update:
May 28, 2003

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Learn about the Marching Hundred below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: Bloomington, Indiana
• Mascot: Hoosier
• Stadium: Memorial Stadium
• Campus Home: Hundred Hall
• Band size: around 300
• Director: David C. Woodley
• Assistant Director: Dr. Douglas Stotter
• Associate Instructors: Carl Kling, Rich Paluch, Laura Rexroth, Eric Smedley, Kelly Cooper, Andrew Tucker
• Drum Major: Chris Stokdyk
• Sections: piccolo, clarinet, alto and tenor saxes, trumpet, mellophone, ytombone, baritone, tuba, percussion, flags, red steppers (dance team)
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: unknown
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: every day 4:10-5:45
• School Songs: unknown
• Pep Bands: Crabb Band - men's and women's soccer; The Electric Mayhem - women's volleyball; Big Red Basketball Band - Men's and women's basketball

Back to top

Traditions:

• PowerPlay! Each home game, roughly 60 mintues before kick-off, the Marching Hundred presents a stand-still concert full of traditional IU music, contemporary half-time tunes and a hijinx or two on the lower West steps of the Assembly Hall. (Free to the public)

Back to top

Indiana Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• Sept 13 - IU vs. Indiana State (Band Day '03 - possible visiting band)
• Sept 20 - IU vs. Kentucky
• Sept 26-28 - IU at Michigan (tentative road trip)
• Oct 10-11 - IU vs. Northwestern (Homecoming parade/game)
• Oct 25 - IU vs. The Ohio State University
• Nov 2 - Band Showcase Concert - Assembly Hall
• Nov 8 - IU vs. Illinois
• Nov 22 - IU vs. Purdue

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

Indiana University
Marching Hundred
Hoosier Athletics

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 29, 2003

UNIVERSITY of IOWA

Learn about the Hawkeye Marching Band below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location:
• Mascot: Herky Hawkeye
• Stadium: unknown
• Campus Home: unknown
• Band size: unknwon
• Director: Kevin Kastens
• Drum Major: unknown
• Golden Girl: unknown
• Sections: Piccolos, Clarinets, Saxophones, Trumpets, Mellophones, Trombones, Baritones, Sousaphones, Drumline
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: unknown
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: 3:40 - 5:30PM Tue through Fri and 7:15-9:15 on selected Wed
• School Songs: unknown
• Pep Bands: unknown

Back to top

Traditions:

Back to top

Iowa Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• Aug 30 - Miami (OH)
• Sept 6 - Buffalo
• Sept 13 - @Iowa State
• Sept 20 - Arizona State
• Sept 27 - @ Michigan State
• Oct 3 - Homecoming Parade
• Oct 4 -Michigan (Homecoming)
• Oct 25 -Penn State
• Nov 1 -Illinois
• Nov 11& 12 - Band Extravaganza
• Nov 15 - Minnesota

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

University of Iowa
Hawkeye Band
Hawkeye Sports

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 25, 2003

UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN

Learn about the Michigan Band below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Mascot: Wolverine
• Stadium: The Big House
• Campus Home: Revelli Hall
• Band size: around 300 to 350
• Director: Jamie Nix
• Assistant Director: Damon Talley
• Drum Major: Matt Cavanaugh
• Twirler: Elizabeth Oswald
• Sections: Piccolos, Clarinets, Alto Saxes, Tenor Saxes, Trumpets, Horns, Euphoniums, Trombones, Tubas, Drumline and Flagline
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: unknown
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: Monday-Friday 4:45-6:15PM, Saturday mornings before home games
• School Songs: Hail to the Victors
• Pep Bands: Open to all University Students. Bands include: volleyball band, men's and women's basketball bands, hockey band
  

Back to top

Traditions:

Back to top

Michigan Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• unknown at this time

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

University of Michigan
Michigan Marching Band
Go Blue - Michigan athletics
Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 17, 2003

MICHIGAN STATE

Learn about the Spartan Marching Band below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: East Lansing, Michigan
• Mascot: Spartans
• Stadium: Spartan Stadium
• Campus Home: unknown
• Band size: unknown
• Director: John Madden
• Visual and field Coordinator: Glen Brough
• Percussion Instructor: Jon Weber
• Colorguard Instructor: Orlando Suttles
• Drum Major: unknown
• Twirler: unknown
• Sections: Alto and Tenor saxes, Trumpets, Mellophones, Baritones, Trombones, Tuba, Percussion, Colorguard, Big Ten Flags
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: unknown
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: unknown
• School Songs: unknown
• Pep Bands: unknown
  

