The University of Minnesota Marching Band (also known as UMMB, Minnesota Marching Band, and The Pride of Minnesota
) is the
marching band
A marching band is a group of musical instrument, instrumental musicians who perform while marching, often for entertainment or competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass instrument, brass, woodwind instrument, woodwind, and percus ...
of the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
and the flagship university band for the state of
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
. The Pride of Minnesota serves as an ambassador for the university, representing the school at major events both on and off campus. The band performs before, during, and after all home
Golden Gopher football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
games and bowl games, occasional away games, local parades, numerous pepfests, exhibition performances,
as well as a series of indoor concerts at the end of the regular football season.
Members of the band, along with non-member students, also participate in smaller athletic pep bands that perform at other major sporting events, including
men's hockey,
men's basketball,
women's hockey,
women's basketball
Women's basketball is the team sport of basketball played by women. It began being played in 1892, one year after men's basketball, at Smith College in Massachusetts. It spread across the United States, in large part via women's college compet ...
, and
women's volleyball.
History
The University of Minnesota Marching Band was formed with 29 members as the University Cadet Band in 1892, functioning as part of the university
cadet corps
A corps of cadets, also called cadet corps, was originally a kind of military school for boys. Initially such schools admitted only sons of the nobility or gentry, but in time many of the schools were opened also to members of other social classes ...
and stationed in the
University of Minnesota Armory
The University of Minnesota Armory is a building on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Armory was constructed in 1896 after the previous space for military training on the campus burnt in a fire in 1894."History and ...
after its construction in 1896.
[Bencriscutto, Frank; Mike Gaffron (1992). ''Minnesota Hats Off to Thee''. Taylor Publishing Company. p. 12. .] The band performed its first halftime field show during the 1910 football season at
Northrop Field
Northrop Field was the on-campus stadium of the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team from 1899 to 1923. The original field had seating of around 3,000 and was named for University President Cyrus Northrop. After the 1902 season, the playing f ...
. Among the formations included was the "Block M" that now serves as the University's logo. The "Block M" formation remains present in the band's pregame show.
Near the end of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in 1918, the University Cadet Band was merged with the local Army band in order to form First Regiment of Minnesota Band, in addition to a second, more briefly existing Second Regiment of Minnesota Band. However, both bands were decommissioned along with the Regiment at the conclusion of the war. Following the war, university students who were members of the band were offered a position in a separate University Band, with the word "cadet" having been dropped from its name.
![Minnesota Marching Band Uniforms](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Minnesota_Marching_Band_Uniforms.jpg)
After the 1923 football season,
Memorial Stadium was constructed, and the band began to perform on the field, which was the home of football games and marching band shows for 57 years, the longest of any of the university's stadiums. The band "brought spectacle and song to game days," and halftime shows included moving renditions of rivalry trophies such as
Floyd of Rosedale
Floyd may refer to:
As a name
* Floyd (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Floyd (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
Places in the United States
* Floyd, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Floyd, Io ...
and the
Little Brown Jug, as well as greetings to university figures such as football coach
Bernie Bierman
Bernard W. Bierman (March 11, 1894 – March 7, 1977) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces. Bierman was t ...
.
In January 1965, the Minnesota Marching Band was featured in the
Inaugural Parade
The inauguration of the president of the United States is a ceremony to mark the commencement of a new four-year term of the president of the United States. During this ceremony, between 73 to 79 days after the presidential election, the pres ...
in
Washington, DC
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...
for the
second inauguration of U.S. President
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...
.
In 1982, the band's performances moved once again after the opening of the
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (commonly called the Metrodome) was a domed sports stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It opened in 1982 as a replacement for Metropolitan Stadium, the former home of the National Football League ...
and the subsequent relocation of Golden Gopher football from Memorial Stadium.
The Minnesota Marching Band performed during the
halftime show of
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion ...
on January 26, 1992, along with former
Olympic
Olympic or Olympics may refer to
Sports
Competitions
* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896
** Summer Olympic Games
** Winter Olympic Games
* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
champions
Brian Boitano
Brian Anthony Boitano (born October 22, 1963) is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985–1988 U.S. National Champion.
He turned professional foll ...
and
Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Stuart Hamill (born July 26, 1956) is a retired American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion and 1976 World champion in ladies' singles.
Early life
Hamill was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Chalmers and Carol Hamill. Her fat ...
, and singer
Gloria Estefan.
In the fall of 2009, with the opening of
TCF Bank Stadium
Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly known as TCF Bank Stadium) is an outdoor stadium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The stadium opened in 2009, after three years of construction. It i ...
