In the News

Michigan Marching Band reveals a glimpse of its practice ritual

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan's football team isn't the only group of students practicing all week for Saturday.

Excerpt:

You see them every Football Saturday. The Big House erupts when they take the field. They perform as a flawless unit in which all individuals are constantly aware of where they are on the field, what their next move is and everything that's happening around them. They practice daily even in the harshest weather and undergo extensive training. They are some of the University�s most talented students. And no, they�re not on the football team.

The Michigan Marching Band has been a crucial part of the University�s fabric since 1896, and for many football fans, the band is just as important to the Big House experience as the game. The band is collected, cohesive and professional when we see it on the field. But we all know that the complex halftime shows don't just happen with the wave of the drum major�s baton. What goes into producing a new show each week? And how is the band so damn good? It all rests on the effort and dedication of its members.

Anyone who lives south of Hill Street has probably heard the Marching Band brazenly practicing every day. And anyone near Elbel Field at 4:45 p.m. on a weekday will hear the sound of drums pounding in unison while brassy scales grow louder and louder over thumping rhythms. Practice begins each day with a half hour of music rehearsal. The band members usually receive their show music several days before gameday so they have sufficient time to memorize their parts.

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In the News

Michigan Marching Band reveals a glimpse of its practice ritual

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