The Ohio State University Marching Band (view source)
Revision as of 13:05, 27 July 2021
, 2 years ago→Instrumentation
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Tag: Visual edit |
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===Summer Sessions===
Starting in June, volunteers from the marching band, under guidance of the directing staff, conduct twice weekly teaching sessions known as Summer Sessions. These sessions are two and a half hours long in the evenings and teach every possible fundamental used in the marching style of the band. The very first session starts with the very basics of marching band: standing still at attention or parade rest. Students who try out for the band come from a very wide array of backgrounds, including [[drum and bugle corps (modern)|drum and bugle corps]], "corps style" marching bands, "swing style" marching bands, and even for some zero marching band experience. Summer Sessions help to teach even those who have never marched how to march in the style of the OSU band. Every session adds a different fundamental to the mix, and typically marching and playing even simple things such as scales is accomplished by the second or third session. All previously taught fundamentals are constantly reviewed, so in essence someone could start into the Summer Sessions program late and be caught up with everyone else within a few sessions.
Summer Sessions not only teach marching fundamentals, but also musicianship. Warmups with various brass and percussion exercises are taught, and all who attend are given a copy of the school songs packet, which is a packet of music that includes the school fight songs, Alma Mater, National Anthem, as well as other well-known songs such as "Hang On, Sloopy!" and "Le Regiment" to name a few. The songs are rehearsed every week, to help students begin to memorize the roughly dozen or so songs required during each the marching season.
The week before tryouts typically sees
===Tryouts===
Each
Music auditions are heard by School of Music faculty assisted by well-known instructors with other college or high school bands or drum and bugle corps instructors from the area. Most of the brasswind auditions are heard by the School of Music brass staff, while the percussion is heard by both School of Music staff as well as those with drum and bugle corps staff experience. Music and marching are judged equally and satisfactory grades in both areas are necessary. The directing staff has final say on all members who make the band. Roughly 100 people will be cut from the band roster on Wednesday afternoon. The remaining people will go through one more tryout session before "Make the Band Night." During "Make the Band Night," everyone who tried out earlier that afternoon (that wasn't cut in the late morning) assembles in the rehearsal hall and listen quietly as the director reads the names of who made the band in order of their rows
===Composition===
===Instrumentation===
[[Image:2008 Ohio State marching band spelling out Browns.JPG|thumb|right|An image of the 2008 Ohio State marching band spelling out "Browns" before the Browns 2008 season opener.|link=Special:FilePath/2008_Ohio_State_marching_band_spelling_out_Browns.JPG]]
The band consists of
The rows are paired in sister rows as follows: A-X, B-T, C-S, E-R, F-Q, H-M, I-J, K-L. Each row in the 192 block band contains the following:
* H Row: 12 [[baritone horn|Baritones]]
* I Row: 12 Snare Drums
* J Row: 4 Bass drums (two 26", two 30"), 4 Cymbals, 4 Tenors (Sextets)
* K Row: 12 [[Sousaphone]]s
* L Row: 12 [[Sousaphone]]s
* T Row: 12 [[Trumpet]]s
* X Row: 7 [[Trumpet]]s, 5 E♭ Cornets
For half-time, there are 3 additional members who perform to bring the total to 195. One bass drummer, one cymbal player, and one tenor player participate in the half-time show, but not pregame.
While the brass-only configuration has been unvarying since 1934, the instrumentation has been subject to experimentation over the years. For several decades, slide trombones were replaced by valved "Tromboniums" manufactured by King Musical Instruments; by 1970 they had adopted the large-bore Conn 90G, prepared by Conn at the OSUMB's instigation. Slide trombones returned to the band in 1980. Tromboniums last marched in the OSUMB block at the 1982 Alumni Reunion game.
===Student Staff===
As well as the
member Student Staff breaks down as follows:
[[Image:Osuband1.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The band during pregame.|link=Special:FilePath/Osuband1.JPG]]
* Head Secretary, two assistant secretaries and one librarian/secretary
All Staff members wear the OSUMB uniform and work throughout the entire school year in the band offices. They are considered members of the band, and are enrolled in the marching band class (MUSIC 2205.01) just like any other band member. The Student Staff and Alternates are in charge of holding the ladders for the directors for stability and for an official look on the field and sometimes perform a task known as “Ramp Guard” in which they line the on-field section of the ramp as a blockade for people who may be walking alongside the field. Uniformed staff members can fill a gap in the band, marching with a suitable instrument if needed.
==Traditions==
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