 Presser took the position of choral director at the school, and Dr. Robert Nye, a new music teacher, became the band's director.Twenty-seven students, out of the 1,400 attending the school, formed the first marching band.Its first rehearsal took place on September 24, 1949, and performed the show Saturday, October, 22 at the FSTC/Livingston (now the University of West Alabama) game.