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

[jacojdm]

In addition to uniform concerns, there's also the issue of school-owned wind instruments. Almost of them (TSax, Mellos, Baritones, and Sousas) are in some sort of disrepair as it is, and then there are simply not enough to cover all of these new guys. Oy. If anyone out there has an extra $100K, please let Dr. Hayward know, I'm sure they've got a home for it. Ayt, Toledo Sucks

we've already received several new horns (including the tenor saxes) at the store, and i think they've even been delivered to bgsu. i'm not sure if the sousaphones have yet arrived, but they're on order. it's sometimes a 6 month or more wait for silver plated 20K sousaphones.

there was also a pit-iful in 1999.

[MatrixBass3]

My bad, I had no idea that the FMB wasn't a drum corps, I mean, wow, that changes my whole opinion..............I also just realized that I am a huge moron.


Seriously, when the drumline is as big as it is, you could add a lot with a pit. There are tons of different timbres that can only be brought by a pit. A concert bass drum can offer a lot of impact. Suspended cymbals offer a great addition to crescendos in the wind parts. Break drums and anvils have a really strong cutting power, and timpani, what a great addition to the low end of the band?


Also, when I say cuts, I mean cut those that aren't even close. All three years I was in band there were people that I don't know if I ever saw them make it down field in step and in time for pregame. I'm not saying that you should have to be spectacular when you get here, but have some standards. If there's a kid who can't march in time, offer to teach him in your spare time and ask him to come back next season. For those that are pretty good, TEACH THEM. I am very supportive of educating people, but I believe in educating through excellence, not through dragging the bottom of the barrel along all year long, desperately trying to catch them up, while everyone else waits for them.

[Rightupinthere]

My bad, I had no idea that the FMB wasn't a drum corps, I mean, wow, that changes my whole opinion..............I also just realized that I am a huge moron.

Yes, but you are trying to MAKE the organization as corp-like as possible. I remember when I marched we had a bunch of guys who marched Scouts. They were good. And they wanted to make the marching band more corp-like. They actually wanted to make pre-game heel-toe because that would produce more and better sound. They had a point, but do you think the audience would have said, "hey, that's a better sound." No. They would have said, "hey, why isn't pre-game as exciting as in years past?"

Seriously, when the drumline is as big as it is, you could add a lot with a pit. There are tons of different timbres that can only be brought by a pit. A concert bass drum can offer a lot of impact. Suspended cymbals offer a great addition to crescendos in the wind parts. Break drums and anvils have a really strong cutting power, and timpani, what a great addition to the low end of the band?

Again, I present you MY argument:

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.

I don't believe the average football fan - you know: YOUR AUDIENCE - is going to care one lick about the feel of a particular piece of music.

And where are you going to find the money to buy all the equipment of which you're speaking? Y'all just blew a wad on new [jury is still out] uni's. What trees grow money and when is the harvest?
I would think getting new baritones and mellophones to be more of a priority at this point.

[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!?!?!?

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

very true... didnt even think of that..

[Ornithologist]

Seriously, when the drumline is as big as it is, you could add a lot with a pit. There are tons of different timbres that can only be brought by a pit. A concert bass drum can offer a lot of impact. Suspended cymbals offer a great addition to crescendos in the wind parts. Break drums and anvils have a really strong cutting power, and timpani, what a great addition to the low end of the band?

I have never left my seat at halftime when the marching band was on the field. That's 9 years of halftime shows, some good and some not so good. Put a pit out there and I am downstairs in a heartbeat. I am not interested in watching a standing band. If I want to see a pit I will go to a competition somewhere with high school kids.

[baritonebandgeek]

In addition to uniform concerns, there's also the issue of school-owned wind instruments. Almost of them (TSax, Mellos, Baritones, and Sousas) are in some sort of disrepair as it is, and then there are simply not enough to cover all of these new guys. Oy. If anyone out there has an extra $100K, please let Dr. Hayward know, I'm sure they've got a home for it. Ayt, Toledo Sucks

we've already received several new horns (including the tenor saxes) at the store, and i think they've even been delivered to bgsu. i'm not sure if the sousaphones have yet arrived, but they're on order. it's sometimes a 6 month or more wait for silver plated 20K sousaphones. there was also a pit-iful in 1999.

