 Chris in the Trumpet section picture. |
So this past year, I joined the University
of Utah Marching Band in an effort to keep playing, get some exercise, leave
the lab, meet new people, and remember what that "football" thing is about.
Marching in the Utah band isn't quite the same as marching in the Minnesota band (click here for my thoughts about the MN band), but it was still a blast, and a great way to keep playing. Despite the fact that it wasn't quite as physically demanding as I think marching should be, it still prodded me to get out of the lab and enjoy some of the beautiful Salt Lake fall weather, which is something all graduate students need! Too bad there isn't that incentive all year long. The Utah band is relatively small compared to many college bands. With roughly 130-140 people, it's about the size of the Minnesota band 5 years ago (when I joined) before it's growth spurt. Part of this is due to the (unfortunate) fact that Utah is not a big state for high school bands. During the annual "Western States Band Competition," at least 3/4 of the high school bands that participated were 50 or fewer members. |
| So out here in the wild west, the bands march predominantly core style. Now coming from Big Ten country wheree the only bands which really march true core style are the organized drum & bugle corps, this was a big surprise. Honestly, I think it's kind of sad because instead of comparing the music, the show, and marching style during a competition, contestants examine the nitty gritty details of the marching style "Oooh! Look at that band! Their toes don't stick up as far as ours!" Even worse is that these are the same sort of comments that you hear during meetings of collegiate bands. |  A group of trumpets at the UNLV game. |
Some of the trumpets at a breakfast buffet in Las Vegas. | Like all University bands I've seen, the University of Utah band has a great image in the local community, with many high school students looking up to the members. During the anual band competition, there were many bands playing cadences from the Utah drumline repitoire. And throughout the season, we had high school students and members of the community alike watching during rehearsals. And just like the Minnesota band, it seems like a fair percentage of the crowd comes to the football games exclusively to watch the band. I don't think all University bands can boast that! |
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 16, 2001
Chris Wyman (wyman@cs.utah.edu)