Trailblazing Grambling band director travels to Atlanta as part of recruiting trip

ATLANTA — Jaymari McIntyre is in his senior year at Benjamin E. Mays High School in Southwest Atlanta. He practices scales with potential scholarships on the line. Currently, the drum major at Mays, McIntyre, was first introduced to band during the COVID-19 pandemic. While he couldn’t necessarily come face-to-face with his instructor, McIntyre relied on motivation from his grandpa, who inspired him to play music.

“I’ve been playing trumpet since the 8th grade,” McIntyre said. “I’ve learned how to properly mature my embouchure. Learned how to play by ear, stay in tune, and play within your section, whether it’s a big group or a small group.”

He’s even found an escape from stress in his life through music. McIntyre and other Mays seniors got a chance to play for Dr. Nikole Roebuck, the only female head band director in Grambling State University’s history. She stopped at Mays High School as part of a recruiting trip in Atlanta.

“I’m looking to expand the World Famed, so I’m here to provide opportunities for students to help with their cost of education,” Roebuck said. “When we come in to audition a student, we listen to the major scales, we listen to select minor scales, they’ll play a prepared piece for us, and we’ll do some sightreading. We look at technique, tone quality.”

Roebuck is currently the only female band director in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. She’s preparing for the centennial celebration for the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, and told anyone with a dream to pursue it.

“I say dream big,” Roebuck said. “Don’t allow anyone to dictate to you what you cannot do. I always say a leader is a leader, whether you’re male or female. A band director is a band director.”

Brian Lyles, Mays High School band director, said scholarships don’t always define success. He said a student achieving any goal is music to his ears.

“It’s a labor of love. There’s a lot of work that goes into what we do to inspire students,” Lyles said. “Because people are starting to realize they may not necessarily be the next pro athlete or first round pick for whatever, they’re starting to come back to the arts because the arts is a vehicle for success.”

Lyles said students should look to build and maintain relationships, as they have allowed him to bring in directors like Dr. Roebuck. Lyles attended Alabama A&M University, where he continued his passion for pursuing music.

Meantime, McIntyre hopes to keep playing music in college and said he eventually wanted to join the military as a software engineer.

“Band is one of those things that I’m completely dedicated to, so I take my time to practice on my own to improve my skills,” McIntyre said. “When band directors come from across the country to see and hear us play, it makes me feel accomplished and worked hard for it.”