Back to top

Traditions:

Back to top

Michigan State Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• August 15-24 -Preseason Drills
• August 24 - Picture Day
• August 24 - "March to the Stadium" Rehearsal
• August 30 - Western Michigan (visiting Band)
• September 6 - Rutgers (Alumni Band Day)
• September 13 - Louisiana Tech
• September 19 - SMB Exhibition @ Kalamazoo Central HS
• September 20 - @ Notre Dame (SMB Travel)
• September 27 - Iowa (Visiting Band)
• October 3 - Homecoming Parade - Downtown East Lansing
• October 3 - Homecoming Pep Rally - IM East Fields
• October 4 - Indiana (homecoming)
• October 4 - Spartan Spectacular - Breslin
• October 15 - Perfomance @ Grand Ledge HS Invitational (9:00 PM)
• November 1 - Michigan (Visiting Band)
• November 7 - Travel to Ohio State
• November 8 - @ Ohio State (SMB Travel)
• November 22 - Penn State

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

Michigan State University
Spartan Marching Band
Spartan Athletics
Kappa Kappa Psi - Zeta Epsilon
Tau Beta Sigma - Zeta Epsilon

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 17, 2003

UNIVERSITY of MINNESOTA

The Minnesota Marching Band will commence the 2003 season on August 15th when leadership reports to spat camp. Rookies follow soon after on August 19th.

Prof. Luckhardt has informed band members that over the summer they only need to practice their instruments and exercise on days that they eat.

Learn about the "Pride of Minnesota" below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
• Mascot: Goldy Gopher
  Stadium: H.H.H Metrodome
• Home: Northrop Auditorium and Ferguson Hall
• Band size: Fluctuates from 290 to 320 each year
• Director: Prof. Jerry Luckhardt, Assistant Director of Bands
• Assistant Director: Prof. Tim Diem, Associate Director of Bands
• Instructor and Hockey Band Director: Skeeter J. Burroughs
• Instructor and Basketball Band Director: Robb Mueller
• Percussion Instructor: Kelley Lima
• Drum Major: Jon Tepe
• Twirler: Aimee Barmore
• Sections: Flutes and Piccs, Clarinets, Alto Saxes, Trumpets, Mellophones, Tenor Saxes, Baritones, Trombones, Sousaphones, Drumline and Flagline
• Marching Style: combination with full chair step (90 degrees) used for pregames and selected halftimes, low glide step used for most halftimes and 3/4 chair for parade marching. Run cadence is used to get on and off the field and is a double time chair step.
• Leadership: Section Leaders (musical development and rehearsal; one per section), Assistant Section Leaders (backs Section Leader; number depends on size of section), Rank Lieutenants (teach and maintain proper marching form as well as teach pregame and halftime; approximately 1 for every 5 in the section)
• Practice Locations: Music rehearsals are generally held at Northrop Auditorium on the mall. Marching Rehearsal is outside behind the Bierman Athletic Complex north of Dinkytown. Friday evening and Saturday morning rehearsals before games are held inside the Bierman Football Practice Facility. The Drumline has it's own rehearsal room in the basement of Northrop (Room 4).
• Rehearsal Times: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs - 4:15-6:00 every week. Game weeks include Friday nights, 7-9 and Saturday mornings, generally 4 or 5 hours before the kick-off.
• School Songs: Active: Minnesota Rouser, Minnesota March, Our Minnesota, Hail! Minnesota, Minnesota Fight, Go Gopher Victory.
  Special Request: Mighty Minnesota, We're On Our Way, Hat's Off to Thee.
• Pep Bands:
  Hockey: 60-70 members, performs at Mariucci Arena, battery percussion, marching band pre-req
  Basketball: 45-55 members, both battery and set percussion, performs at Williams Arena, marching band pre-req
  WAB (Women's Athletic Band): 25-75 members (depends on sport), plays for women's hockey, basketball, and volleyball, set percussion, open to anyone.

back to top

Traditions:

• The band memorizes their music. This includes pregame, halftime as well as everything they perform at indoor concerts. Only recently have they introduced a folder for stand tunes during games.
• Pregame changes little from year to year, and the pregame performed ten years ago is not unlike that performed today. The grandest tradition is the "Swinging Gates" played with Dr. Bencruiscutto's arrangement of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Introduced in 1960, this formation has continued with only two short interuptions in the 70s and 80s. A new director must promise the continuation of this formation before they will even be considered for the job.
  