Yeah, I was going to say...Doc H said we're getting 4 new Tsax, 3 or 4 new Mellos, 6 new euphs, and I believe 4 sousas. So, even if we do have a lot more new people...I think we'll be able to make it. There are SOME of the euphs that should never EVER be played again..*cough cough* Gio's horn *cough cough* It looked and sounded like it had been hit by a truck...but I think most of them are still in pretty good playing condition.

Ahh, 24 euphs...hmmmm...sounds good to me!

[Godsgirlerific]

--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.

I agree. When i saw that the number of returning vets would be over 100, I was impressed. I believe that this is the largest number of returning vets since I've been a member of the FMB (correct me if I'm wrong).

We've always had a healthy number of nugeyes each season, but we needed to bring up the number of returning vets. Having a lot of people there who have "been around the block" a few times who already know what they're doing and how things work makes the rehearsals more productive and the quality of the shows better. Experience is a HUGE asset in an organization like this. The nugeyes will also learn faster with more people surrounding them who know what's going on. I'm so excited to see that many people returning.

I'm also very happy to hear about all the new instruments the band is getting!! Shiny.... hehe

[FliccGirl]

Of course, sometimes returners can be sort of dangerous, if they've gotten a little too comfortable with the way things are, and not willing to work hard to change and improve.

But I'm an optimistic person, so I say, yay for 120 vets!

[Shakeatailfeather04]

I think it's fantastic that there are so many vets returning! If nothing else, that means that morale is way up from where it was my last year (2002).

I'm also definitely in favor of alternates and cuts, but mostly alternates. I think cuts should be reserved for those who show little to no help of being able to "get it" and those with bad attitudes. Alternates can be a wonderful thing, if used correctly. I remember when I made block my freshman year and I was one of only two freshman fliccs to do that. It used to be an honor to make block and I think that's the way it should be. That way pregame looks better (of course this is assuming that it gets practiced more than 5 times a year ) and it gives the alternates something to work towards.

[MatrixBass3]

For all of my esteemed critics, I'll end it all here, and want to discuss it no more, because it's like talking to a wall. The line is getting new drums, EVERY YEAR!!!! How about instead of that, they put some money into some keylon boards and some pit equipment. For ornithologist, check it. All I hear about is the tradition of the FMB and its "symphonic sound." Are there not marimbas and concert bass drums in symphonic band? I guess maybe I should investigate that. For everyone who is all about education and having people in the band. We can't march 50 kids in a drumline, so why not EDUCATE people in the venue of the pit percussion? Oh yeah, that's right, pit members are just battery rejects.........my bad. I think it may be wise for some of you to go to a high school competion. You'll see some bands there that put EVERY, AND MARK MY WORD, EVERY SINGLE COLLEGE BAND IN THE STATE OF OHIO, to shame. Alright, I'm through with this thread, so trash me all you want. I'm going to head to bed so I can get up and teach the kids at the camp I'm working this week. I might add, they have a pit and they are great.

[goofyeuph]

I think I'm awake enough still to weigh in...I just got off work about an hour ago, so forgive me if I ramble slightly.

Numbers growth is great. Ideally, I'd love to have 500 in the band. However...the logistical problems in fielding a band that size are prohibitive. Personally I feel that if we don't have a uniform for you there are only 2 courses of action: a) we buy you new one; or b) "Sorry, maybe next year". I have the same feeling regarding school owned instruments. I'll induldge you during band camp, but at the end of the week I have to look at what I have and work within those limits. I know in the past we've "made" uniforms, but I'm sorry, that doesn't fly for me. It looks tacky, and detracts from the band as a whole. The size of the membership needs to be kept in mind while fitting the band (yes upperclassmen get 1st pick, but the entire band needs to get a uniform) I feel that the logistical aspect should be kept in mind when determining band membership (yes this band seems to have some issues on standards, but that's another topic I'm not going to go into at this time)

As for the use of pits...like the argument RUIT and got into back in the spring regarding DCI and entertainment in marching band, like the bayonet in combat, like the chicken suit; they have a proper place, use, and purpose. I've seen pits used very effectivly. I've also seen pits that were drumline rejects. In the current incarnation of the FMB, I do not believe a full time pit would truly add to the program. There are times in which a pit could be used to enhance the band ('I Hear America Singing' could have benifited from a good pit IMO), but nothing that would really justify using one all season long. I geuss when I think "marching band" I don't hear or feel a need for a pit. When I think "DCI", I hear and feel pit. When I think "DC Band" (which is kinda what I think we are at this point, a cross between DCI and marching band) it varies by situation. I'm not saying a pit should always be used, or should be never be used. I think the real trick is knowing when to use it.

