"Saturday is all about the band" is a phrase that is thrown around by band folks all around the nation. And when the summer green leaves turn to fall vibrant colors, and the air gets a bit of chill in it, then it is college football season. But
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By: jdmcshane 
76 votes
In the past few years the Blugold Marching Band has become one of the most active bands in the upper Midwest. The season routinely includes Blugold home football games, 3 contest exhibitions, and other selected performances. Recent performances have also included NFL and Blugold away games, festivals, and stage shows. In 07-08 the BMB performed in 8 cities and 4 countries for combined audiences of 150,000+. The season concluded with special performances at the New Year's Day Papal Blessing in Rome, Italy and a stage show in Athens, Greece.
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By: jdmcshane
67 votes
The University of Minnesota Marching Band (also known as The Pride of Minnesota is the marching band of the University of Minnesota. The band performs before, during, and after all home Golden Gopher football games and bowl games, numerous pep fest's and events associated with the University of Minnesota, as well as a series of indoor concerts at the end of the regular football season. Members of the band also participate in smaller athletic pep bands that perform at other major sporting events.
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By: jdmcshane
46 votes
The Pride of the Southland Marching Band has been performing at halftime for over one hundred years, but has existed since 1869 when it was founded as part of the Military Department. It is one of the oldest collegiate band programs in the country. Its instrumentation in 1883 was entirely made up of cornets. The band continued to grow to between thirteen and seventeen members, and in 1892, it was reorganized under Ernest H. Garratt.
ol fans can also thank Julian, via Walter McDaniel, for introducing "Rocky Top" in a halftime show in 1972, after which it made its way to the stands. The football crowd loved the tune and its words; the more the band played it, the more people wanted it. It has now become one of the University's best-known traditions and one of the band's most famous songs.
Its popularity also extends far beyond the campus of the University of Tennessee; "Rocky Top" became one of the Tennessee state songs in 1982.
~ Wikipedia ~
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By: jdmcshane
45 votes
The Marching Blue Band numbers 310 members which includes: 260 instrumentalists, 34 silks, 14 Touch of Blue (majorettes), a feature twirler, and a drum major. Members come from virtually all curricula and colleges represented at the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University.
The Penn State Blue Band traces its history to the 1899 formation of a six-member drum and bugle corps initiated by student George H. Deike.
The Penn State Marching Blue Band has appeared at 33 bowl games including multiple appearances in the Orange, Cotton, Sugar, Fiesta, and Citrus Bowls. The band has performed at the Outback, Blockbuster, Holiday, and Rose Bowls and for the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. In addition to marching in multiple Orange Bowl, Citrus Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl parades, the Blue Band marched in the Bicentennial Constitution Celebration Parade held in Philadelphia in 1987. The band made its first appearance on January 2, 1995 in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
~ Penn State University Blue Band Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
46 votes
The Tiger Marching Band is considered one of the most world renowned bands in college. It mixes musical talent with dance moves and precision marching, epitomizing everything that is Southern Marching Band. In existence since 1926, the band has performed on four continents, North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as at halftime of the first Super Bowl and at the last two presidents inauguration parades.
~ Grambling State University Marching Band Official Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
50 votes
There has always been a close and affectionate tie between the Notre Dame Band and the rest of the Notre Dame community. Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., who founded the University in 1842, is strongly rumored to have been a clarinet player. And while it is possible that the Notre Dame Band and musical studies originated with the University that same year, the earliest reference to the band is in 1846 when it played at the first graduation ceremony. The importance of music on campus also caused a Music Hall/Auditorium to be built as the third major building of the new school after the classroom/dormitory building (The Golden Dome) and the Church. The legendary football coach, Knute Rockne, played flute for Notre Dame, and former Athletic Director Edward (Moose) Krause spent some years studying music before putting his clarinet on the shelf and devoting himself to athletics.
The University of Notre Dame Band is the oldest college band (in continuous existence) in the United States and was honored as such by being declared a "Landmark of American Music" by the National Music Council, the Indiana Music Educators Association and Exxon Corporation during the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial.
