Penn State Blue Band

The Blue Band drum major flip definitely is one of the best marching band traditions I've seen. It was started in 1971 was one drum major was uncomfortable about tossing his mace into the air. Instead of flipping his baton, he flipped himself. He continued doing back flips when the crowd absolutely loved the routine. When a new drum major filled the position for two years, he was ruthlessly booed by the fans for not performing the flip. Ever since then, the flip has become a Penn State tradition for all those involved with the football team. Over time the flip evolved - first becoming a running forward flip and then increasing the difficulty by adding the splits after the flip. The drum major flip
is not the only Blue Band tradition. The term "Blue" in the name came into being in 1924. When the band was first started in 1899 with six members, the band owned khaki uniforms. In 1923, blue uniforms were bought for the band. In 1924, a group of band members in the new blue uniforms formed a block "S" with khaki-wearing members surrounding them. From that day on, the band became known as the "Blue Band."

The 2005 Sudler-receiving band consists of 310 members [260 winds,34 silks, 14 Touch of Blue (majorettes), 1 Blue Sapphire (feature twirler), 1 drum major]. One major highlight in the band's career was being the first band to perform at a major fashion show - the Marc Jacob's in New York during Fashion Week 2005. Among other events, the band has performed at 33 bowl games, including the Rose Bowl. To find out more about the Penn State Blue Band, check out their official website.

In addition to the information that can be found on their site, the band made a documentary which will air in November on public television called, "Making the Blue Band." You can find the official website and trailer for the documentary here. The following is the first promo for the show:

Detective Show

Rainy New York Streets, men in tan trench coats, fuzzy pink cats - the AAMB is putting on their Detective halftime show. When I found out about this theme, I was sitting in my office (or dorm room, if you will) when there it appeared - Max had sent me a daily schedule for marching band practice. "City of Angels," "Live and Let Die," "Detective Medley" - musical selections all so...suspicious. I quickly read the note, knowing it would self-destruct in 15 seconds (or rather, I was late for class and deleted the e-mail in a hurry). Glancing behind me as I locked the door, I noticed no one followed (my roommate must have been at class or so I suspected). Quickly I hurried down the dark stairwell (the curtains were closed) to the secretive side door (or so I'd like to think) leading to the not-so-secretive parking lot. Trudging across the damp street (curse the Indiana rain!) to the black pavement which I like to call the practice field, I risked a fleeting look at the director atop the podium. "Band, we're learning the 'Detective Show' this week!"

The band started learning drill that day and hasn't stopped since. Although the band only has five days to put this show together, it proves to be just as good if not better than the Joe Tiller tribute. The band starts out with traditional drill for the first tune, featuring some complicated-looking drill, and halts for "Live and Let Die." The medley, starting with the theme from "Dragnet," is a bit more complicated consisting of a formation of the Pink Panther's head when the band performs none other than the "Pink Panther" theme with "snake drill" following and corresponding with a drum break. After the drum solos and insane trumpet fanfare, "Peter Gun" is played - watch the piccolos who have inserted a few surprising visuals. The band will end with a wave formation which transforms into a cruise ship for the final song, "Hawaii Five-O."

Music Memorization Tips

If you play any sort of musical instrument, you will probably at one point or another need to memorize a piece. Here are a few pointers to make the process less stressful.


If the piece happens to have a crazy amount of runs, always be sure to take it slowly at first. Don't try to rush through the music just to say you've played it all. If there is a certain run you can't seem to get into your fingers keep going over it - slowly increasing speed every time. If the runs are really giving you problems, try working backwards. Take the last four sixteenth notes. Once you have those down, tack on the previous set of sixteenth notes and repeat the process until you can play all notes. While doing this, never allow yourself to make mistakes. I vividly recall my high school band directors constantly telling the band that to correct one mistake you have to play the music the correct way 30 times consecutively. Do yourself a favor and play the music right the first time.

Sometimes, all you have to do is listen to the piece. By knowing how the music is supposed to sound, you increase the likelihood of your fingers pressing down the right keys at the right time. Try to get a recording or make the recording yourself and just finger along. Additionally, try just singing and fingering. This can be a time saver because you can practice anywhere.

Just like an athlete, musicians will perform at a much higher level if they can visualize what they need to do. Take a look at the music without your instrument a couple times. Go over the notes and rhythms in your head. This method can help with finding patterns in the music whether it be repeating notes or the same melody in a different key signature.

Finally, just relax. Don't stress out or over-practice the piece. If you're practicing and your playing just gets worse, STOP. Take a few days off and come back to the music at a later time.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Bonanza - just one of the many western themes going to be performed by the "All-American" Marching Band this Saturday. As stated in a previous post, Purdue will be paying tribute to Coach Joe Tiller by visiting the Old West in the show entitled, "Happy Trails to You, Joe Tiller." Buffalo Bill, Butch Cassidy, Black Bart. Cowboys, gunfights, saloons, alliterated names - what could be better?

