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With the conclusion of the 2004-2005 FMB Season, I was just curious about how most people felt about this years shows. Being in the FMB, I'm a little biased when it comes to the quality of our shows and I am proud of the FMB and it's accomplishments. I can't wait to get started next August and see what the future has in-store for us.

Yes, I am a bit biased with the quality of our shows as well, but I do have to say this: For what we had this year regarding time inbetween shows and the toughness of a show, I think we did ok. However, I do think last years "frontier" show cannot be topped with exactly how tough, how challenging, and how well it fit the FMB.

I think this year was great, and hopefully next year will be even better.

From the sidelines, this year went alright. The band didn't seem like they had the energy of FMB's in the past and it almost made the rehersals drag out. I think while everyone got a lot accomplished, we could have done much better. Don't get me wrong though, it was another great year to add to all of my FMB ones

While Frontiers was good last year, I felt it was only good the FIRST time we played it. I am still upset we never got to that Classic Jazz show because we way over-played Frontiers. Maybe if we did Frontiers once, then went to the Classic Jazz show and then back to Frontiers I wouldn't complain, but we just flat out over did it!

An outsider's view ...

We didn't see the Western Michigan halftime and the band didn't make the Temple trip

... but we did see the GMAC halftime and pregame. Although we were on the "backend" both times, we thought you guys sounded and looked great, especially given the conditions.

Looking forward to seeing you guys next year!

McMetz811 wrote:From the sidelines, this year went alright. The band didn't seem like they had the energy of FMB's in the past and it almost made the rehersals drag out.

That might be because you were on the sidelines rather than in the rehearsal. It always drags when you can't actually do anything. Trust me, I've been there.

No two things are ever exactly the same. No two seasons of Marching Band, no two shows, even no two performances of the same show. Over all I feel this season was a very good one. However, those who know me know that I don't believe in perfection, so I won't say it was perfect. There were parts of the season that were outstanding!! There were also parts of the season that were less than spectacular, and then there were also parts that make me question why I am in the FMB. For the most part, all of the shows came off great, and were well recieved. The spirit of the FMB was good all year long. While it was a lot of hard work (as it always is) it was also a lot of fun. There will be things about the FMB I won't miss: rehearsals in 40 degrees and rain, music checks, getting up at 4am. However there will also be many things that I miss: Baritone Breakfast, Big Shark, Good Day/Bad Day, standing ovations from 20,000+, commraderee and friendship. It's been a great season and a great 4 years in the FMB. Although I will never dawn the uniform agian, I will almost always be there to support those who do. Thank you FMB for everything.

From an outside perspective, this year definately fell short of last year. However, the problem does not seem so much to be the numbers in the band, or even neccessarily the shows that are put in front of the band, but the people in the band. There seems to be very little sense of pride anymore. There are no more band parties, and even when there were it was mainly people that have been with the FMB for at least two or three years. I guess I kind of feel like the membership is changing from fun-loving people to ultimate band geeks. Although it's not necessarily a bad thing, I really enjoyed the dynamic of having a bunch of well-rounded people around me, not just people who talk about the FMB day and night. Also we must remember that quality is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than quantity............apparently some people can't figure that out. Having 175 people that can march in time is much better than havine 225 where 50 of them can't stay in step. Thank God the band had black shoes this year. This is not a slam on anyone, it's just an opinion of how the band could be more successful. Band is not for everyone, it's for musicians, and if you're not a musician by the time you get here, and you can't stay in step by the time you get here, you should be cut! Have a happy new year everyone!

SaxyIrishTenor wrote:

McMetz811 wrote:From the sidelines, this year went alright. The band didn't seem like they had the energy of FMB's in the past and it almost made the rehersals drag out.

That might be because you were on the sidelines rather than in the rehearsal. It always drags when you can't actually do anything. Trust me, I've been there.

No, not at all. I can tell when people are having fun and when they don't want to be there. By the end of rehersal, I would look around and see 80%+ of the band with their heads down and frustrated of being there.

I have to say I'm surprised by the negativity I see here. When we were milling about the pep rally in Mobile, the band members we saw certainly looked happy and played great. Granted, my wife is the trained musician, but it looked & sounded great.

I'm looking forward to the 2005 edition of the FMB.

