The Falcon Marching Band is a staple at the University which is composed of a group of hard-working students whose dedication to music is only paralleled by their dedication to each other.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, the FMB started their day at 9 a.m. at the Perry Field House to begin their rehearsal process for the game that started at 3:27 p.m.
The band, which is composed of 245 individuals including the color guard and twirlers, started their rehearsal with stretches, from their necks down to their feet.
“You need to be extremely dedicated,” said Graeme Materne, a junior music composition major and one of the four drum majors for the FMB. “We practice every day, we meet almost every other weekend…it’s extremely taxing.”
Marching band is a two credit hour class, but Dr. Michael King, the director of the athletics band, said the students far exceed the amount of work required for a two credit class.
As rehearsal started, one of the graduate assistants who led the warm-up warned the students not to “blow their chops” before the game.
“You have to practice and memorize the music and come to rehearsal every day and you have to dedicate almost your entire Saturday, but it’s so much fun, it’s so worth it,” said Adam Behrendt, a junior music education major and mellophone player.
In fact, all band members are required to have their music memorized while also memorizing their movements on the field.
This past weekend’s show theme was “Anniversaries of Film” to correspond with the Doyt Perry Stadium’s 50th anniversary.
“This year, honestly, I’m probably most excited about the show today,” said King. “I’m really excited to see what the crowd response is to it.”
The band played pieces from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Top Gun,” “Hook” and “Moulin Rouge!”
During “Moulin Rouge!,” three of the four drum majors, along with other members of the band, joined the twirlers for a dance feature, something not usually done.
“We’ve certainly done dancing before,” said King. “But I don’t know that we’ve gotten the athletic department involved and the video board involved, so I think it’ll be a really, really cool production.”
The twirlers also used different props in their routines, switching from batons to knives and back to batons. The knives are blunted instruments that have a hook that allows the twirlers to latch them together during their routine.
Homecoming weekend was a busier event than usual for the FMB as over 100 band alumni returned to participate in the festivities.
“You feel like when you come to an alumni game…you feel like you’re coming home to the band,” said Kara Kordella, a 2015 University alumna.
The pregame show was changed to accommodate the alumni band who was featured front and center for the audience to see.
That is something that is special about the Falcon Marching Band, said Materne.
“It’s cool to see those that have graduated …and how they meld with us,” he said, “seeing old friends and everybody come back. So, it’s just one big party.”
Behrendt agreed that family and friendship were key components of the tight-knit group of students
“Honestly, 90 percent of my friends are from band and…just having everybody there for you is so nice,” said Behrendt
While the alumni were at the University, they had the chance to preview what the new band uniforms would look like.
The FMB will not get them until next fall, but Behrendt said he is looking forward to having them.
“We haven’t, as a whole (group), seen it all yet,” said Behrendt. “But I heard they look pretty sweet.”
Behrendt and Materne both said they are also looking forward to watching the FMB progress as a group.
“I think it’s cool to see the evolution of where we started and how we grow together,” said Materne. “Seeing where we go, I think that’s just the coolest thing.”