Ok, my head hurts, my eyelids are getting heavy, and I want to see Discovery take off at 10:30, so I'm going to get some sleep. Feel free to rip apart Rip VanWikle now

[Bassdrummin]

I have never left my seat at halftime when the marching band was on the field. That's 9 years of halftime shows, some good and some not so good. Put a pit out there and I am downstairs in a heartbeat. I am not interested in watching a standing band. If I want to see a pit I will go to a competition somewhere with high school kids.

If I remember correctly (and I am 100% that I do) my first year here we had a small pit on the sideline in 1999. I know this for a fact because my good friend Dave Bustos Reyes used to play the suspended cymbal there. I'm not arguing for using a pit in the FMB, just trying to set some of the facts straight. Granted, there were only a few people in the pit that year so it is quite possible you overlooked them. No big deal.

Furthermore, it is sad that there are high schools that could put any Ohio college/university marching band to shame. Maybe if more steps were taken to teach the nugeyes throughout their marching careers, the FMB could excel in their unique style and direction. As it stands, however, there are ton of kids hanging onto their high school marching habits and not fully comprehending what it takes to execute a perfect chair step, etc. Some bands focus on perfection, some focus on entertainment. That being said, my philosophies are more inline with UMASS than with BG... but I wouldn't trade my experiences or my friends from BG for anyone else.

[Rightupinthere]

I am aware of the competition high school bands in the state and they are quite good.

They know one show per year and that show is designed specifically for competition.

I bet BGSU could look as good if not better if they only learned one show per year and then went to some sort of competition.

But, I wonder if the average football fan would want to see the same show ever week?

My guess is no. But what do I know?

[Bassdrummin]

Yeah, that's the gist of what I was saying too. Some bands focus on entertainment, some on perfection. BG's focus is more of an entertainment value... which is fine. UMASS is focused on perfection, which is fine too. A regular joe won't be able to tell the difference between the two. My personal preference is inline with UMASS since I've marched DCI and loved it. It's a trade off, the more entertainment you want to generate... usually the less time you have to work on perfection and vice versa. I would be bored watching the same show over every game, too. So to trade a little perfection for a new show every week is great.

However, we shouldn't allow entertainment to get in the way of fundamental execution. It's simple to say "We've thown together a one week wonder." It's a lot harder to say "We've thrown together a one week wonder and I've played and marched it to my best potential." When I watch pregame and I see a ton of people doing 30 and 45 degree chair steps, right next to a few striving for that 90 degree chair step... That leads me to believe most people are just going through the motions on a fundamental aspect of our MB. The great thing about those high school competition bands is that they teach and reiterate the fundamentals, something the FMB could improve upon.

However, the FMB is doing a lot better than in the recent past, but if we want to approach the "great" FMB's in history (That I have heard so much about) fundamentals are the key. I'm not saying we have to be DCI or a competition band, all I am saying is that we need to do what we do great... never accept anything even if you feel that it was the best you could possibly do. Once you start accepting where you are, you're not going to get any better. There are a lot of people accepting marching and playing way below what they are capable of. I see all this talent and promise for the coming year, and the bar should naturally be raised to a higher standard than in the past. I was happy with the improvements over the years, but I would be sad to see the FMB hit a plateau and stay there.
That's just how I feel
word

[Rightupinthere]

However, the FMB is doing a lot better than in the recent past, but if we want to approach the "great" FMB's in history (That I have heard so much about) fundamentals are the key.

I agree on the fundamentals. They could and should be better. It could have been a lot better even when I was marching *cough*13yearsago*cough*.

I am strongly in favor of limiting the number of marchers. Make the band a 'chosen group.' I believe that will change fundamentals, musicality, and attitude very quickly.

I was more answering to the type of marching versus the execution of the marching. The FMB will never and should never put together a show ala DCI where formations are complex and fluid. It wouldn't happen. The High Schools I spoke of are competition bands and they have the shows and the drill locked - because they have to.