The Band of the Fighting Irish has a long tradition of providing music and pageantry for the Notre Dame football games. It was on hand for the first game against the University of Michigan in 1887 and has not missed a single home game since. It should be noted that the Notre Dame Band was celebrating its forty-first anniversary when that historic first game was played.
~Notre Dame University Marching Band Official Website~
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By: jdmcshane
44 votes
The 300 member Spartan Band is one of the oldest and most recognized university marching bands in the country. The band was founded in 1870 as a 10-member student group, and since then has grown into one of the premiere college bands in the nation.
The SMB has played for five U.S. Presidents and performed at four Rose Bowls, two world's fairs, and one world series. The Spartan Band has toured the United States extensively, winning the hearts of band fans everywhere. The band has appeared in concert and on football fields in such far-flung cities as San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, St. Louis, Denver, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Tokyo, Tucson, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
~ Michigan State University Marching Band Official Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
46 votes
Since 1936 the University of Texas Longhorn Band has been adding regalia and honor to the otherwise gruesome game of Texas football. This program features traditions that known around the nation, including Big Bertha, the Block T, Script Texas and the deafening sound of 300 cowbells. With an 800 strong alumni band and a supportive university, deep in the heart of Texas the "The Eyes of Texas" will be heard for a long time to come.
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By: jdmcshane
44 votes
Pride of Mississippi Marching Band is the marching band of The University of Southern Mississippi.
Founded in 1920, the 20-piece brass ensemble has evolved to its current number of 300. Having performed for such events as the F.D.R. inaugural parade in the 1930s, gubernatorial inaugurations, the Senior Bowl Classics and professional and collegiate bowl games, The Pride has enjoyed more television and national audience exposure than any other band in the South. Additionally, The Pride has toured throughout the United States and to England and Ireland. Most recently the Pride performed at half time during alumni Brett Favres' Green Bay Packers game in Wisconsin.
In 1977 when Jimmy Carter was sworn in as 39th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the Southern Miss Pride of Mississippi Marching Band was invited by him to be present and performed at his ceremony.
Although mainly made up of music majors enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi Music School, The Pride of Mississippi is open to all students enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The Pride of Mississippi was referred to in the 80's as the most televised band in the land for having been on national television numerous times as well as supposedly being placed in the Guinness Book of World Records for this very feat.
~ Wikipedia ~
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By: jdmcshane
45 votes
The University of Illinois Marching Illini is proud to be the nation's premiere college marching band. The unique style of the Marching Illini represents a combination of time-honored traditions and exciting innovations.
Perhaps the most visible and accessible of the many University Bands ensembles, the Marching Illini annually performs at all home Fighting Illini football games. In addition to these spectacular performances before Memorial Stadium crowds, the Marching Illini travels to at least one away game per football season. The Marching Illini showcases its world-renowned musicianship and showmanship at the annually sold-out Assembly Hall Concert. Serving as host and performing in exhibition at the close of the annual Illini Marching Festival presents yet another opportunity for the Marching Illini to show why it is "The Best Band in the Land."
~ University of Illinois Champaign Official Band Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
45 votes
From performing high-volume rhythm and blues, to playing flawless, show-stopping classics, from popular hip hop dance moves to precision drill steps, the Southern University Marching Band is without question a spectacular force. Redefining college band style, the SU band's success is measured by the excitement of its vast and diverse audiences. Look around during any band performance and the crowd is definitely tuned-in and captured by the powerful sound and talent of the co-ed musicians. Halftime performances find fans of all ages rocking to the best of the drum line, or swaying to the familiar sound of a top-40 tune, and being mesmerized by the creative dance moves of the fast- stepping band members and dance team.
Dubbed the "Human Jukebox" years ago, the SU band has achieve legendary status as one of the nation's top college bands. Dedicated to the art of music through providing fresh and unique entertainment with a creative flare, the 215-member band enjoys a long list of awards and achievements and has a resume of appearances on local, national, and international stages.