(now Huntington Bank Stadium) on the university's campus, the band's game-day performances moved back to campus and to an outdoor field for the first time since leaving Memorial Stadium in 1981.
On February 4, 2018, the Minnesota Marching Band performed alongside
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
in the
halftime show of
Super Bowl LII
Super Bowl LII was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2017 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles defeated the American Football Conferen ...
. The band was featured in Timberlake’s
R&B hit “
Suit & Tie”, and performed additional choreography and drill during “
Mirrors
A mirror or looking glass is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera. Mirrors reverse the direction of the ima ...
" and the show’s finale, "
Can't Stop the Feeling!
"Can't Stop the Feeling!" is a song recorded by American singer Justin Timberlake. It was released on May 6, 2016, as the lead single of the soundtrack to the film '' Trolls'' (2016), in which Timberlake voiced the character "Branch" and served a ...
".
Members of the band and the
University of Minnesota Dance Team performed with the
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers () are an American pop rock band. Formed in 2005, they gained popularity from their appearances on the Disney Channel television network. They consist of three brothers: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas. Raised in W ...
in concert at the
Minneapolis Armory
The Minneapolis Armory is a historic event center and former National Guard armory located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Built by the Public Works Administration in 1936, the building was occupied by several Army and Naval Mil ...
during the
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four on April 6, 2019. The band joined the pop-rock group onstage for the finale of their newly-released single "
Cool".
In March of 2022, 30 members of the Minnesota Marching Band traveled to
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
in the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
for the World
Expo 2020
Expo 2020 ( ar, إكسبو 2020) was a World Expo hosted by Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 ...
. The purpose of the trip was to perform as representatives on behalf of the University and the United States to generate excitement for Minnesota's bid to host
Expo 2027 in
Bloomington, MN
Bloomington is a suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the north bank of the Minnesota River, above its confluence with the Mississippi River, south of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 89,987, ...
. On the trip, the band played at numerous events, including a parade around the Expo for USA National Day, in front of the USA Pavilion, as well as for the United States ceremony. High-level audience members included
Secretary of Commerce,
Gina Raimondo
Gina Marie Raimondo (; born May 17, 1971) is an American politician, lawyer, and venture capitalist who has served as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 75th go ...
, as well as other dignitaries of the U.S. and UAE. The group also reached citizens from over 190 countries across the world.
In May of 2022, members of the band played the
Minnesota Rouser
The "Minnesota Rouser" is the fight song of the University of Minnesota. It is played at all Minnesota Golden Gophers games.
Lyrics
The phrase 'Ski-U-Mah' was part of an early cheer for the U of M.
Gopher fans traditionally thrust their fists ...
and
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The "Battle Hymn of the Republic", also known as "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" or "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" outside of the United States, is a popular American patriotic song written by the abolitionist writer Julia Ward Howe.
Howe wrote her l ...
at a memorial for Former Vice President
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (January 5, 1928 – April 19, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 42nd vice president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. A U.S. senator from Minnesota ...
at
Northrop Auditorium
Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium (commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop) is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the university's second presi ...
. The Mondale family requested the band be there, as the former Vice President was a Gopher alum and strong supporter of the University. At the memorial, the band performed following speeches from supporters of the program, including Governor
Tim Walz
Timothy James Walz ( ; born April 6, 1964) is an American politician and retired educator. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019.
Born in West Point, Nebraska, Wal ...
, and Senators
Amy Klobuchar and
Tina Smith
Christine Elizabeth Smith (née Flint, born March 4, 1958) is an American politician, retired Democratic political consultant, and former businesswoman serving as the junior United States senator from Minnesota since 2018. She is a member of th ...
. In addition to the hundreds of high-level attendees, the band joined President
Joe Biden in wrapping up the memorial service.
Women in the Band
When it was originally formed, the band consisted of exclusively males. Women were first allowed to perform with the band in 1943-1945, when they were allowed to "fill in" for male members of the band that were serving in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
[Chaduvula, Raju ]
For University of Minnesota Marching Band Director, a historic ‘surprise’
Minnesota Daily, September 15, 2016 In 1950, a "Women's division" of the band was created, which lasted for several years.
Women were allowed to be full members of the band in 1972 following the passage of
Title IX
Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other educat ...
. Molly Watters was selected in 2006 as the first female Drum Major in the history of the band.
Julia White was selected to be the second female drum major in 2021. In July 2016, Betsy McCann was named the director of the band, becoming the first female director in the history of the band, and of all marching bands in the
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...
