New Drum Major of MMB
Drum Major auditions for the MMB were this past Tuesday. The 3 candidates who auditioned in the finals this year in front of the entire MMB also made it to finals the previous year but lost to Cody Martin, the incumbent Drum Major at the time. Here's footage of the twirling portion of all 3 candidates' auditions:
#1 Rich Main
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQZ8tVevI4
#2 David Hines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePoB6nRMboA
#3 Sarah Zelenak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_lvel5C_9I
Candidate #2 was voted into the position of Drum Major for the 2009 season.
Just a bit more on the position of Drum Major in the MMB from wikipedia:
The Michigan Marching Band has one drum major, commonly referred to as the "Man Up Front," for the entire 350+ member ensemble. Like in most Big Ten bands, the MMB drum major is not a conducting position. The drum major provides whistle commands to provide song tempos and parade instructions. While it is not required of the position, most drum majors perform twirling routines during the halftime show. The drum major is also responsible for teaching proper marching techniques during Band Week. The drum major is best known for the back bend performed during pregame. The drum major is considered the best marcher in the band.
Auditions for this position are held yearly in a two-phase process. The first phase is held in front of the MMB staff which narrows the field of candidates. The second phase is held on the last day of classes for the winter term and the final vote is decided by the current members of the MMB.
350+ member ensemble? I thought (per the traditional pregame announcement) it was a "235-member marching band?"
It's for training purposes... It's like running with a tire attached to you, or adding ankle weights.
"235 member" was dropped from the pregame announcement this year. 350+ are in the band, with between 260-300 actually performing on the field for halftime. There is a fixed number for pregame, but it isn't 235, and hasn't been for a long time.
I really don't have time to watch all the twirling footage.
235 members march for pre-game. The rest are either part of a larger group used for the half-time shows or are in the reserves.
The Drum Major is no longer completely chosen by student vote. The administration now has the right to take the voting under consideration, but choose who they want anyways.
OMG DAVID HINES RULEZ LOL HES MY ROOMATE AND HE SELLS COCAINE* TO UNDERPRIVLIGED YOUTH IN DETROIT TO PAY TUTION BILLS LOL
*possibly true
Thank you for the news and congratulations to David. The best audition clearly won.
Im assuming that if you can't touch your head to the ground bending backwards you're dinged automatically, right?
Technically not. The hatless back-bend isn't actually required; however, I can't see most of the band voting for someone who can't do it. So, it's sort of an unofficial requirement.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:02 AM ^
Actually, it is now the "standard." Which I happen to disagree with, because if you can't do it you shouldn't do it and make it look bad...
Seems the number of people marching has increased as the style of marching has become less strenuous. Marching and playing is harder than glide-stepping and playing.
Excellent presentation. Needs to work on his catches, though. Impressive snap up from the head touch, showing his athletic side.
Or walking around and playing. Or standing still and playing. We were able to play and lock-step, because we trained to do it....
Also, am I the only former band person who is a little bit uncomfortable with the auditions being posted on YouTube? I don't know, to me that seems like something that shouldn't be out there for public consumption.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^
But I am curious about your reasoning. So, why are you uncomfortable?
There is a guy in Columbus in a scarlet jacket laughing out loud.
What ever happened to precision, form, technique?
What a joke. Maybe the drum major should audition to marching band music and not pop music.
Based on the twirling routine candidate 1 was better. The winner was a novelty gimmick.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
I only knew him for a year, but I think the MMB has chosen a high-quality drum major candidate here. He's a great guy with an awesome attitude and love of Michigan football.
...plus he's got crazy dance moves.
I liked candidate 1 better.
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