• The Block M near the end of pregame was a tradition started by 1914, possibly earlier. the M's shape has gone through numerous transformation, though the current form began, at least in principle in 1960.
• BARF, the Big American Representational Flag, has become a signature of the band. It is 21x40 yards and is used mainly in pre-game for the National Anthem.
• Pregame spots are limited and try-outs are done before almost every game. Those not in pre-game are Big Ten flags or hold BARF.
• Saturday mornings before rehearsals, the drumline gathers early in room 4 for warm-ups and then marches to practice, sometimes circling through campus and down frat row.
• Homecoming week is known as Stooge Week and is an "educational experience" for the rookies. It is used to teach the history of the band and university.
• The Homecoming parade runs down University avenue beginning at Sanford Hall and ending at the McNamara Alumni Center (the site of memorial stadium). Last season, the alumni were invited to march within the ranks of the current band, with the band's numbers reaching 500.
• Many of the Parade Cadences have existed since the 1950s, modified only for changes in drum technology. New cadences are sometimes added, but no cadence is ever cut out. The band has created several chants to fit the cadences, with many sections creating their own versions which makes for an interesting parade.
• Each year before school begins, the band holds Spat Camp. The first few days involves only leadership, then the rookies come for two days for a crash course in marching. The vets return two days after the rookies. Camp is held on campus and the band takes over one of the residence halls. During camp the band performs at the Minnesota State Fair and at a pep fest in St. Paul.
• The end of the year banquet last about 5 hours (depending on the length of Luckhardt's speeches). At the end, there is a 40 minute slide show presentation with photos from the season. The show is created by the band photographers, Dave Whitaker and Tonya Wilson, as well as members of the band.
• At the end of every rehearsal and performance the band links arms and takes off their hats to sing Hail! Minnesota, the alma mater. During their last year, seniors will direct the band through this song (which is often both emotional and humorous at the same time).

Minnesota Travel Information:

• Practice locations and times are listed above.
• Pre-game performances are held outside the Metrodome on the plaza. The band marches around the stadium and breifly stops on the plaza for a concert.
• Band sits at the edge of the end-zone near the tunnel on the lower level.
• Pregame starts about 20 minutes to a half and hour before kick-off.
• During the third quarter a small group, The Fanfare Band, travels around the dome concourse.
• Post-game performances are held outside the Metrodome at Gate C, unless it is the final home game of the season, then the band is inside doing tuba races and bone spins.
• Locations where marching band members may be found are Tubaville Estates and Drumline House in Dinkytown, Omega Nu Alpha and Sigma Chi fraternities, the School of Music on the West Bank and the basement of Northrop on the Mall.

  Good restaurants:

• Best Chili: Sally's
• Best Coney Dog: The Big Ten
• Best free popcorn: The Big Ten
• Best Mexican: Chipotle (oh so good!)
• Best Pizza: Taste of Manhattan, Campus Pizza
• Best Chinese: Village Wok
• Best Malts: Annie's
• Best Breakfast: Al's Breakfast (only 18 seats, so don't bring big groups)
• Best Subs: Erbert's and Gerbert's or Big Mike's. It's a toss up.
• Fast Food: McDonalds (2), Burger King, Dairy Queen, Arby's/ Sabarro, Taco John's (Dinkydome), Chick-fil-a (Coffman Union), Bruegger's Bagels (2), Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Dominos
• Bars: Stub and Herb's. The Big Ten, Perry's Pizza, the Library, and Sally's all on the East bank. Sgt. Preston's, Town Hall and Grandma's all on the West Bank. All of these have fairly good food.

