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I was in the band in high school, and a twirler, so I have always enjoyed watching the halftime performances. In my opinion, high school bands just can't get any more boring than what they are now! I realize they are practicing competition marches, but gee, I have to make myself stay awake during the "performances". While trying not to snooze through our HS band, and our opponent's band, Friday night, I was watching the slow, slow walking being done and I can't imagine these bands-people even thinking about being in the SMU band. Do any of you think it has any influence on our band's numbers?

Just my opinion but I would imagine cost of tuition has a much bigger role than your concern. But I have never been a band member so I cannot speak from that aspect.

High school bands for the most part have become mostly about competition. This has had two main effects:
1) the bands are "better" (nice straight lines, cleaner/more symphonic sounding), seeing as they are focused on winning competitions
2) the bands' shows are completely out of touch with most audiences because they are playing weird artsy stuff that only appeals to the judges at their Saturday competitions (the Friday night games are mostly a "runthrough" for Saturdays), not to mention they play the same show all year long, perfecting it for these different competitions but totally alienating anyone (other than their parents) that has to watch it again and again on Friday nights.

So, as far as kids wanting to be in the band at SMU, it just depends on the person. Some kids get all into the competitive aspect of high school band, and the thought of playing fun music for the football team is below them and their artistic capabilities. The Mustang Band appeals to some because it's different:
-no more Napoleonic/Pseudo-military uniforms
-you get to actually get into the game and just have fun playing for your fans and your team, not worrying about playing a competition the next day
-there's a sense of tradition, unique identity, and alumni presence/involvement

Other people dont understand this, and think it'd make the most sense if SMU had a band just like thier high school, or their dad's alma mater, or the school they saw on TV last week.

Oh yeah, let's hear the Washington Post March. The Mustang Band is small for three reasons. (1) Private school, with private school tuition. (2) They are very selective (they don't just accept anyone who can kind of play a horn. (3) They demand a lot of time. While they are different that daddy's marching band or the bands from other schools, they better not change a thing.

EastStang wrote: (2) They are very selective (they don't just accept anyone who can kind of play a horn.

I wouldn't want any potential members to read this and get scared away, so this is quite the misconception that must be corrected - the band will take ANYONE who wants to show up, including persons converting from an instrument the band doesn't use, persons who have never been in a marching band before, and persons enrolled at community colleges and not SMU.

This is not a knock against them, it highlights the major need for increased support in scholarships they need to help recruiting.

EastStang wrote:(3) They demand a lot of time.

Compared with high school marching band, they do not demand a lot of time. Rehearsals are 6 hours per week and the Saturday game time commitment. High school marching bands in Texas require 3 hours a day rehearsal plus Friday night game committment.

Plus, a lot of kids get burned out in high school from all the practicing they do getting ready for competitions. They just don't want to be in band any more in college.

DiamondM75 wrote:

EastStang wrote:(3) They demand a lot of time.

Compared with high school marching band, they do not demand a lot of time. Rehearsals are 6 hours per week and the Saturday game time commitment. High school marching bands in Texas require 3 hours a day rehearsal plus Friday night game committment.

In college, 6 hours a week is huge. I wouldn't have traded it for the world, but 6 hours a week is two full classes.

smu diamond m wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote:

EastStang wrote:(3) They demand a lot of time.

Compared with high school marching band, they do not demand a lot of time. Rehearsals are 6 hours per week and the Saturday game time commitment. High school marching bands in Texas require 3 hours a day rehearsal plus Friday night game committment.

In college, 6 hours a week is huge. I wouldn't have traded it for the world, but 6 hours a week is two full classes.

That is exactly one of the major problems with recruiting band members in college. They are still stuck on the 20+ hours a week for band. They just can't see how they can do band for 20+ hours and carry a full college class load.

Yes 6 hours a week in two full classes, like many college students want to carry 21 hours.

What else is 6+ hours?
6+ hours is 2 afternoons on the boulevard
6+ hours is 2 evenings at the local watering hole
6+ hours is sleeping in both saturday and sunday

6 hours a week is not difficult to manage. You just have to want to do it.

Diamond Girl wrote:Plus, a lot of kids get burned out in high school from all the practicing they do getting ready for competitions.

And they do the same show over and over and over... and over. And high school half-times last f-o-r-e-v-e-r.........

I was at the Redskins game the other week and they honored a guy who had been in the Redskins band 52 years. Those old boys have fun (and usually were half sloshed for the games). FYI, the Redskins band changed their uniforms from the old Indian headress garb to the feather duster hats. Looks awful! Bring back the headresses. They have a lot of ex-Marine, Navy and Army band guys in that band.

Are you sure you were not watching a half time show with the Village People?

Bergermeister wrote:

Diamond Girl wrote:Plus, a lot of kids get burned out in high school from all the practicing they do getting ready for competitions.

And they do the same show over and over and over... and over. And high school half-times last f-o-r-e-v-e-r.........

Especially up the road at Allen High School...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbOKoxUPUjI

So I would imagine as the footballteamgets better intrest inthe band will also pick up. I mean the opertunity to travel to a bowl game every year, and maybe some day soon to a big BCS bowl, iwouldwant to be a part of that.