MatrixBass3 wrote:but the people in the band. There seems to be very little sense of pride anymore. There are no more band parties, and even when there were it was mainly people that have been with the FMB for at least two or three years. I guess I kind of feel like the membership is changing from fun-loving people to ultimate band geeks. Although it's not necessarily a bad thing, I really enjoyed the dynamic of having a bunch of well-rounded people around me, not just people who talk about the FMB day and night.

I couldnt agree more. The only time we attempted to have trumpet breakfast, only 18 of the 32 people showed up. If you can't get excited to be with your section (I don't care what time in the morning it is), then you can't be excited and take pride in the entire band. Also, I know some people that sit around and talk about FMB drama and all day long like that's all their life is. There is a world beyond the FMB. It's great that people enjoy it so much, but if you have people that enjoy it that much against people that don't have pride, there is a huge gap in the middle and nothing to tie everyone together.

MatrixBass3 wrote: Also we must remember that quality is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than quantity............apparently some people can't figure that out. Having 175 people that can march in time is much better than havine 225 where 50 of them can't stay in step. Thank God the band had black shoes this year. This is not a slam on anyone, it's just an opinion of how the band could be more successful. Band is not for everyone, it's for musicians, and if you're not a musician by the time you get here, and you can't stay in step by the time you get here, you should be cut!

Marching has gone down an incredible amount over the years and I honestly think it goes back to fundamentals week. It just seems leadership takes it easier on the sections every year and after awhile it is starting to become obvious. Because certain people think EVERYONE should march halftime, we have no alternates anymore. For pregame we do have alternates, but they no longer march in the Tiger Rank line behind the band during practice...they sit and watch instead of trying to improve the reasons they are alternates. To me it just seems our entire marching concepts are disappearing. The quality IS being sacrificed for quantity in that way.

1987alum wrote:I have to say I'm surprised by the negativity I see here. When we were milling about the pep rally in Mobile, the band members we saw certainly looked happy and played great. Granted, my wife is the trained musician, but it looked & sounded great.

I'm looking forward to the 2005 edition of the FMB.

For performances and games, everyone is excited. Being 18 hours from home at a bowl game is only going to increase that as well. The negativity you are seeing is really within the fundamentals of our program that people don't see unless they are at our rehersals IMO.

Everyone has times when they question why they put forth so much effort and time into an organization. Personally mine comes when I get to told to run the set back for the 19th time because someone on the other side of the field can't get it right. Things can't be bright and chipper all the time. That being said, it did seem to me like the band as a whole was down on itself more than in the past. I think some if it has to do with lack continuity within the sections (trumpets getting half for breakfast on Game Day as just one example) and within the band as a whole (euphs not liking fliccs, not liking trumpets, not liking clarinets, so on so forth). Now if I knew the solution, I wouldn't be setting here down talking to ya'll. Maybe it has to do with lax leadership from the section. Maybe it is a lack of drilling and bonding during Fundies week. Maybe it's something coming off the tower. Maybe it's all of them, maybe it's none. I don't know.

Was this season perfect, hell no. I don't believe in perfection. Was this season the best we could have done, I don't know. Could I personally done more for the sake of the band, of course. However, I feel this year was a good year. My section had a pretty good group, that seemed like they all wanted to be there and all wanted to hang around with each other (of course this is slightly easier since I'm in the smallest section in the band). I'm glad to have been apart of the FMB. It has been great, and I hope the FMB continues to improve (or starts to improve which ever your belief is). It will interesting to be able to watch the band from the sidelines for the first time in 4 years. Win lose or draw, I will always love the FMB!

This, as with many things in life as I have learned, "will never be as good as it was in the old days." We can only work hard to improve upon things gradually, as change rarely comes overnight.

Everything is a reflection of the administration/leadership. Walk into any business or any school or attend any group function and how it feels is the reflection of who is in charge.

I personally can't fathom how it would feel to be a marching band member today. I was in it for 5 years because we had fun and we had pride... and that was through three marching band directors. But we always had one director of bands...

From what I hear, Hayward is doing a great job. And from what I hear Moss doesn't seem to have a lot of pride for the FMB.

As for fundamentals, maybe we should have an Almumni day... I'm sure a bunch of us old farts would instill some excitement in you young 'uns!