  "It's tough to find bad food on campus. Not impossible, just tough. As long as you avoid the dorms." - Matt "Biffy" Hanley, Tenor Sax

back to top

Schedule:

• Aug 15 - Spat camp begins for leadership
• Aug 19 - Spat camp begins for rookies, flags and drumline
• Aug 21 - Spat camp begins for vets
• Aug 24 - State Fair performance
• Aug 30 - Home game: University of Tulsa
• Sep 2 - New student convocation
• Sep 6 - Home game: Troy State
• Sep 7 - Excelsior 150th
• Sep 20 - Home game: University of Louisiana-LaFayette
• Oct 11 - Home game: University of Michigan
• Oct 17 - Homecoming Bonfire
• Oct 18 - Homecoming Game: Michigan State
• Nov 1 - Home game: Indiana University
• Nov 8 - Home game: University of Wisconsin
• Nov 14 - Rochester Indoor
• Nov 15 - Away game: University of Iowa (tentative)
• Nov 22 - Indoor Concert
• Nov 23 - Indoor Concert
• Dec 7 - Band Banquet

back to top

Contact:

Want to contact a Minnesota Band member? Here's your chance. Members are listed alphabetically by instrument:

Flutes and Piccolos:

• Home Page
• Jan Reece

Clarinets:

• Home Page

Alto Saxes:

• Home Page

Trumpets:

• Home Page

Mellophones:

• Home Page
• Carly Danek: Rk. Lt.

Tenor Saxes:

• Home Page
• Matt "Biffy" Hanley: Rk Lt., Asst, Section Leader

Baritones:

• Home Page
• Ann Sadek: Rk. Lt., Section Leader

Trombones:

• Home Page
• Aaron Price: Rk Lt.

Tubas:

• Home Page

Drumline:

• Home Page

Flagline:

• Home Page

back to top

Links:

University of Minnesota
Marching Band Home
School of Music
Gopher Sports

back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 20, 2003

NORTHWESTERN

Learn about the "Finest Band in the Land" below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: Evanston, Illinois
• Mascot: Wildcats
• Stadium: Ryan Field
• Campus Home: Regenstein Hall
• Band size: around 150 to 200
• Director: Daniel Farris
• Drum Major: Casey Kannenberg and Sarah Kurley
• Sprit team: Travis Harper and Jenny Tison
• Sections: flute, clarinet, alto saxes, tenor saxes, mellophone, trumpet, trombone, low brass, drumline, guard
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: Music instructor and Drill Instructor
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: 4-6 Mon, Wed, Fri and 7-9 Thurs; Saturday morning game days - morning warm-up and rehearsal
• School Songs: unknown
• Pep Bands: unknown

Back to top

Traditions:

Back to top

Northwestern Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• Sept 6- Air Force
• Sept 13 - Miami of Ohio
• Oct 4 - Minnesota
• Oct 25 - HOMECOMING vs. Wisconsin
• Nov 8 - Penn State (Family Weekend)
• Nov 15 - Michigan

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

Northwestern University
NUMB - Marching Band

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 29, 2003

THE OHIO STATE

Learn about "The Best Damned Band In The Land" below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: Colubus, Ohio
• Mascot: Buckeyes
• Stadium: Ohio Stadium
• Campus Home: unknown
• Band size: 225
• Director: Dr. Jon R. Woods
• Drum Major: unknown
• Sections: E-flat Cornets, B-flat Cornets, Flugelhorns, F Horns, Trombones, Baritone Horns, Sousaphones, Drumline
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: Row leaders
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: unknown
• School Songs: Buckeye Battle Cry and Across The Field
• Pep Bands: unknown

Back to top

Traditions:

• Members of the OSUMB are required to try out every year, with veteran members receiving the same treatment as new candidates. As a result, veterans who return unprepared or find themselves in the midst of a more competitive row may make the band as alternates or be cut from the band entirely.
• The "Script Ohio" has become a standard chart for the band. It is 3:30 minutes long and is marched single file.
• The 'i-dotter' was orginially a trumpet player, but changed to a sousaphone in 1937.
• The familiar kick, turn, and bow by the sousaphone player at the top of the "i" was an innovation introduced by Glen R. Johnson at a game in 1938. "(The turn) was an impulse reaction when drum major Myron McKelvey arrived three or four measures too soon at the top of the "i"," Johnson explained, "so I did a big kick, a turn, and a deep bow to use up the music before Buckeye Battle Cry. The crowd roared when this happened, and it became part of the show thereafter."