.
Marching Style
![Pride of Minnesota](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Pride_of_Minnesota.JPG)
The University of Minnesota Marching Band primarily uses both the
chair step
The chair step is a type of high step used by marching bands. This step is named because of the resemblance of the leg in action to a leg's position when sitting in a chair. It is primarily used by bands that brand themselves as traditional-style ...
and
glide step
Glide step is a form of movement used by marching bands to minimize upper body movement, enabling musicians to play their instruments and march without air-stream interruptions. Standardizing the style of marching also serves to add to the visual ...
for performances, similar to other bands of the Big Ten Conference. The band's pregame show is performed almost entirely with chair step, which consists of bringing the leg up so that the thigh is parallel to the ground, the shin is completely vertical, and toes are pointed at the ground. Halftime shows are performed using corps-style glide step that allows for more musicality and forms that do not necessarily conform to a grid. "Run-Cadence" is the band's method of getting on and off the field for shows. It consists of a double-time chair step, although the quicker pace of it necessitates that at times neither foot is in contact with the ground, as is the case with the regular chair step.
Facilities
Throughout much of its history, the University of Minnesota Marching Band's facilities were located in the University of Minnesota's
Northrop Auditorium
Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium (commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop) is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the university's second presi ...
, where it shared space with several other campus organizations. However, in 2009, the band moved to specialized rehearsal facilities within the newly constructed TCF Bank Stadium.
Following the 2021 merger of TCF Bank and Michigan-based
Huntington Bank
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is an American bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is ranked 521st on the Fortune 500, and is 26th on the list of largest banks in the United States.
The company's banking s ...
, the stadium rebranded to
Huntington Bank Stadium
Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly known as TCF Bank Stadium) is an outdoor stadium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The stadium opened in 2009, after three years of construction. It is ...
, where the band now has daily access. Located on the northern side of Huntington Bank Stadium, the 20,000 square foot band facilities include a
rotunda entrance, a rehearsal hall, ensemble practice rooms, a music and drill library, recording technology, archives, instrument and equipment storage, uniform storage, locker rooms, and showers. The facilities also serve as the band’s administrative offices, conference space, and study space for members, as well as a location to display photos, artifacts, and other elements of the band's history. During performances at football games, the marching band is located in a partitioned section of the stadium seating at the base of the
student section
A student section or student cheering section is a group of student fans that supports its school's athletic teams at sporting events; they are known for being one of the most visible and vocal sections of a sports crowd as well as for their occa ...
and level with the eastern end of the stadium field. This section of the stadium, known as the "Pride Pit", is framed by a backdrop labeled ''Pride of Minnesota'' and is connected directly to the indoor facilities via the stadium tunnels and indoor hallways.
Organization
Director
The University of Minnesota Marching Band has had 19 directors, some of whom held the position at multiple points throughout the band's history. The director of the band at its inception was Neville Staughton, at the time the director of the
Winona community band and a Lieutenant in the
Cadet Corps
A corps of cadets, also called cadet corps, was originally a kind of military school for boys. Initially such schools admitted only sons of the nobility or gentry, but in time many of the schools were opened also to members of other social classes ...
. However, Gerald R. Prescott, who was granted a professorship at the university music department in 1932, was the first full-time faculty director of the marching band. The sixth director, Michael Jalma, is credited with writing the lyrics to accompany
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to dis ...
's Minnesota March, one of the university's popular
school song
A school song, alma mater, school hymn or school anthem is the patronal song of a school. In England, this tradition is particularly strong in public schools and grammar schools.
Australia
*The Glennie School – ''Now Thank We All Our God'' ...
s. One of the most influential directors in the history of the band is
Dr. Frank Bencriscutto, who was responsible for initiating many of the band's current traditions, such as the annual indoor concerts, as well as arranging many of the works currently used by the marching band, including the current arrangement of the
Minnesota Rouser
The "Minnesota Rouser" is the fight song of the University of Minnesota. It is played at all Minnesota Golden Gophers games.
Lyrics
The phrase 'Ski-U-Mah' was part of an early cheer for the U of M.
Gopher fans traditionally thrust their fists ...
.
The current director of the University of Minnesota Marching Band is Professor Betsy McCann, who graduated from the University of Minnesota and holds a graduate degree from
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
. She was named director of the band in 2016 after the previous director, Timothy Diem, stepped down following sixteen years with the band. McCann, having formerly acted as the Assistant Director of the marching band, currently serves as both the Director of Marching and Athletic Bands as well as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota.