In addition to the music, this week's drill focuses on the western theme. The band will start out with traditional drill (circular formations and diagonal lines) when playing the first selection, "How the West was Won." A set sure to be a crowd-pleaser is a quick ripple effect performed by the brass. In the second tune, "Western Drama," the dance teams are featured in the band's rendition of the "Can-Can" while the band marches into a stage formation. Throughout all of the show, "Happy Trails" will be used to transition from song to song. Finally, "Western Medley" features Joe Tiller. The band will form a sheriff star with the coach's initials and eventually spell out his name in the finale. Right before the final song is performed, the band comes to a climax by reenacting an Old West showdown. Two humongous stick figure cowboys will be created on the field by the band - ten-gallon hats, sheriff badges, guns, and all the trimmings any respectable cowboy would have. The storyline behind this drill is Sheriff Joe Tiller vs. our archenemy from Indiana University. The figures will face off on the field to the melodies of "Night on Bald Mountain" and the "William Tell Overture." Will Sheriff Tiller win the fight? Watch the halftime show to find out. To keep you tied over until then, check out this trailer from 1960 advertising "The Magnificent Seven" and enjoy the theme music.

NUMB Band

The Northwestern University Marching Band (NUMB) was officially started in 1926 under the director, Glenn Cliffe Bainum, although there had been an "unofficial" student-run organization that began in 1911. In 1953, Paynter took over the band and created most of the traditions that are used today. For example, it was during these years the glide step started being utilized and the sculpted N performed in pregame was developed. The band, receiving the Sudler in 1992, has many more traditions. Luckily, I was able to get an inside look through the eyes of one of my NUMB buddies currently in the trumpet section. Here is what she had to say about the band's traditions:

Ok, I'll recount a few NUMB traditions to get things started...Every Thursday at rehearsal, we have section dress up days...recent dress ups have included 'features i wish my uniform had' by the altos (for example, one of those hats with straws attached for consuming alcohol on the go). Anytime anyone says a word ending in 'er' ('or' and 'ar' often work as well), it is traditional to respond by saying, 'I hardly even know her!' For example: 'Ok band, take it back to the top of the closer.' Response: "Closer? I hardly even know her!" That's my fave...We also do nerdy cheers in the stands, such as the calculus cheer: '2 4 6 8, time to differentiate, d to the x to the x dy, d to the y dy. 3.14159, cosine, tangent, inverse sine, add an asymptotic line, come on wildcats, hold that line...segment!'

NUMB traditions, no matter how nerdy, are carried out by approximately 143 members, with 104 being wind players. There are no auditions for the band except for leadership positions, drum majors, and drum line. Although a small band when compared to other Big 10 schools, Northwestern is able to produce a mature sound of well-blended instrumentation. Check out this video to see what the band is all about:



To listen to NUMB, check out their official audio site featuring the fight song, the alma mater, and the pregame sequence. If you're addicted to NUMB sounds, check out their new CD, "Push On!"

Wild, Wild West

ANNOUNCEMENT: The "All-American" Marching Band will be performing a tribute to non other than the head football coach, Joe Tiller, at the Homecoming halftime show on October 24, 2008. The show will commemorate the coach by featuring his favorite type of music - classics from the Old West. Featured selections will be "Bonanza," "The Magnificent Seven," "How the West Was Won," and "Rawhide" to name a few. There will be more details concerning this show next week.

Spartan Marching Band

Michigan State's band was founded in 1870 by 10 students who were also Civil War veterans. In 1976 a color guard sector was added. Their small organization is now 300 strong and a Sudler Trophy receiver as of 1988. Since the band was military-based, the band wore khaki uniforms until 1952 when the football team joined the Big 10 Conference. This band has performed for a variety of crowds including five U.S. presidents and at events like the New York World's Fair in 1964, Japan's Coca-Cola Bowl, and the 1984 World Series. It seems that the only drawback to this band is that no flutes or clarinets are allowed to march because their sound doesn't project as well in large stadiums. For more facts about this band, check out the official website. Here is a halftime show entitled "Light Classics."



For more videos of the Spartan band check out the mellophone section site. Finally, I leave you all with the definition the trombones give to themselves.

The REAL definition of a Spartan Trombone:

: a sliphorn-playing member of the Spartan Marching Band. Can regularly be found at rehearsals, tailgates, and small keeps called the "Bone Haus" or "Bone Girl Haus." A Spartan Bone's diet consists largely of grain- and potato-based substances, Powerade, apples, and whatever Case Hall has on the menu. A highly social being, the Spartan Trombone enjoys gatherings involving large amounts of said grain-based substances, loud sing-alongs, and (providing an absence of concentrated CH4 emissions) the company of fellow Spartan Trombones.

The typical Spartan Trombone has many hobbies, ranging from group improvisations to testing the aerodynamic properties of various cafeteria foods. A particular joy is creating edible sculptures for the Spartan Mellophones, who, for reasons inscrutable to the Spartan Bones, do not much enjoy them.

The Spartan Trombones are considered Good Role Models by all others and wherever a Spartan Trombone leads, the rest of the band follows.

Interested in the bones? Check out their section site.