Back to top

Ohio State Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

The Ohio State University
Ohio State Marching Band
Buckeye Athletics

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 29, 2003

PENN STATE

Learn about the Penn State Band below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
• Mascot: Nittany Lions
• Stadium: Beaver Stadium
• Campus Home: unknown
• Band size: around 250
• Director: Dick Bundy
• Drum Major: Trevor Gast
• Twirler: Bobbie Jo Solomon
• Sections: Piccolos, Clarinets, Saxaphones, Trumpets, Mellophones, Tombones, Baritones, Sousaphones, Drumline, Silks, Majorettes
• Marching Style: unknown
• Leadership: unknown
• Practice Locations: unknown
• Rehearsal Times: unknown
• School Songs: The Nittany Lion; Fight on, State; Victory; Penn State Alma Mater
• Pep Bands: unknown

Back to top

Traditions:

Back to top

Penn State Travel Information:

Back to top

Schedule:

• Aug 30 - 1:00 pm Home Football vs Temple  
• Sept 6 - Home Football vs Boston College  
• Sept 20 - Home Football vs Kent State  
• Sept 27 - Home Football vs Minnesota
• Oct 4 - Home Football vs Wisconsin  
• Nov 1 - Home Football vs Ohio State  
• Nov 15 - Home Football vs Indiana

Back to top

Contact:

Back to top

Links:

Penn State University
Penn State Marching Band
PSU Sports

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -

update:
May 17, 2003

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Learn about the All American Marching Band below:
Facts
Traditions
Travel Information
Schedule
Contact
Links

Facts:

• Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
• Mascot: Boilermakers
  *** contrary to popular belief, the official mascot is the Boilermaker Special, not Purdue Pete... but Pete is also cool.
• Stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium
• Campus Home: Offices, rehearsal rooms, concert bands, etc. - Elliott Hall of Music. Marching Band practice - Drill field, on Third Street next to tennis counrts, across from Shreve Hall
• Band size: Approx. 325-350, including auxiliaries
• Director: Dr. David Leppla ("Doc") - also Director of Bands, Director of Concert Band (spring)
• Assistant Directors:
  William D. Kisinger ("Bill") - also Director of Collegiate Band, and Boiler Brass
  Dr. Pam Nave ("Dr. Pam") - also Percussion Instructor, Director of Varsity Band and GABS
• Drum Majors: Bob Shrinet and Danielle Donovan
• Twirlers: Golden Girl - Christy Jane Stallings; Girl in Black - Krista Woodward; Silver Twins - Julie Thompson and Tracy Johnson
• Other Auxiliaries: Twirling Line, Golduster Pom Squad/Dance Line, Golden Silks Flag Corps
• Marching Block: Ranks of 10, with 1 alternate per rank.
  Fall 2002: 4 ranks trumpets; 3 ranks trombones; 2 ranks each of mellophones, alto saxes, clarinets, piccolos (no flutes); 1 rank of each tenor saxes, baritones; approx. 14 tubas, drumline (approx. 10 snares, 6 bass, 4 tenors, 10 cymbals).
• Marching Style: chair step style all the time
  
  "... which is rather interesting going uphill at 220 beats per minute in December when it's 20 degrees outside while practicing for the Rose Bowl. Good times, good times..." - Kim Conrad, Mellophone/French Horn
  
• Leadership: Each section has a section leader and if large enough, an assistant section leader. They act as rank leaders (march #1 spot/right guide). In large sections there is also a rank leader for each additional rank. Ratio is approx. 1 leader out of each 10 students
• Practice Locations: All marching rehearsals are at Drill Field; indoors at Elliott Hall.
• Rehearsal Times: M-F 3:30 to 5:30 every week. Mondays normally indoor rehearsals. Fridays before games are "Gold Day"" rehearsals and the band weras uniform hats and gray band t-shirts. Gameday rehearsals begin 3 hours before kickoff at the drill field.
• School Songs: Hail Purdue, For the Honor of Old Purdue, Fighting Varsity, Purdue Hymn (alma mater).
• Other Bands:
  Boiler Brass - men's basketball
  Gold and Black Sound (GABS) - women's basketball
  Symphonic Orchestra
  Symphonic Band
  Concert Band
  Collegiate Band (spring only concert band)
  Varsity Band (spring only concert band)
  Jazz Bands (2 in fall, 3 in spring)
  American Music Review (AMR) - "big band" with singers
  Winter Drumline
  Volleyball Band - volunteer pep band
  
  Purdue has no school of music and therefore no music majors. All participants are in band simply because they enjoy band.