The band has performed around the world, including performances for three United States presidential inaugurations, four Sugar Bowl and five Super Bowl appearances, as well as appearances in the Reliant Stadium, the Superdome, Georgia Dome, Yankee Stadium Coliseum, and at the famed Radio City Music Hall for six weeks. The band also has appeared on several national television shows, in two of film director Spike Lee's production, and in a award-winning documentary by NFL Films.
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By: jdmcshane
47 votes
he Jackson State University Marching Band is a direct outgrowth of the symphonic and concert bands. The marching band provides music for athletic events, selected parades, and ceremonial occasions primarily during the Fall Semester. Also, as a academic class, the marching bad provides a laboratory experience for music education majors. For more than 64 years, the Jackson State University Marching Band, "The Sonic Boom of the South" has mystified and thrilled audiences throughout the nation. The band was first organized in early 1940s under the direction of part-time band director Kermit Hollly,Sr. In its infancy, the band consisted of college students adn students from Lanier High School where Holly was employed as full-time band director. Jackson State University Marching Band is and original show band. The groupwas given the nickname,"The Sonic Boom of the South" by band members in 1971. Jackson State have 290 members in there band we are the best band in the college league.
~ Official Jackson State University Marching Band Fan Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
41 votes
The Million Dollar Band began life in 1913 as a 14-member unit under Dr. Gustav Wittig, who led the group for three years. It became a military band in 1917 and was led by students until 1927, when Captain H. H. Turner assumed command. Captain Turner was succeeded in 1935 by Colonel Carleton K. Butler, who carried the band to national prominence.
The name "Million Dollar Band" was bestowed in 1922 by W. C. "Champ" Pickens, an Alabama alumnus. Accounts of how the name evolved vary. In the 1948 Alabama football media guide, it was described this way:
"At the time the band was named (1922), it was having a hard struggle. The only way they could get to Georgia Tech for a game was by soliciting funds from the merchants. They usually had to ride all night in a day coach, and we thought it was swell when we finally got a tourist sleeper and put two to a lower and two to an upper berth."
Thus, because of the band's fund raising prowess, Pickens called it the "Million Dollar Band." During that same Georgia Tech game in 1922 (won 33-7 by the Tech Yellow Jackets), an Atlanta sportswriter commented to Pickens, "You don't have much of a team; what do you have at Alabama?" Pickens replied, "A Million Dollar Band."
~ University of Alabama Marching Band Official Website ~
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By: jdmcshane
46 votes
In 1896 Gustav Bruder, a professional musician with military band experience, was hired to lead the band. Under Bruder, the band grew in size and began playing and marching for all military and athletic events. Since the 100 piece standard band in 1920, the band has always had a fixed number of instrumentalists. The OSUMB expanded to 120 pieces in 1930, to 150 pieces in 1972, 160 pieces in 1974, and its current number, 192 marching members, 225 overall in 1976.
Many marching band innovations were first tried and developed at Ohio State. Among them are: floating and animated formations, measured step marching, script writing, and the fast cadence with a high knee lift. Brass instruments especially designed for marching bands were also first used at Ohio StateEach September, more than 400 student-musicians tryout for one of the 225 open spots in the band. Every member, including those returning, must earn their spot each fall. The two day tryout includes marching scores judged by squad leaders, a marching drill taught during tryouts, and musical auditions heard by School of Music faculty members and former directors of the marching band. Successful candidates must do well in both areas. The final roster is announced at the end of the second day. Each year, some veterans are "cut," replaced by candidates who performed better in the tryout. New members are referred to as "rookies." Students are limited to five years in the band.
The band consists of 225 instrumentalists. 192 of these create the block band that is seen at every home game.
~ Wikipedia ~
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By: jdmcshane
40 votes
If you've seen the move "Drumline," then you have a very clear and detailed picture of what exactly we're NOT. The traditional notion of a marching band involves a regiment of musicians, clad in pseudo-military uniforms, stepping in formation around a football field, often in abstract geometric patterns. The band will play a series of songs with a theme of some sort, like Disney's "The Lion King," while a nondescript announcer vaguely clues in the audience to the band's strange intentions. After the band leaves the field, most often you're left wondering, "Wow, that looked and sounded like...like it was really hard...I guess..."
