Peruna Is Not the Only Thing That May Change

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

ya i believe a bigger band would be a huge help to making them louder and would make me more supportive of them

They can be heard. I know I'll probably be called a homer for this but I thought they outblew the TCU band, soundwise this weekend. As cynical as I have been of the band within the past few years, it surprised me.

[DiamondM75]

ya i believe a bigger band would be a huge help to making them louder and would make me more supportive of them

Go to www.diamondmclub.org and make a pledge and/or a donation.

More money means more scholarships means more members means bigger band means louder band.

[EastStang]

My sister in law is a very accomplished oboe player and now plays in several symphonies (while earning a living elsewhere). However, out of college, she wanted a career in music and about the only people who hire musicians are the military. So, she became a member of the Marine Band. That meant having to learn a marching instrument since oboes are not part of a marching band (but she still got to play the oboe when they did symphonic works). My point in all of this, is that are music majors would be well served expanding their horizons into marching band instruments. And not only that, they get to share their talent with a much larger audience.

[couch 'em]

ya i believe a bigger band would be a huge help to making them louder and would make me more supportive of them

They can be heard. I know I'll probably be called a homer for this but I thought they outblew the TCU band, soundwise this weekend. As cynical as I have been of the band within the past few years, it surprised me.

Not that it would make any difference, it should be noted that half of TCU's band appeard to have their instruments UNDER their rain panchos. Morons.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

ya i believe a bigger band would be a huge help to making them louder and would make me more supportive of them

They can be heard. I know I'll probably be called a homer for this but I thought they outblew the TCU band, soundwise this weekend. As cynical as I have been of the band within the past few years, it surprised me.

Not that it would make any difference, it should be noted that half of TCU's band appeard to have their instruments UNDER their rain panchos. Morons.

Yes, but those instruments were instruments that the M-Band really doesn't utilize such as clarinets. However, as you said, it made no difference.

[03Mustang]

Not that it would make any difference, it should be noted that half of TCU's band appeard to have their instruments UNDER their rain panchos. Morons.

Probably the non-brass instruments, which is normal. You can't get the keys wet.

I was in band in HS and we'd do the same thing, if not put the instruments away entirely.

[SmooBoy]

My only point regarding the music school is that we all know they openly discourage its students from joining the band and I think that is wrong. If someone studies piano at Meadows and wants to play trumpet in the Mustang Band, there is no reason he shouldn't be allowed to.

There were several in the 80s when I was there doing Meadows and band, but I believe the relationship has become more strained over the years.

And Dooby, I am all for adding a few tunes to the old book. Just don't throw out the old book. Rotations of old with new is fine.

[mikebawden]

My sister in law is a very accomplished oboe player and now plays in several symphonies (while earning a living elsewhere). However, out of college, she wanted a career in music and about the only people who hire musicians are the military. So, she became a member of the Marine Band. That meant having to learn a marching instrument since oboes are not part of a marching band (but she still got to play the oboe when they did symphonic works). My point in all of this, is that are music majors would be well served expanding their horizons into marching band instruments. And not only that, they get to share their talent with a much larger audience.

I was an oboe player in high school but wanted to march in the Mustang Band when I came to SMU in the Fall of 1980. I ended up playing the cymbals in the percussion section. My time in the Mustang Band was the most fun I had in college - including my internship in Los Angeles/Hollywood.

Although I wasn't a music major at SMU, I was offered a scholarship in music to USC - turning it down for the TV/Radio/Film program at SMU instead. That being said, I feel comfortable making this claim: some of the guys I played with in the Mustang Band were the best musicians I've ever played with. Music majors or not, they were very, very good.

It would be great to have more students from the music department (or any other department at SMU) get involved in the Mustang Band - but they should be there because they want what the experience of being in a group like the band has to offer in terms of espirit de corps and tradition. Once attached emotionally, finding musical fulfillment through performance is a relatively easy step.

Hubba,

Mike Bawden
SMU - Class of 1984

[SMUfiji43]

I just don't like how they're dressed like a barbershop quartet. I don't mind having a smaller band though. We're better than Stanford's!

[George S. Patton]

Then there is Rice's waste of space band. I really hope we do not have to see them Nov. 7.

[Bergermeister]

I think some changes need to be made there because I get tired of hearing the same stand tunes year in and year out. Not only in football but basketball as well.

You get tired? Tired? You'd be hard-pressed to find a team/band to support who does not play 90% same play list year in and year out. Texas? No. aTm? Hardly. LSU? No. Ark? No. TT? No. etc.

[KnuckleStang]

I think some changes need to be made there because I get tired of hearing the same stand tunes year in and year out. Not only in football but basketball as well.

You get tired? Tired? You'd be hard-pressed to find a team/band to support who does not play 90% same play list year in and year out. Texas? No. aTm? Hardly. LSU? No. Ark? No. TT? No. etc.

You are tired of losing. If we had winning teams, you would look forward to hearing these songs ad nauseum, like other schools do

[MustangStealth]

Not that it would make any difference, it should be noted that half of TCU's band appeard to have their instruments UNDER their rain panchos. Morons.

We had a good laugh about that. ALL of the woodwinds were under ponchos. The only thing more pointless than marching clarinets you'll never hear is marching with them underneath ponchos. Those people should have just been given extra flags to wave or something.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

Mike Bawden, Class of 84 percus. man...you had PLENTY o reason to bang [deleted] back in those days, a wonderful time to be in the Mustang Band, no doubt. Welcome to this insane board. The Rice band is cool / fun / creative...that's probably why Gomer hates...Go PONIES!!

[SMUPhil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwLmLkvz8Ms&feature=related

1973 Film of Mustang Band, Peruna, and some sweet Dave Smith era Ohio State/UNM uniforms.

By the way, to all you "good old days" crowd, the band in this film is marching 96 guys, and I believe this year (2009), they are fielding somewhere around 85-90. That's a big step up from the early 2000's when we were in the low 60's. I believe that the current leadership is getting the pieces in place and setting a good foundation for future years. Also, the 'barbershop quartet' look is brought out maybe once a year, most of the time they are wearing red or blue coats or vests. I do prefer that the band would wear coats for every performance, and not just vests, but I'm not in charge.

There were music majors in the band when I was there 5 years ago. It's not the band that discourages it, it's not like the directors turn people away because they are part of Meadows. For music majors, they have to have so many hours of ensemble credit to graduate. Most ensembles count as 1 credit hour per semester including the Mustang Band. So which do you think they'd rather choose as their 1 hour of ensemble credit: the brass ensemble that meets 3 times a week and performs 3 times a semester (to any Meadows people, Im generalizing here, I know there is probably more to it)... or the marching band that meets 5 days a week, rehearses before and plays at all home games (usually means about an 8 hour commitment on Saturdays), and travels to 1-2 away games a Fall? Unless they were just a big marching band or SMU fan, (and we usually had 5-10 of them in the band at a time), they would usually choose the 1 single hour of credit with way less time commitment