Back to top

Traditions:

• The Purdue All-American Marching Band (AAMB) is a long standing tradition at Purdue University. It began in 1886 as a military band consisting of 5 people and since has grown into one of the top band programs in the country. In 1904, Paul "Spotts" Emerick joined as a student and in 1905 became a student director of the band. In the years following, Spotts led the band to many "firsts" and established many of the traditions that the Purdue AAMB still carries on today
• Some Purdue AAMB Firsts:
  1907: First band to break ranks - they formed a letter - the Block P that is still used today
  1919: First to carry all of the Big Ten colors (flags) on the field
  1920: First to play an opponent's school song (still done today during pregame)
  1930: First to use fanfare trumpets on the field
  1935: Used lighted night formation (Spotts was an electrical engineer), and earned the nickname "All-American" Band
  1954: First to use a dancing line of majorettes
  1963: First college band to play at Radio City Music Hall
  1992: First college band to appear in the Singapore Chingay Procession
  1995: First college without a school of music to win athe Sudler Trophy
• Interesting Fact: The AAMB was the first band to have an alumnus walk on the moon: Neil Armstrong (baritone)in 1969
• Big Bass Drum:
  In 1921, Purdue's Big Bass Drum was built by the Leedy Manufacturing Company of INdianapolis for just over $900. It is considered to be the largest drum in the world. The UNiversity of Texas challenged Purdue to a big bass drum push in August of 1961 to the Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma national convention in Wichita, Kansas. Members of Kappa Kappa Psi, Gamma Pi chapter and Tau Beta Sigma, Beta Sigma chapter pushed the Big Bass Drum through all the major citis between Lafayette, Indiana and Wichita. The Texas drum did not show up, and therefore Purdue's drum was officially declared to be the "World's Largest" by the Convention.
  The Big Bass Drum, affectionately known as the BBD, is still used at all home football games and away performances. The BBD crew consists of 6 members: 2 beaters who play the drum and 4 "tractions," one for each corner. They manuever/run the drum on the field and in parades.
• Orville Redenbacher is an alumnus of the band. He played tuba.
• The band performs at the Indianapolis 500 each spring.
• Auxiliaries:
  Purdue is known as a "cradle of twirlers." The Golden Girl Position was created in 1954 as the band's counterpart to "Purde's Golden Boy," the then quarterback, Lenny Dawson. Purdue also has the Girl-in-Black and the Silver Twins solo-twirler positions. While there have been 6 sets of identical twins to be Silver Twins, they are generally unrelated but perform synchronized routines. In addition to these four solo twirlers, the AAMB also has a twirling line, which normalliny consists of 4 to 7 members. Also performing with the AAMB are the Golden Silks Flag Corp, which consists of between 15-20 members, and the Golduster Pom Squad/Dance Line, also 15-20 strong.
• Student Offices:
  Without the 6 student offices there would be no band. The offices are: Operations (responsible for band's "stuff" including ladders, water jugs, and luggage on away trip); Supply (take care of university owned instruments and equipment); Clothing (uniforms); R&R/PR (Records, Recruiting, Public Relations - maintains records and works with the Public Relations Director); and Outreach (organizes community events). Students volunteer for these offices and in turn earn military rank. These offices date back to the early days as a military band.
• Band Cheer:
  In response to the drum majors' question of:
  "Have we got the best damn band in the land?"
  the band replies:
  "Hell yes, Damn right, You bet, No sweat, Gung-ho, Cha-cha-cha, Uuhh, Samba, Bicycle, Cervesa, Scooby-dooby-doo, All the Jazz, Roses, Yup, Bufori, El Baño, Smax, Howaya, Peaches, Reerr, Butter, Ciao, Bush, Chinguay, Sudler, Alamo, FISS, Awesome!!!"
  - Each word in the cheer signifies an important event in the band's history, such as "Roses" from the 1967 Rose Bowl, and "Bush" for President Bush's 1989 inaugural parade.
• Gameday:
  - Report time is to the drill field, normally 3 hours before kickoff in full uniform. Rank Leaders do uniform inspection, checking for things such as clean gloves, clean spats, proper pant length, shined shos, etc. The band runs through the pregame and halftime shows twice each and then prepares for the march to Slayter for the pregame concert.
  - The Slayter Center Pregame Concert begins 90 minutes before kickoff and is a long standing gameday tradition. Come hear a musical preview of out halftime show, among other things. Buy band merchandise at a table located just to the left of )as you're sititng on the hill_ the stage. Donate money to the "Hail Challenge" at this table and win a chance to conduct the band in "Hail Purdue" at the end of the concert. After the concert at Slayter, follow the band as we march to the stadium.
  - Pregame generally follows a standard pattern. The band does "run-on," coming on in pairs of files to form the fanfare block. The band then plays the Boilermaker Fanfare as the solo twirlers and drum majors are introduced, the plays For the Honor of Old Purdue as the block marches down the field and splits into smaller blocks. The band then marks time as they face backfield and play the visiting team's fight song. The band then does a "rank option" (each rank follows their rank leader) into the traditional "Block P" as they play the verse of "Hail Purdue." Once in the Block P the band sings the chorus of "Hail" as they mark time and do the traditional arm swing. They then play through the chorus of "Hail" while marking time and swaggering. After this, Purdue Hymn (the alma mater) is played, still in the Block P formation. From the Block P, the band rank-options into a sheild formation for their famous rendition of America the Beautiful and the long-time traditional "I Am An American" speech used in every home pregame since the 1960s. In the sheild, the band also perform the Star Spangled Banner while the auxiliaries display 2 large flags - one an American flag, the other the Indiana State Falg. From the sheild, the band rank options into their famous "Floating Purdue" formation to the strains of "Fighting Varsity."
• During the game the band sits in bleachers on the field in the curve of the horseshoe of Ross-Ade
• The AAMB learns a new halftime for each home game - about 7 shows per season. Recent show themes have included PBS (Sesame Street, etc.), John Williams, Micheal Jackson, Jerome Robbins, Gene Kelly, and Chase (Open Up Wide, Get It On, Run Back to Mama), just to name a few.
• After each home game the band marches down N Universit St (next to Cary Quad) and Stadium Mall Dr. to the Fountain on the Engineering Mall for the fountain concert. Come sit on the steps of Hovde Hall and listen to the final rendition of the music from out halftime show, as well as some auxiliary feature tunes. The band ends each concert by singing Purdue Hymn, playing Hail Purdue and doingthe traditional run-out. Make sure you're standing out of the way for this, or else you WILL be run over! After run-out, the band returns for yet another tradition, the drum major/drumline breakdown.