A previous director of the marching band, Jerry Luckhardt, who had previously served as the director of the
Michigan Marching Band
The Michigan Marching Band (also known as the University of Michigan Marching Band or simply MMB) is the official marching band of the University of Michigan. The band performs at all Michigan Wolverines football home games, select away games, and ...
, now acts as the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota, and remains as an important faculty member in the marching band.
Following are those who have held the position of director of the band:
* Betsy McCann (2016–Present)
* Timothy Diem (2005–2016)
* Jerry Luckhardt (1997–2004)
* Eric A Becher (1991–1996)
* Barry E. Kopetz (1986–1990)
* O'Neill Sanford (1976–1985)
* Frank Bencriscutto (1960-1976, 1985 - 1986)
* Gale Sperry (1957-1960)
* Ernest Villas (1950-1951)
* Merton Utgaard (1945-1946)
* Daniel Martino (1943-1945)
* Gerald R. Prescott (1932-1943, 1946-1950, 1951-1957)
* William A. Abbott (1931-1932)
* Michael Jalma (1920-1931)
* Karl Scheurer (1919-1920)
* J. Arthur Lampe (1918-1919)
* B. A. Rose (1898-1918)
* Charles W. Graves (1894-1898)
* Neville Staughton (1892-1894)
Assistant Director
The current Assistant Director of the University of Minnesota Marching Band is Dr. John Leonard, who graduated from the
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts and the sole public land-grant university in Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded in 1863 as an agricultural college, i ...
with a Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental music education and holds graduate degrees from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst,
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...
, and
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
. Dr. Leonard formerly acted as the Interim Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the Bronco Marching Band at Western Michigan University.
{, class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em;" width="250px"
! colspan="2" style="background:maroon" ,
Drum Majors
, -
! Years
! Name
, -
, 2022-Present
, Jon Ingram
, -
, 2021–2022
, Julia White
, -
, 2019–2020
, Chamberlain Gregg
, -
, 2017–2018, , Tommy Greco
, -
, 2015–2016, , Robert Rudin
, -
, 2014, , Joe Walsh
, -
, 2011–13, , Brandon Folkes
, -
, 2008–10 , , Aaron Marks
, -
, 2006–07 , , Molly Watters
, -
, 2005 , , Dick Osterberg
, -
, 2004 , , John Thompson
, -
, 2002–03 , , Jon Tepe
, -
, 2001 , , Todd Olin
, -
, 1998–2000 , , Andy Richter
, -
, 1996–97 , , Alec Charais
, -
, 1995 , , J. Drew Kunkel
, -
, 1993–94 , , Chad Saloka
, -
, 1992 , , Aaron Fisher
, -
, 1987–91 , , Kirk Juergens
, -
, 1985–86 , , Ed Long
, -
, 1983–84 , , Jeff Thomas
, -
, 1981-82 , , Dan Kuch
, -
, 1978-80 , , Grant Benjamin
, -
, 1977 , , Pat Patton
, -
, 1975-76 , , Jim Krikava
, -
, 1974 , , Charles Buck
, -
, 1971-73 , , Bryan Warren
, -
, 1967 , , Bill Ekstrum
, -
, 1966-70 , , Jim Mitchell
, -
, 1961-65 , , Richard Johnson
, -
, 1958-60 , , M. William Johnson
, -
, 1954-57 , , Don Elsen
, -
, 1949-53 , , Jim Wetherbee
, -
, 1947-48 , , Robert Thompson
, -
, 1945-47 , , John N. Smith
, -
, 1944 , , Albert Burns
, -
, 1943 , , John Gruye
Drum Major
The University of Minnesota Marching Band has a single
drum major. The current drum major of the marching band is Jon Ingram.
[{{Cite web , title=Drum Majors & Block Captains , url=https://cla.umn.edu/music/ensembles/marching-band/history-traditions/drum-majors-block-captains , access-date=2022-10-16 , website=College of Liberal Arts , language=en] In its history, the University of Minnesota Marching Band has had 66 drum majors, some holding the position as long as five seasons. The drum major is considered the leading member of the ensemble, and acts as an instructor, spokesperson, and performer. The responsibilities of the drum major include marching and
mace-spinning performances on the field during shows, conducting the band in the stands during games, leading parades, and acting as a leader and teacher during rehearsals. Similarly to the position in other marching bands in the Big Ten Conference, the drum major is known for the execution of the traditional "back bend" during the pregame show, where they bend backwards until their head touches the ground.