Scatter bands, on the other hand, can the charade of military lockstep, and run onto the field in a screaming frenzy. This is known as scattering (or, if you're from the east coast, "scrambling"). We'll run into one formation while our announcer performs part of a monologue, which will be followed by us playing a song. Then we'll scatter into another formation and repeat the process until our show is finished, after which point we run off the field.
The difference between our shows and the shows put on by traditional marching bands is that while the music and marching are the focus of other bands' shows, our shows have a humorous theme, which is presented by the announcer and elaborated upon by the announcer and the band together. Some past themes: "What if David Duke became president of Stanford?" (1991), "Things your daddy's money can't buy" (USC, 1993), and of course, the infamous Spotted Owl show (Oregon, 1990), which got us into a bit of trouble with the University of Oregon and our own athletic department...
The music we play is also not usual marching band music. We arrange all of our own music, which is usually rock, pop, soul, funk, R&B, and the like. Twice a year our drum major will choose a folder from our 1000+ song library, limiting the selection usually to 69 songs.
~ Stanford Marchin
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By: jdmcshane
40 votes
The first band at FAMU was organized in 1892 under P.A. Van Weller. From an original 16 instruments, the Marching "100" has grown to over 360 members. The band has been credited for 30 innovative techniques which have become standard operating procedures for many high school and collegiate marching band programs.
The band motto was created by Dr. William Patrick Foster in the beginning of his 50+ year tenure as Director of Bands at FAMU.
Qualities to live by to guide our thoughts and to rule our actions/lives:
Highest Quality of CHARACTER
Achievement in ACADEMICS
Attainment in LEADERSHIP
Perfection in MUSICIANSHIP
Precision in MARCHING
Dedication to SERVICE
~ Wikipedia ~
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By: jdmcshane
42 votes
The Spirit of Troy, also known as the Trojan Marching Band (TMB), aka "The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe", is the marching band of the University of Southern California, representing USC at a variety of functions. A contingent of the Band has been at every USC Football Game, Home or Away, since 1987. This streak is unrivaled by any other college or university band and the streak stands at 231 consecutive games. Additionally, the Spirit of Troy travels every other year (since 1973) to South Bend to support the team in its annual rivalry against Notre Dame. The band makes an international trip at least every other year. Additionally, the Spirit of Troy performs with countless celebrities including OutKast, The Offspring, John Williams, Fleetwood Mac, and George Clinton.
~ University of Southern California Marching Band Official Website ~
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18. |
By: jdmcshane
43 votes
In 1923, a Ohio University student by the name of Homer Baird decided that Ohio University needed a marching band of its own. So he organized the first meeting about such a group at Ewing Hall where over 40 musicians were in attendance.
Since their inception, the Marching 110 has thrilled audiences across this nation. They were the first marching band to perform at Carnegie Hall, and have performed before sell out stadiums in Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, and everywhere else the band has traveled to. This group truly is 110 members of pure musical amazingness.
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19. |
By: jdmcshane
53 votes
The University of Wisconsin Marching Band is the marching band for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was formed with 11 members in the fall of 1885 to support the military battalion. Today, it has grown to over 300 members and performs at all Badger home football games. They are also known for performing at hockey and basketball games and hosting an annual indoor marching concert that sells out the Kohl Center in Madison.
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20. |
By: jdmcshane
47 votes
Since 1906 the Michigan Marching Band has been graving the field in Ann Arbor. With their long tradition and celebrated football group, the Michigan band has performed in venues from sea to shining sea including Yankee Stadium and the Rose Bowl. The feud between Michigan and tOSU is fierce, even boiling over into marching band. The Script Ohio, Ohio State's Signature formation, is claimed to have been done by Michign first in 1932. tOSU claims they were the originators in 1935. Either way, the MMB is one of premier marching programs in the Big Ten.
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Anonymous User Jul. 23, 2008
Yay Boo 0 pts