WHOA... that's a huge...

[MatrixBass3]

Yeah, pits in college marching bands suck...................

Go here, watch the clips of the UMASS minuteman marching band percussion section......

http://www.vicfirth.com/news/BOA2004A.html

I mean, their percussion director is only Thom Hannum.......he's just a guy that wrote for a few small gigs like the 92 and 93 star of indiana, 97 crossmen, the cadets in 91 when they had, oh wait, yeah, the ONLY perferct drum score in the history of DCI and most recently he did this little thing called BLAST!, but he obviously has no clue what he's talking about, because as we all know, pits have no place in college marching bands. :rant: Maybe Thom Hannum should hop in this forum so he can learn how to run a "real" college marching band percussion section.........man, the ignorance on here is unbelievable sometimes. Mark my words here, ignorance, not stupidity.

ig·no·rance n. The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

Additionally, who cares if the numbers are big. I might be able to get 4000 fifth graders together and ask them to be in a marching band, but it wouldn't be any good. Cut people, set the numbers, and make quality the utmost imporant characteristic of the band.

And about the percussion deal, it has nothing to do with the company. It is through a local store who sells the drums at the end of the year to high schools. You have to be really, REALLY good as a college line to get a drum deal. There are some drum corps that don't even have them, so it'll be a really long time before this college band, or any college band for that matter sees a real instrument deal. The only bands that I am aware of that have deals are Riverside Community College and University of North Texas, both Dynasty endorsers, and UMASS who is endorsed by Pearl.

Alright, I think I'm going to go practice Marimba even though it is apparently a useless instrument.

[Metz]

50 Flutes:
27 Nugeyes
13 Vets

38 Clarinets:
27 Nugeyes
11 Vets

That's just a waste of space on the field the way I see it...

There is no reason to have that many flutes or clarinets. And Flicc, don't argue, that is WAY TO MANY! Switch some of them to brass.

[Metz]

I mean, their percussion director is only Thom Hannum.......he's just a guy that wrote for a few small gigs like the 92 and 93 star of indiana, 97 crossmen, the cadets in 91 when they had, oh wait, yeah, the ONLY perferct drum score in the history of DCI and most recently he did this little thing called BLAST!, but he obviously has no clue what he's talking about, because as we all know, pits have no place in college marching bands. :rant: Maybe Thom Hannum should hop in this forum so he can learn how to run a "real" college marching band percussion section.........man, the ignorance on here is unbelievable sometimes. Mark my words here, ignorance, not stupidity.

ig·no·rance n. The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

Uneducated I may be, but people can still have opinions on things. Believe it or not, I have one I am allowed to and going to state. I hate pits in college marching bands as well. Thom Hannum...sounds like a great guy and I watch Blast! all the time so I have nothing but props for him. However, he can leave the pit to all the DCI groups he wants.

Did you happen to see too many people playing wind instruments in that UMass video? It appears to me all by a few put down the instruments to play in the pit. So in your argument, a "real" college marching band has a drumline, 5 people on saxaphones, and everyone else playing the pit instruments? Yeah, that's a great college band.

Fuj...I have no problems with you but wtf. It seems like everything you say on here relates to DCI. This is the Falcon Marching Band. Sure some may spend all summer busting their ass in DCI to put on some of the best shows ever seen, but the FMB will never be that calibur. Sure cuts are needed and numbers should be set, but even then the FMB will not be as good. The marching and playing blows compared to DCI, and you need to accept that. You could cut own the marching band to 40 of the best music majors/marchers at BGSU, and the FMB still would not be as good. Just let it go...

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Yeah, pits in college marching bands suck...................

Go here, watch the clips of the UMASS minuteman marching band percussion section......

http://www.vicfirth.com/news/BOA2004A.html

I mean, their percussion director is only Thom Hannum.......he's just a guy that wrote for a few small gigs like the 92 and 93 star of indiana, 97 crossmen, the cadets in 91 when they had, oh wait, yeah, the ONLY perferct drum score in the history of DCI and most recently he did this little thing called BLAST!, but he obviously has no clue what he's talking about, because as we all know, pits have no place in college marching bands. :rant: Maybe Thom Hannum should hop in this forum so he can learn how to run a "real" college marching band percussion section.........man, the ignorance on here is unbelievable sometimes. Mark my words here, ignorance, not stupidity.

ig·no·rance n. The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

Additionally, who cares if the numbers are big. I might be able to get 4000 fifth graders together and ask them to be in a marching band, but it wouldn't be any good. Cut people, set the numbers, and make quality the utmost imporant characteristic of the band.

And about the percussion deal, it has nothing to do with the company. It is through a local store who sells the drums at the end of the year to high schools. You have to be really, REALLY good as a college line to get a drum deal. There are some drum corps that don't even have them, so it'll be a really long time before this college band, or any college band for that matter sees a real instrument deal. The only bands that I am aware of that have deals are Riverside Community College and University of North Texas, both Dynasty endorsers, and UMASS who is endorsed by Pearl.

Alright, I think I'm going to go practice Marimba even though it is apparently a useless instrument.

No one said the maribas were useless, and no one is knocking Hannum's stuff - we're just saying that we like the feel and sound of college marching sans the pit.

Awfully offensive for someone who claims to be willing to listen to people's opinions...

