Ranking UC's band

[mosucrc]

So many people complain about the band on here, but that's all I ever see it becoming. Just venting on an online forum. Some things are just people complaining about stuff that will not and should not ever be changed, but some people bring up valid points. However, nobody will ever know, because it's nothing but idle complaints on a football forum. If this is such a big concern for people, why aren't you voicing your opinions in a venue that matters? Talking about it on here is great, but it's not going to get your voice heard by the people who are actually have the capacity to make changes. Not only that, but people like to complain about things that can't be controlled. Everything boils down to money. Why doesn't the band play this song, or that song? Music arrangement costs are ridiculous, and the band is flat broke. That's just one example, but you would learn plenty more if you contacted someone in power and showed your support!

I think it's incredibly exciting that people are starting to actually care about the band and what they do to support the football team and areas they can improve. However, everyone's talking about what they don't like and nobody is doing anything. If the fan base really wants to take ownership of the UC band like Florida does or like Ohio State does, then get your voice heard! Email the band staff. Call the band staff. Talk to different people in power. Get your voice heard! GET INVOLVED!!!

People like bands like Florida and Ohio State because they have TRADITION. Tradition starts with fan involvement. The UC Band has traditions, but they are very specific to the band, because up until now, nobody has ever cared about the band. The way to start TRADITION is to GET INVOLVED. TAKE OWNERSHIP of your student campus organizations. Don't go down the war path talking about everything you hate about the band -- where has that ever gotten you in life? Instead, if you really and truly care, find ways you can help! Get together with fans and talk about what would motivate YOU. Come up with a cheer, and then email it to the band staff; we'll come up with a drum beat to go with it, and we'll make it work. Was there something you saw another band do that you thought really worked? Send it over to the band, and they can use it for inspiration! You have no idea how pumped it would get the people in the band if they were getting that kind of fan involvement. This band belongs to you! Treat it like it does! GET INVOLVED!!!!

[bobestes]

Nice. Good post.

[1977 BearCat]

There is nothing wrong with that band that can't be fixed by aggressive "recruiting" of additional band members. There have to be a signifcant number of incoming freshman who played in the band while in high school.

[CincySuperFan]

I've been to Michiagn, Ohio State, and Notre Dame for games and our band is light years behind all 3 of their bands. What has to happen for some change? As much as I dislike OSU, they really do have the best band in the land.

[shaunsimpson]

There is nothing wrong with that band that can't be fixed by aggressive "recruiting" of additional band members. There have to be a signifcant number of incoming freshman who played in the band while in high school.

Our band is a volunteer band that many CCM people are not allowed to even be in. The funding for our band is weak compared to many schools and our athletic budget isn't large either. I would love to see the athletic department contribution for the Ohio State Band and the contribution for the Cincinnati department. It isn't a problem with the members, but we just don't have the resources.

[1977 BearCat]

Our band is a volunteer band that many CCM people are not allowed to even be in. The funding for our band is weak compared to many schools and our athletic budget isn't large either. I would love to see the athletic department contribution for the Ohio State Band and the contribution for the Cincinnati department. It isn't a problem with the members, but we just don't have the resources.

I fully understand that band members are volunteers. We need to try and "recruit" a larger number of volunteers.

[AeroCat]

I've been to Michiagn, Ohio State, and Notre Dame for games and our band is light years behind all 3 of their bands. What has to happen for some change? As much as I dislike OSU, they really do have the best band in the land.

As a former member of the band, I believe that an administration change is really necessary to change the character of the marching band.

Dr. Terren Frenz is a great guy. He genuinely loves the work and the kids he directs. He's a terrific trumpet player, and has played in several famous jazz bands. He works very hard to up the visibility of the band, which was on the verge of disappearing a few years ago. An all-around good guy.

His history with marching bands, however, is grounded in North East Ohio high school competition bands, bands that he brought to national competitions. I've seen his competition bands perform before and they were very, very good. Unfortunately, that same philosophy is extended to the UC band, and that's the cause of the song selections.

New ideas really are needed on the marching end of things to excite the fans into staying in their seats at halftime instead of getting up for a beer. Case in point: the Ohio University marching band isn't terribly big, but they've got a big sound and are very exciting to watch. Lots of southern universities have a similar show band style and are downright fun, but aren't all that big.

[bearcatfan15]

our band is full of 2 and 3 star recruits if we can go out and recruit like some of the big boys and focus on key "music" states in the recruiting battle we can continue to make improvements and enjoy success at halftime

[Rock]

Are these guys (band director) like supreme court justices?--there forever??

[Lobot]

I tried to stay out of this thread but since I was the primary recruiter my 3rd and 4th year in the band there are some things to know. Recruiting for the band runs on what I used to call the law of thirds. Only 1/3 of the people you contact actually ever join. Of those freshman, 1/3 of them leave after year one and so on with each class. What you are usually left with is a senior class of about 20 people and being volunteer the band doesn't "cut" people who don't play well so some of those 20 may not be that good.

The band has actually made some real progress in getting their numbers back up to 200. Because of CCMs' dislike of letting their students play in the band we will never get a 300 person top tier band at UC and the quality of the band will continue on its existing path.

[Chewbacca2099]

If you guys want to do something here is a good place to start.

http://www.ucband.uc.edu/band/

There are several former band members on this board. I was actually in it for 5 years and would have quit sooner except I had several friends/girlfriends in the band that made it fun. I was always very apathetic about practicing and improving the band because there is no motivation. The leadership just teaches by repeating over and over with very little actual improvement in musical technique or marching. It got us to learn the steps, but half the members DON'T end up memorizing the music. There is a lot of people out there fake playing, and even though I NEVER practiced I would say I was in the top quarter or third of players in my section. Many people cannot even play the fight song from memory at least correctly.


I agree with others that leadership needs to change, even though they are indeed nice people with good intentions.

[Chewbacca2099]

One other thing, the silly band fraternity and sororities have too much power there. Most of the people in those clique's are very dedicated and tend to stick around longer to the band but a lot of them are god awful musicians. They tried to recruit some of my friends which all turned them down, very highschoolish popularity contests going on inside KKY/TBS even though these same people would probably not be popular outside the band...

(not all of them are bad, some people are cool but the way they select members is suspect)

[JoeBearcat8383]

One other thing, the silly band fraternity and sororities have too much power there. Most of the people in those clique's are very dedicated and tend to stick around longer to the band but a lot of them are god awful musicians. They tried to recruit some of my friends which all turned them down, very highschoolish popularity contests going on inside KKY/TBS even though these same people would probably not be popular outside the band...

(not all of them are bad, some people are cool but the way they select members is suspect)

I'd recommend seeking out more Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonians for the band then!
Always a classy group of musicianly men!
________
Zx14 Vs Hayabusa

[bobestes]

I would assume that recruiting for the band follows a similar path as does football recruiting, that it improves as the team wins more, goes to awesome bowls, etc.

[bearcatd]

...must be a slow night.