Back to top

Purdue Travel Information:

• Good place to park: Intramural Fields west of campus - great tailgating, short walk to Slayter Center concert

  Good restaurants:

• Within walkinh distance of campus:
  - ***Snowbear - awesome frozen custard (corner of Northwestern and Stadium)
  - Jimmy John's - On Northwestern, across from Mackey Arena
  - Chinese - Next to Jimmy John's
  - Subway - On Northwestern in the Village (SE of campus), also in Purdue West - Plaza (west of dorms, near IM field parking)
  - Pizza Hut - Purdue West
  - Fazoli's Chuncey HIll Plaza (in the Village)
  - Einstein Bagels - Village (Nothwestern)
  - ***Jake's - Chauncey (becomes 21+ after 9:00, but if you've already ordered food they won't kick you out.)
• Bars:
  - ***Harry's - the infamous "choclate shop" - on State Street in the village
  - Wabash Yacht Club - Chauncey
  - Where Else? - Village (State St.)
  - *** AJ Wingers - Village (Northwestern ) - great wings
• Down on the Levee: down the hill, this side of the river
  - ***Bruno's Pizza
  - ***XXX - excellent late night greasy-spoon diner. Orange and Brown building on the hill up to campus.
  - Panera
  - Snowbear
  - Wendy's
  - Starbuck's
  - ***BW3s - back in the plaza by the Cactus
  - ***Neon Cactus - good dance floor (one of two bars on the levee)
  - ***Pete's - the other bar on the levee
• Applebee's just north of campus on Northwestern by Wal-Mart
• Pretty much anything else you want is due east of campus, on St Rt 26 near I-65. (Olive Garden, Grindstone Charley's, Spageddies, etc.)

Back to top

Schedule:

Back to top

Contact:

Want to contact a Purdue Band member? Here's your chance. Members are listed alphabetically by instrument:

Mellophones:

• Kim Conrad

Back to top

Links:

Purdue University
AAMB - All American Marching Band
Purdue Sports

Back to top

home - big ten - forum - submit
illinois - indiana - iowa - michigan - michigan state - minnesota
northwestern - ohio state - penn state - purdue - wisconsin

©2003
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author unless otherwise expressed.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by any school or band dipicted on this site.

- site map - credits -