Block Captain
The marching band has one block captain, who is considered a partner to the drum major in leading the band, and serves as a backup performer to the drum major. Like the drum major, the position is of a leadership and instructional nature. The current block captain of the University of Minnesota Marching Band is Kindra Peterson.
Feature Twirler
Like other Big Ten marching bands, the University of Minnesota has a section of
baton twirlers. The twirlers of the Minnesota Marching Band consist of three Feature Twirlers. The position of Feature Twirler is competitive, and therefore involves a rigorous audition process. The twirlers are responsible for marching both on the field during pregame and halftime shows, and in parades. The Feature Twirlers, perform dynamic baton routines that involve a variety of turns and catches, toss illusions, baton work, and occasional use of
fire batons. The current Feature Twirlers for the University of Minnesota are Katelyn Rand, Paige Nikodem, and Ashley Sheil.
[{{Cite news, url=https://cla.umn.edu/music/ensembles-creative-work/marching-band/staff-sections, title=Staff & Sections, work=College of Liberal Arts {{! University of Minnesota, access-date=2017-06-21, language=en]
Instrumentation
The Pride of Minnesota consists of approximately 320 members, and has a complete marching band instrumentation consisting of
flute
The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
s,
piccolo
The piccolo ( ; Italian for 'small') is a half-size flute and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Sometimes referred to as a "baby flute" the modern piccolo has similar fingerings as the standard transverse flute, but the so ...
s,
clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound.
Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...
s,
alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...
s,
tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...
s,
trumpet
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...
s,
mellophones,
trombone
The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...
s,
baritones
A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the ra ...
,
tuba
The tuba (; ) is the lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, the sound is produced by lip vibrationa buzzinto a mouthpiece. It first appeared in the mid-19th century, making it one of the ne ...
s,
drumline
Marching percussion instruments are instruments specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum(s) to a special harness (also called a carrier or rack) worn by the drummer, although not all marching bands us ...
, and
color guard
In Military, military organizations, a colour guard (or color guard) is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of Colours, standards and guidons, regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is so prestigious that the militar ...
.
The drumline, which makes up 30 of the 320 members of the band, consists of 8
snare drum
The snare (or side drum) is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used ...
s, 6
multi-tenor drums, 6
bass drum
The bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The instrument is typically cylindrical, with the drum's diameter much greater than the drum's depth, with a struck head at both ends of the cylinder. Th ...
s, and 10
cymbals
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...
. Beyond its traditional instrumentation, the University of Minnesota Marching Band also has a section of Big Ten flags, which represent the conference and its 14 member schools, and are featured solely during the pregame show. Each instrumental and auxiliary section has a group of student leaders who combined make up the student leadership team of the band.
Training
Spat Camp
Training for the University of Minnesota Marching Band begins annually with "Spat Camp," a ten-day training, conditioning, and preparation period in late August where both new and returning members learn, relearn, and practice marching fundamentals, music, and drill. During Spat Camp, marching band members stay in university
residence halls
A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm) is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as boarding school, high school, college or university ...
, rehearse at
Huntington Bank Stadium
Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly known as TCF Bank Stadium) is an outdoor stadium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The stadium opened in 2009, after three years of construction. It is ...
, and participate in the first round of assessments for the pregame block.
[{{Cite web, url=https://music.umn.edu/ensembles/marchingabout, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930113034/https://music.umn.edu/ensembles/marchingabout, url-status=dead, archive-date=2015-09-30, title=About {{! School of Music : University of Minnesota, date=2015-09-30, access-date=2017-08-03] The student leadership team arrives first each season for a three-day leadership training period, followed by new members, who arrive two days prior to returning members in order to learn basic fundamentals.
[{{Cite news, url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2009/09/10/band-practice, title=University of Minnesota Marching Band has a new home, access-date=2017-03-31] Each day of the ten-day period lasts up to 13 hours, and consists of music rehearsals, marching practice, choreography, and instrument sectionals. The period ends with the band's performance at the
Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Also known by its slogan, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together", it is the largest state fair in the United States by average daily attendance and the second-largest state fa ...
Parade on the Sunday before
Labor Day
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...
. The name "Spat Camp" was derived from the nature of the training period as a musical equivalent to a military
boot camp, however instead referring to the
spats worn by marchers instead of boots.
