Peruna Is Not the Only Thing That May Change

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

[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.

Going back to one of those "When I was in the band" moments. We would keep a few staples that were traditional but we would play different tunes year in and year out in addition to our show music. It was one of the things that I loved the most because we were doing something different, which was my intended point.

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

So I guess that winning will make me fonder of Crazy Train? I'll get back to you on that one when it happens and here's to hoping that I'll be able to give you an answer soon.

[Prairiepony]

Whoa..........NCAA won't let you have running (or dancing) Indians anymore. Big Ten Band without the Chief just looks like, well, a Big Ten Band without a purpose or a half time show. Play the same music, but no Chief. 80 years down the drain. The Mustang Band does practice under the Nat......ever check the men's Swim team caps? ......Diamond M with running Mustang.
I have two degrees SMU and Illinois.......NCAA has affected both......one much more than the other, but success on the field will quiet the band talk....quickly.

[SmooBoy]

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

So I guess that winning will make me fonder of Crazy Train? I'll get back to you on that one when it happens and here's to hoping that I'll be able to give you an answer soon.

Yeah, I don't hear much of Old Days, Barbara Ann, or Dallas Blues any more either, but winning might bring those back with a new shine.

[mikebawden]

Living up north, I don't EVER get a chance to hear the Mustang Band anymore, so I can't really speak to what the band is currently playing for its shows (pre-, halftime or post-game). It does seem obvious to me, however, that with the right financial support, a band can afford new music or new arrangements that will help keep things fresh.

As musicians and performers, it seems to me that we'd want to keep introducing new arrangements to compliment the sound of Mustang Jazz while keeping enough of the traditional/crowd-pleasing pieces that give the faithful a sense of continuity.

And, to me, continuity is key. Change for change's sake can seem arbitrary and lead to serious institutional damage. On the other hand, sticking with the "status quo" come hell or high water can also lead to major problems. Keeping things fresh and making people grow can lead to change - but it makes sense in relation to where you've been.

I do wish I could be on campus for Homecoming this year. It would be interesting to see how things have changed in 25 years.

Best,

Mike Bawden
Class of 1984

[Statler]

Living up north, I don't EVER get a chance to hear the Mustang Band anymore, so I can't really speak to what the band is currently playing for its shows (pre-, halftime or post-game). It does seem obvious to me, however, that with the right financial support, a band can afford new music or new arrangements that will help keep things fresh.

As musicians and performers, it seems to me that we'd want to keep introducing new arrangements to compliment the sound of Mustang Jazz while keeping enough of the traditional/crowd-pleasing pieces that give the faithful a sense of continuity.

And, to me, continuity is key. Change for change's sake can seem arbitrary and lead to serious institutional damage. On the other hand, sticking with the "status quo" come hell or high water can also lead to major problems. Keeping things fresh and making people grow can lead to change - but it makes sense in relation to where you've been.

I do wish I could be on campus for Homecoming this year. It would be interesting to see how things have changed in 25 years.

Best,

Mike Bawden
Class of 1984

Everyone should note that Mike is the greatest cymbal player in the history of the M Band..By the time he graduated he had biceps the size of Popeye and more importantly he exhibited the heart of true bandsman..Mike..thanks for posting and getting involved....

[mikebawden]

Well, that's very flattering. I don't know what to say ... and that's kind of unusual for me.

Thanks, Statler and all - it's great to be here. Thanks to Cindy Meachum for pointing me toward these message boards.

Regards,

Mike

[Statler]

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.

FYI ...there are approximately seven..count them seven music ed majors at Meadows. Yep..that will make the band look like 200

[White Helmet]

7 Music Ed but how many Music performance?

[Longtime]

Popeye had massive forearms. He had teeny-weeny biceps.