student teaching at Southwest DeKalb, Seda taught band at the schools middle school feeder program for two years, while also assisting at the high school. Television and radio features are also to his credit as CNN displayed his talents in a television documentary on the life of jazz musician Jesse Stone. James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. Ranking high among the many proud traditions of Southwest Dekalb High School is the highly acclaimed Marching Panther Band. Free Internet and Tablet The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Along with associate director Nicholas Thomas, Seda did some of the arrangements the band played in the film. While at FAMU, he served as drum major, student conductor, and student arranger in what is considered to be one of the finest band programs in America. The vision of the DeKalb County School District is to inspire our community of learners to achieve educational excellence. DRUMLine Live is now working in collaboration with the Creative Booking Agency (CBA) in preparation for the upcoming 2017 tour. He received a Master's Degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He has done studio sessions for television and radio commercials, as well as short films and movies. As the students gained more knowledge as to the significance of the event, as well as what it meant to our program, school and community to be invited, they took ownership to insure our success at the festival., While the students enjoyed all the aspects of the festival, the master classes were especially impressive and effective. 2863 Kelley Chapel Road Decatur, Georgia 30034 Phone 678.874.1902. Mr. Seda is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education Program at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. Mr. Roberts has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and arranger for many different organizations throughout the Southeast. Southwest DeKalb High School ( SWD) is a high school located in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. Privacy Policy. Seda says all were pleased with the portrayal that made it into the film. Both actors came to the school and attended classes with the Southwest DeKalb band members, training with the bands drum line. Southwest Dekalb Vs Stephenson High School Drum Line Battle Round 1 | Drumline Championship 2022 Welcome To Our Channel Atl Drum AcademyTo Subscribe: https://cutt.ly/gBgsQVxOur Website: https://www.atldrumacademy.com/It's Drum Battle Time between these two schools and their friendly rivalry. 2023. Mr. Seda is active as a trumpet and band clinician and an adjudicator. His 300 member Panther Marching Band was also the hero band in the movie, Drumline. Hailing from Decatur, GA, with a membership of 170-plus students, the program offers many performance options. For more information, please see our The members were held responsible for keeping up their grades. provided the official band ofthe Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and theWNBAs Atlanta Dream in 2014. Mr. Seda is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Minority Band Directors National Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Screen Actors Guild, International Trumpet Guild, MACE and NAACP. Southwest DeKalb has won 24 athletic State Championships which is the second highest of all DeKalb County schools, most recently being Girls Basketball and Boys Track and Field 2016. Mr. Seda has been recognized and honored by Whos Who Among Americas Teachers multiple times. The high school band program currently has about 250 members and there are another 200 in the middle school program and more in the four elementary bands that feed into the high school. Cookie Notice Mr. Roberts also served as the Director for Halftime Live, whichprovided the official drumline for the Atlanta Hawks from 2007-2014. Copyright 2020 Music Education Alliance. More. The screenplay, which was inspired by The Southwest Dekalb High School Drumline or known as SWD written by Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps. I think the experience of being on a movie set and the amount of recognition they got had a lasting impact on the program, helping recruitment. }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }, 2007 Southwest Dekalb High School Panther Band, var _nwls=[];if(window.jQuery&&window.jQuery.find){_nwls=jQuery.find(".fw_link_newWindow");}else{if(document.getElementsByClassName){_nwls=document.getElementsByClassName("fw_link_newWindow");}else{if(document.querySelectorAll){_nwls=document.querySelectorAll(".fw_link_newWindow");}else{document.write('<\/scr'+'ipt>');if(window.Sizzle){_nwls=Sizzle(".fw_link_newWindow");}}}}var numlinks=_nwls.length;for(var i=0;i