Rehearsals
During the regular fall
semester academic season, the marching band holds two-hour rehearsals on Monday through Thursday evenings at Huntington Bank Stadium. On weekends of home football games, the band also rehearses on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. The rehearsal schedule of the band is designed to avoid conflict with most university classes. The three athletic pep bands associated with the marching band hold rehearsals once per week in the late evenings after the regular marching band rehearsal.
[{{Cite web, url=https://music.umn.edu/ensembles/marchingabout, title=About {{! School of Music : University of Minnesota, website=music.umn.edu, access-date=2016-03-11]
Traditions
Indoor Concerts
In 1961, marching band director Dr.
Frank Bencriscutto
Frank Bencriscutto (September 21, 1928 – August 28, 1997), nicknamed "Dr. Ben," was an American conductor and composer of concert band music. Bencriscutto was Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota for thirty-two ...
decided that, in addition to performing at football games, the band should also put on an indoor concert at which the band would be the sole performers, instead of taking a role secondary to that of the football team. This was the first concert of its kind; many other collegiate marching bands have adopted this practice since.
The Indoor Concerts, which now consist of two concerts each year during late November, have been almost continuously performed at the University of Minnesota's
Northrop Auditorium
Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium (commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop) is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the university's second presi ...
since their creation. However, in 2011, the auditorium closed to begin a three-year renovation, causing the marching band to perform three of its annual concerts in varying locations across the state of Minnesota, including concerts in
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota, the city is the home and birthplace of the renowned Mayo Clinic.
Acco ...
and
Willmar, Minnesota
Willmar is a city in, and the county seat of, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 21,015 at the 2020 census.
History
Agricultural expansion and the establishment of Willmar as a division point on the Great Northern ...
. The band returned to performing its regular two-concert series at Northrop Auditorium after the renovation was completed in 2014. In addition to the two annual concerts, the band performs a concert every other year at the
Mayo Civic Center
The Mayo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center and event facility in Rochester, Minnesota.
The original building was built in 1938, as a gift to the city by Charles Horace Mayo, Dr. Charles H. Mayo and Mayo Properties Association (now ...
in Rochester.
Homecoming Parade
Every year during
homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia.
...
, the Minnesota Marching Band performs in a parade along
University Avenue
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
, with the current route beginning in
Dinkytown
Dinkytown is a commercial district within the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Centered at 14th Avenue Southeast and 4th Street Southeast, the district contains several city blocks occupied by various small businesses, restau ...
and ending at Huntington Bank Stadium. The parade also features campus organizations, clubs, faculty, the
Gopher Spirit Squad, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Marching Band. The parade began as a part of homecoming celebrations in the early 1900s as a way to promote school spirit, though the location of the parade has changed over time, having also traveled down
Washington Avenue Washington Avenue may refer to:
United States
* Washington Avenue (Miami Beach) in Miami Beach, Florida
* Washington Avenue (Milford Mill, Maryland)
* Washington Avenue (Towson, Maryland)
* Washington Avenue (Minneapolis), a major street in Minne ...
through the center of campus. The parade has been cancelled only ten times in the past during both
world war
A world war is an international conflict which involves all or most of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World WarI (1914 ...
s and the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. In 1942, the parade was billed as "the largest parade in the world" at 2 miles long and featuring 170 cars and floats.
Mound of Sound
In addition to the formations included as part of its pregame show, the Minnesota Marching Band is known for its traditional "Mound of Sound", a halftime drill formation where, as described by the announcer, they "put a really big band in a really small circle." Performed since the early 1990s in the
Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (commonly called the Metrodome) was a domed sports stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It opened in 1982 as a replacement for Metropolitan Stadium, the former home of the National Football League' ...
, the drill form is executed while playing
Glenn Miller's big band hit "
In the Mood
"In the Mood" is a popular big band-era jazz standard recorded by American bandleader Glenn Miller. "In the Mood" is based on the composition "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone. The first recording under the name "In the Mood" was released by E ...
", and consists of the band forming concentric circles and collapsing them to fit all 320 musicians in a 12-meter wide mound-shaped circular formation in the center of the field. At the conclusion of the song, the "mound" is expanded outward once again.
"Hail! Minnesota"
At the end of every rehearsal, performance, or other band event, the members, faculty, and staff of the marching band join together to sing an a capella arrangement of the university's
alma mater and the state hymn,
Hail! Minnesota
"Hail! Minnesota" (also simply called "Minnesota" in early years) is the regional anthem (or " state song") of the U.S. state of Minnesota. A variation is used as a school song of the University of Minnesota. It originated at the university in th ...
. In addition, after every home football game, the football players and coaches gather in front of the band and student section and sing while the band plays the piece.
