Wickedly Awesome Band

By Kia Middleton, English Major, from Fort Collins, Colorado

Has the sound of banging bass drums or potently powerful trumpets been a part of your everyday life? Have black rolled heeled marching shoes been a part of your wardrobe? Two words Marching Band, and two more words, just join. I was in marching band all through high school and decided that the CSU Marching Band was the positive high school to college band transition I needed, maybe it will prove the same for you.

Imagine - it's 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning; and although it is early, your excitement for your performance at the game is overwhelming. After stepping out of your toasty car you can already see the light fog seeping out of the grassy field. The white and orange spray painted lines are a sight for sore eyes. In the distance little groups of people with similar instrumentation are huddled together, and at first glance, it could look like many small games of duck-duck-goose. Flutes with the flutes, trombones with the trombones-you get the point. Quick find your instrument circle and wait for further instruction.

It's the same old fashioned warm-ups with a marching band spin. It's your standard parade block mixed with a flow of dance moves and well, basics to prepare you for a few hours of marching practice. But, don't allow yourself to be swept away by the background music. Although it might inspire other dance moves, stay in band mode and get the job done.

When it is finally time to put on the uniform, it is a bit like the Men in Black movies where Will Smith says, "This is the last suit you will ever wear." In the world of marching band that is more than just truth. Zippers and buttons, strings and snaps, just how fast can you put on your entire uniform? Believe me people have races to determine this. An hour or so later it's time for the pre-game show. As you run out of the tunnel to your first position on the cool, squished field, you enter that "zone" and you are aware that greatness is in the making.

The CSU marching band is open to anyone who is willing to work hard to create a successful band. You don't have to major in music or even have marched to join. If you are interested in more information, visit the Colorado State marching band webpage at: http://www.bands.colostate.edu.