Band Size

[DiamondM]

I never said Bob's daughter was in the band. If you'd quoted the entire sentence, you'd have seen that I was referring to the Summer Wind Programs that a certain Wind Ensemble Director would have at SMU. The first year I was in that program, Bob's daughter was in the ensemble. It was after our last concert that I went up to him and told him I was interested in the band and he gave me his card. I kept that card and called him the day after I'd given SMU my acceptance letter. Funny enough, he'd been trying to call me since January of that year but SMU, had given the Band an incorrect phone number.

Gotcha. I reread your post several times. I misread "the band" as being different from the summer winds.

[michiganstang]

I hope the new Dean at Meadows will help change this attitude, but it is there. And it is stupid. Many many schools of music actually REQUIRE its scholarship wind and percussion players to march in the school's marching band for at least one year. Texas Tech is just one example. This, in part, explains the size of their bands, and in some cases the lackadaisical attitude toward actual marching on the field (they don't want to be there, so they don't put much effort in).

Many schools "require" marching band for at least one year for their Music Education majors. Not many of the top "music performance" programs make such a requirement.

The wind/brass/string departments of the division of music at Meadows are focused on orchestral studies. One of the reasons it recruits well nationally is that the majority of the faculty are in the Dallas Symphony, most being principle players, and they focus on orchestral preparation. If a marching band requirement was added, I am positive it would negatively affect future recruiting.

Like it or not, in the competitive (and shrinking) world of jobs for orchestral musicians, every moment of preparation can make the difference. With the performance major already having orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber music, studio class, brass class, and individual practice on their plate (not too mention a few outside gigs here and there for some pocket money) in additional to the academic courseload is it any wonder some of the teachers would not be thrilled about marching band?

It seems like this comes up every year. The Department of Music has had it focus (orchestral studies) front and center for decades. One of the national draws of Meadows (and something it shares with the Sheppard School at Rice - take a look at how many of their music performance majors are in the "MOB;" next to zero) is it's "conservatory within a university" atmosphere. Marching Band just doesn't fit that profile.

[DiamondM75]

Michiganstang,

We are not advocating that all music majors be required to participate in marching band. In fact, just the opposite. The Mustang Band only wants members that want to be a part of The Hub of SMU Spirit. But, it is absolutely insane to punish students that want to be a part of the Mustang Band. This is the policy that needs to be changed.

[michiganstang]

I can understand and respect that, however:

This practice (it is overstating it to call it a policy) will not change among those professors who feel that way. The applied music faculty in Meadows who are members of the Dallas Symphony (ie most of them) do not need SMU's money - they make far more from the Symphony, solo jobs, and the odd instrument endorsement. They teach at SMU either because they love to teach their instrument or because they like the prestige. Regardless, they are given near absolute control over thier studios. Mess with that, you will probably lose these nationally and internationally known artists and the department basically crumbles. What good would that do anyone?

Second, although you may think it is "insane", for some professors to discourage (or as some claim forbid) performance majors to play in the Mustang Band; it is quite competitive to get into the instrumental studios at SMU - the slots are kept at a very low number and it is not unreasonable for a professor, having given you one of the slots, and probably a scholarship to boot, to have a significant say on your development on the instrument that got you into the school.

In my opinion of course.

[couch 'em]

I wonder if music majors are banned from intermurals? A broken finger or a busted lip could have a massive effect on their ability to practice at all.

Also interesting that they do not prevent these 'conservatory' style students from double majoring in a completely unrelated field. You'd think taking down an engineering degree would eat up more time than a couple hours a week and a football game on saturday.

[WreckEm16]

Less than half of Tech's 450-member marching band are music majors. The rest are students who (like me) marched in high school, are rabid supporters, and love the marching band atmosphere.

If the music school has a problem with its members participating in the marching band, maybe SMU should do more to recruit from its regular student body.

Surely among 11k or so students you can find 100-150 who used to play in high school and would like free admission to the football games. And to the music majors who are reading this, get off your high horse (no pun intended) and learn the 'Hey' song already. You're missing a great experience for no good reason.

That'll be $0.02.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

And to the music majors who are reading this, get off your high horse (no pun intended) and learn the 'Hey' song already.

I think you got us confused with TCU. M-Band doesn't play that at football games.

[WreckEm16]

Then feel free to replace it with whatever SMU does play at football games.

[NavyCrimson]

sounds like a bunch of ego-maniacs

[perunapower]

Then feel free to replace it with whatever SMU does play at football games.

Here is what SMU plays at football games.

I suggest you get used to it now, you'll be hearing it a lot on the 3rd.