"Better Dead than Red"
Until 2021, it was used often by the University of Minnesota Marching Band, as well as Gopher fans across all sporting events, the phrase "better dead than red" refers to the rival
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the athletic teams representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin). They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level ( Football Bowl Subdivis ...
, whose school colors are red and white. The slogan stems from a
similar phrase used in the same manner or inversely during the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
conflict between the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, referring to the
symbolic red color of the
Soviet flag
The State Flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (), commonly known as the Soviet flag (), was the official state flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 to 1991. The flag's design and symbolism are derived from ...
. The phrase is yelled as part of a drum cadence by the marching band during parades, in the stands of the stadium, as well as during the pregame show, where the band and student section yell the phrase during the dispersal of the Block M. In 2021, this phrase was taken out of the Pride's repertoire out of respect for Native Americans, among other groups.
Pregame Show
The University of Minnesota Marching Band performs one of the longest and most complex pregame shows of any band in the country. In its entirety, it is roughly 17 minutes long and includes over 75 pages of drill, the majority of which is performed using chair-step style marching. There are 244 marching spots in the pregame block, out of the 320 total marching spots within the band. Periodically throughout the season, band members assess for a spot in the pregame block, including the section of Big Ten flags. The remaining members are responsible for managing the 40 by 25 yard ceremonial American Flag used during the National Anthem.
Th
pregame showin its current configuration consists of the following:
Entry, Run-Cadence, and Fanfare
The band enters the field beginning with the tuba section, drumline, drum major, and twirlers, which march onto the field to a drum cadence while the band chants "er du klar?", the
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
phrase for "are you ready?". After those sections are in position, the announcer introduces both the band and the
Golden Gopher Spirit Squads, and the band enters from the stadium tunnels and forms lines via "Run-Cadence," a fast-paced double-time high step cadence. The band proceeds to expand into a block formation while playing "Fanfare '87", as the announcer introduces the director, drum major, and twirlers.
Minnesota March
After the fanfare, the band marches downfield in a block formation while playing
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to dis ...
's Minnesota March, led by the drum major and Big Ten flags and bounded by the color guard on each side. As the band marches forward, the drum major stops mid-field and executes the traditional back bend. After centering on the fifty yard line, the band finishes Minnesota March while creating a diamond-shaped formation in the center of the field.
Gopher Spell-Out
Beginning in the diamond-shaped formation and marching into a rectangular block at the center of the field, the band plays either
Go Gopher Victory "Go Gopher Victory" is one of the school songs of the University of Minnesota. Composed in 1925 by University graduate Addison H. Douglass, this tune was originally entitled "The Gopher M". It is frequently played at Minnesota Golden Gopher athle ...
when facing non-conference opponents, or the school song of an opposing Big Ten university. While either chanting during Go Gopher Victory or after playing the opposing team's school song, the band marches to form the word "GOPHERS" spelled out across the field, before returning to the previous midfield block formation.
Swinging Gates
From the previous block formation, the band begins playing
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
The "Battle Hymn of the Republic", also known as "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" or "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" outside of the United States, is a popular American patriotic song written by the abolitionist writer Julia Ward Howe.
Howe wrote her l ...
while creating a series of eight parallel lines, or "gates", spread sequentially down the length of the field, facing the student section and the east end of the stadium. As the song is played, the University's
ROTC
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces.
Overview
While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...
honor guard
A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...
, led by the color guard and followed by the drum major, marches down the center of the field toward the student section as the band begins to "swing" open each gate by splitting each line of marchers into four pivoting sections. As the honor guard proceeds down the field, each of the eight gates closes behind them until the guard and drum major are positioned in front of the student section and the final fanfare of the song is played. This drill, known as the "Swinging Gates Formation", has been performed during the band's pregame show since 1961.
Forming of the Block M
After the Swinging Gates Formation, the band returns to the rectangular block mid-field and begins the "Cascade Sequence", in which the band performs a complex high-
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
marching routine to a series of drum cadences in order to transition into a compressed "Block M" formation. After the compressed block has been created, the band begins to expand the compressed block both vertically and horizontally while playing "Fanfare '78 - Pageant" until completing the "Block M" formation, which serves as the logo of the university and the centerpiece of the pregame show. While in the "Block M" formation, the band plays the
Minnesota Rouser
The "Minnesota Rouser" is the fight song of the University of Minnesota. It is played at all Minnesota Golden Gophers games.
Lyrics
The phrase 'Ski-U-Mah' was part of an early cheer for the U of M.