[graceful]

This is the Falcon Marching Band..

'nough said

[Godsgirlerific]

50 Flutes:
27 Nugeyes
13 Vets

Wouldn't that be 40 fliccs?

And Preston, the mellos are like Baby Bear's porridge- not too hot/loud, not too cold/soft, juuust riiiight.

[MiamiBando]

They seem alittle out numbered there Godsgirl....

Anywho, this must be a year of explosive Band growth...

Miami is haveing to redo our 30 or so year old pregame show. They are gonna try to put everyone on the field. That means a Block M(Hopefully the Miami M.) with 300+ people, if numbers hold. They keep upping the number of people in band. last year it was 280. This year they are saying the MUMB could max out at around 320. Imagine putting the FMB and the MUMB in the same stadium! There would be mass chaos.

[goofyeuph]

24 :Euphonium
12 Nugeyes
12 Vets

I'm not really sure how you get 12 vets returning for us. I won't be returning, if Fairchild marches he'll be a Maggot, and last I knew Tommy wasn't marching. Of course now that I sit here and think about it, I believe there are two other vets returning that didn't march last year, so maybe that number is correct. I don't know, I think I've been working too much and it's starting to effect my brain. Feel free to ignore this post.

[Ohiogal]

you'll need three drum majors....

[graceful]

And Preston, the mellos are like Baby Bear's porridge- not too hot/loud, not too cold/soft, juuust riiiight.

i disagree w/that whole statement :coo-coo:

[FMBfan07]

24 :Euphonium
12 Nugeyes
12 Vets

I'm not really sure how you get 12 vets returning for us. I won't be returning, if Fairchild marches he'll be a Maggot, and last I knew Tommy wasn't marching. Of course now that I sit here and think about it, I believe there are two other vets returning that didn't march last year, so maybe that number is correct. I don't know, I think I've been working too much and it's starting to effect my brain. Feel free to ignore this post.

chomic i was trying to think the same thing too. You are correct about two vets returning that didnt march last year, lindsey and I are both returning... i didnt count you, fairchild or Tommy, so maybe there are mystery vets!?!?!?

[graceful]

24 :Euphonium
12 Nugeyes
12 Vets

I'm not really sure how you get 12 vets returning for us. I won't be returning, if Fairchild marches he'll be a Maggot, and last I knew Tommy wasn't marching. Of course now that I sit here and think about it, I believe there are two other vets returning that didn't march last year, so maybe that number is correct. I don't know, I think I've been working too much and it's starting to effect my brain. Feel free to ignore this post.

chomic i was trying to think the same thing too. You are correct about two vets returning that didnt march last year, lindsey and I are both returning... i didnt count you, fairchild or Tommy, so maybe there are mystery vets!?!?!?

you both are neglecting to remember that a lot of people switch instruments between seasons

[Rightupinthere]

man, the ignorance on here is unbelievable sometimes. Mark my words here, ignorance, not stupidity.

Step back from your bruised ego a moment and think one word: L-O-G-I-S-T-I-C-S.

Let's say you get your desire and the FMB has a full blown pit (Keyboards, chimes, timpani, and toy box (specialty sound items).
First: Do you really want to lug all that stuff around? And if you do, do you really think the directors of BGSUFMB would want to go out and buy all the pit equipment? I doubt they would want to use the general use equipment belonging to the school - there are certain perils they must consider. I doubt highly the directors would go out and purchase 10K+ worth of equipment which would sit in storage 8 months of the year, rest in a rusting trailer 4 months, JUST to add a depth of "foom-ching" the average football fan doesn't care about anyway.

Second: the condition of the Doyt later in the season - specifically the sidelines where the players stand - would NOT be conducive to having a bunch of metal resting on it. You would probably have to pry the tymps out of about 2 inches of muck. Wait, I know, we could have a PLATFORM made! See item number 1. Yeeeees, UMASS would have the same problem, but they have a little bit of a diffent emphasis on marching band than does BGSU (as discussed later in this thread).

We did have a sort of pitt in 89 and 90, but it was just 3 bell players playing on marching bells without the diamond backs. They wore the harnesseseseses on the way back to the ice arena (dueling keyboards as it was meant to be played).

UMASS? Greg Parks is their director - and I don't believe he's even the director of bands. He became famous being a drum major. I wonder how many drum majors are a part of the UMASS band. I bet it's an obscene number.

I'm well aware of Thom Hannum and Mike Klesch who arranges their music (also arranges music for a couple of DCI groups, if I am not mistaken). Their directors put a lot into their marching band because their school of music is known for very little else outside of the state of Mass. UMASS is in a unique situation because they choose to be.

It frustrates me when so many people want to be "like other bands" and NOT making the best of what is already there. We (students and alumni) are the Falcon Marching Band. Live it. Love it.

[Rightupinthere]

By they way, kids, outside of the dog whisltes and kindling, those numbers look really nice!

[FliccGirl]

50 Flutes:
27 Nugeyes
13 Vets

Wouldn't that be 40 fliccs?

Yes, yes it would.

Thank God, because I was about to have a heart attack.

For the love of all that is good and holy, don't ever scare me like that again, Stacey!

Still though.... dayum. No wonder they gave us three squad leaders.

--Also. I don't see what's so bad about 120 vets..... that's only around 20 less than the entire BAND three years ago.