OT: marching band practices
So kinda OT, but I'm at Kansas State University right now and I've been hearing their marching band for the last 40 minutes or so. It seems they have practice in their Old Stadium (yes, that's what it's called) on the south end of campus by their student union. At first, I thought it was some sort of pep rally because it's homecoming week, but turns out it's just practice.
This is really cool to be able to walk around campus and hear the band play. Granted, KSU is MUCH smaller than U-M, but I never once heard the MMB practice because they were way down at Elbel and I was generally on central or north campuses. Didn't have too much reason to go down there during the week in the middle of the day.
I know the people who live around there must get a lot of it which is awesome. Anyone else experience anything like this on other campuses? I'm listening to the K-State band as I type this. It's pretty cool.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^
I know at florida a few years ago (havent been since then) gator stadium was open to the public a few days of the week. I remember walking down the aisle towards the field and realizing Urban Meyer was standing right next to me the whole time. That kind of stuff is cool to see.
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
My first time ever in the Big House was on a random day it was open; it was just after fifth grade and I started running and planned on joining XC in middle school, so my uncle took me to run steps there. I was able to finish, but I couldn't walk for what felt like a week.
The second time I was there (the next summer) I was feeling so cool about being able to run the steps "quickly" until the hockey team came in and ran caught up to me...while running bleachers. That was pretty nuts, at least for mini-JGB.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
Nothing like drinking in Aggieville outside and hearing the kstate band play. Pretty cool environment.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
the MMB practices from 4:45-6:15 PM M-F, and the practices are open to the public. If the wind is right, you can hear them as far as South Quad, perhaps further.
I'm an MMB alum, so I won't ever get tired of hearing them practice, but for some people, it can get annoying hearing the band play the halftime show (with plenty of stopping and replaying mere snippets of songs) over and over all week.
October 23rd, 2012 at 7:22 PM ^
It's what makes college college. You'll never hear that anywhere else.
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^
Came to post this. Every weekday I'm awoken from my slumber (I'm a poly sci major) (oh and I live behind South Quad) because the band is so loud. Can easily be heard from the union too
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
It was cool during the day, but the morning practices in August would wake up the entire neighborhood.
October 24th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
Trust me, those of us actually out there all day in late August enjoyed it just as much as you did. We spent welcome week on Elbel's hot tar, but it was well worth it for the experience.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
At UM for last two years I lived on John Street butting up against Elbel. Heard the band every Saturday morning starting at 7:00a or something like that. Not awesome...no matter how much you love UM football. Brass horns =/= pleasant wake up call.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Living in South Quad I heard the MMB plenty. Back then I got annoyed (except on gamedays) because it was at like 7am. Now, as an old dude, I look back and think: (1) the MMB members must be part crazy to get up that early, and (2) how truly tremendous it was to be able to hear The Victors on a random weekday morning. Kudos MMB!
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
I lived in the ghetto in Los Angeles and could hear the trojans practicing every once in a while. Usually the 110 traffic would drown it out though.
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
But John Paul said something on Twitter about them being right outside his window.
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
lived in the "student ghetto" for my 3 years post bursley and heard the band all throughout the season. we always knew what they were going to play at half time. i specifically remember grilling with friends on Sybil and listening to them play tunes from Super Mario Bros one day.
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
The majority of my time at Michigan was spent living on Sylvan Ave, just about a block and half away from Yost. At the time, if I recall correctly, the marching band would practice where the indoor football facility is now. Every afternoon, I could hear the band loud and clear from our house. It remains one of my fondest memories.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
Are you at Houlihans? I live near by and have been around Old Stadium several times.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
I've been doing some work for the university. I was in one of the conference rooms in the student union. One more day before heading back home to Chicago.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
I've been able to hear the MMB practicing from as far away as Lorch Hall/School of Education when the weather conditions are right.
October 23rd, 2012 at 8:22 PM ^
The hidden best part about being in the band was no hassle on gameday. I would leave the hill at 6:15 and see maybe 4 people on my walk down to Revelli.
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 PM ^
I have lots of memories of walking to gameday rehearsals (around 6:30 for us drummers), and passing people who were on their way back home from parties.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^
Same here. The free taxis that drove around picking up drunk students on their way home from parties used to occasionally offer to drive us to Revelli.
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
I used to live on Main and Davis, and would grill out and drink Oberon in the warm months. It was always great being able to hear the band practice in August... with one caveat.
While practicing the Victors, they would always pause and hold at the most maddening times. "Hail to the victors, valiant! Hai----------------------------" and then stop. So great, and yet so unsatisfying.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:57 PM ^
You my friend, refer to the MMB's challenge sequence. Band members are challenged every game to earn a spot in the performance block - not everyone in the band performs on the field.
Because it would take forever to have 20+ ranks march/play through the full version of "The Victors," they trim it down to the part where the band performs the lock step (high step).
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:44 PM ^
I live on South Forest, a couple blocks down from South U and I can hear the band on Elbel.
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:51 PM ^
I lived for a time in the 1990s in the Arch and White area off of Packard, and I positioned my computer near a window so I could leave it open and listen to the band while I worked on papers and such during the afternoon. I enjoyed it actually.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
Wait...you had computers then?
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
I used to live on Pauline and Stadium last year and really early in the mornings on the day of a home game, I could hear the MMB practice from my balcony. There's really better way to start your gameday than that. That, the glow of the scoreboards when they would randomly turn them and the cheering of the crowds during big plays of games I didn't go to were really the only reasons why I miss living there at times.
October 24th, 2012 at 12:32 AM ^
My friend lives on South Fifth / Packard ... Just about every night my spirits, which have been trampled by the pains of being an first-yr Econ phd student, are lifted when I hear the sweet sweet melody of "The Victors" flow through the window. I've gotta say, I love it.
October 24th, 2012 at 1:05 AM ^
I work at USC and the band practices right outside my building. The guy directing them is just as entertaining as the band itself. He has this insanely loud raspy voice and is perpetually enthusiastic.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
...so I take it BarwisMethods recently went under?
October 24th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^
Michigans band used to have a concert in Crisler arena and the doors that were connected to Big House were open for smokers, which allowed people to go to the field and run down the tunnel.. I even ended up playin catch on the field..It was awesome, i had to strike the heisman pose in the endzone for Desmond..So if you get a chance check it out.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
practice was partially responsible for me getting married. WAY back in the early 70's, when Bo was still sorta new to us, I was an undergraduate in LS&A. My girlfriend lived on Benjamin St - just a block from where the MMB then practiced. And she thought I came over to her house to see her...
October 24th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
From my house in Burns Park. It's one of my favorite features of living here: band practice wafting in from the west.