Gopher fans traditionally thrust their fists ...
. As the word "Minnesota" is spelled out during the cheer following the song, the band salutes by kneeling and removing their hats, returning to stand as the cheer finishes.
Rotation and Marching of the Block M
Following the playing of the Minnesota Rouser, the Block M is rotated ninety degrees counterclockwise to a drum cadence in order to face the student section, while the announcer re-introduces the director, drum major, and twirlers, and introduces the block captain and staff. This is the only significant portion of the pregame show where a low-step marching style is used in place of the traditional high-step. After the Block M has been rotated, the band resumes the use of high-step and marches downfield toward the student section while playing
Our Minnesota.
Gauntlet, National Anthem, and Exit
At the end of Our Minnesota, the Block M is dispersed as the band transitions to a "gauntlet" formation in order to prepare for the entrance of the Gopher football team. The band plays the Minnesota Rouser for a second time as the football team runs onto the field. After the team is on the field, the band members who are not part of the pregame block unroll a large ceremonial
American Flag
The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the c ...
on the field as the band, remaining in the gauntlet formation, plays the
Star-Spangled Banner. Following the National Anthem, the band exits the field via the high-step "Run-Cadence".
Halftime Shows
![Minnesota Marching Band Military Halftime](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Minnesota_Marching_Band_Military_Halftime.png)
As is customary of bands in the Big Ten Conference, the University of Minnesota Marching Band performs a different halftime show for every home football game. Music is memorized for each performance, which combined results in over 30 memorized pieces for halftime shows throughout the season.
The majority of the music included in halftime shows is also featured in the marching band's series of Indoor Concerts at the end of each season.
Athletic Pep Bands
Members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band, along with non-member students, may audition and participate in the three associated athletic pep bands for the University of Minnesota: the Maroon Band, Gold Band, and Gopher Band. The athletic bands are taken by students as a university course for credit, share marching band rehearsal space at Huntington Bank Stadium, and hold rehearsals weekly in the evenings after marching band rehearsal. The bands each perform at roughly 25 regular season athletic events over the course of each year, along with several post-season events during conference and NCAA tournaments. Each university pep band is associated primarily with one or more specific Gopher sports teams, and thus play primarily at games for the respective team(s).
Maroon Band
The University of Minnesota Maroon Pep Band is primarily responsible for playing at Gopher men's hockey games at
Mariucci Arena
3M Arena at Mariucci is the home arena for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team of the University of Minnesota. The arena is located on the Minneapolis campus and seats approximately 10,000 fans (9,600 in the main bowl plus club room ...
, though also playing occasionally at events for other university athletic teams. The band leads cheers and traditions along with the student section or "Ice Box" at Gopher men's hockey games, and is notable for its tradition of leading a parade-style march or "march-around," followed by a crowd of fans, around the full concourse of Mariucci Arena prior to the start of hockey games, while playing Minnesota March and ending with the Minnesota Rouser.
Gold Band
The University of Minnesota Gold Pep Band is primarily responsible for playing at Gopher men's basketball games at
Williams Arena
Williams Arena is an indoor arena located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home arena for the University of Minnesota's men's and women's basketball teams. It also housed the men's hockey team until 1993, when it moved into its own buildi ...
, nicknamed "The Barn," though also playing occasionally at events for other university athletic teams. The band leads cheers and traditions with the "Barnyard" student section at Gopher men's basketball games.
[{{Cite web, url=http://www.spirit.umn.edu/barnyard_spirit.html, title=The Barnyard, Men's Basketball Spirit Section, website=www.spirit.umn.edu, access-date=2016-04-29]
Gopher Band
The University of Minnesota Gopher Pep Band is primarily responsible for playing at Gopher women's hockey games at
Ridder Arena Ridder may refer to:
Places
*DeRidder, Louisiana, city in US state of Louisiana
*Ridder, Kazakhstan, settlement in Kazakhstan (named for Philip Ridder)
Things
*Ridder (title), Dutch and Belgian title equivalent to knight
* Knight Ridder, newspaper ...
, women's basketball games at Williams Arena, and women's volleyball games at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion. Participation in the Gopher Pep Band is a prerequisite for participation in either the Maroon or Gold pep bands.
References
{{Reflist, 2
External links
* {{Official website, http://www.music.umn.edu/marchingband/
{{University of Minnesota campus
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox
{{Big Ten Conference marching band navbox
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Marching Band, University of
Big Ten Conference marching bands
Musical groups established in 1892
1892 establishments in Minnesota