12A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005
HOMECOMING
Being in band not just about music
KELSEY HAYES
editor@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
A t first glance, they resemble a military unit. It's 3:50 p.m on a
Friday afternoon. On the other side of Iowa, slightly west of the Dole Institute of Politics, almost 200 marching band and flag team members stand in formation, instruments — whether they be trumpets, flutes, flags or drums — at the ready. At the instruction of John Hudson, director of athletic bands, they break out into song.
While Hudson stands atop a watchtower, viewing the band members, he gives near-constant directions about how the music should be played. Once satisfied
that his pupils know what to do,
he gives a final instruction.
"Let 'er rip."
Brandon Bowman, Lawrence junior and drum major, conducts his peers from the top of a small stepladder.
Practices typically run two hours long, and take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. On home game days, a Saturday morning rehearsal takes place in Memorial Stadium.
"KU has so much tradition that is rooted within the band and I am excited to be a part of that living tradition," said Kate Motter, Lenexa freshman.
Among the band's proudest achievements was winning the Sudler Trophy in 1989. The trophy is awarded to collegiate bands that are innovative and
progressive, both musically and academically. The University's band remains one of the most decorated groups in the country; however, such honor doesn't come cheap. It's paid for with time and energy, but members are willing to pay that price.
"I feel like band is my life," said Erin Brvan. Lenexa freshman.
Bryan joined the University's marching band as a trumpet player and is also in the audition-only Symphonic and Jazz bands.
"I think people underestimate the work load because they've never experienced being in a corps," Bryan said. "It's intense."
The band that the public sees on game days is only the tip of the iceberg. The precision demanded of members comes
from hours upon hours of group practice, which takes time and patience. Everyone has to depend on everyone else to know their music and to perform at their best. Every piece of music that the band plays is done by memory.
"We must become responsible for our own uniforms, dry-cleaning, horn-polishing, memorization of the show music and stand tunes and much more." Bran said.
Not every band member is a music major, even though some are. Motter, for instance, is a chemical engineering major, and plays the trumpet in her spare time.
"It's totally worth it," Motter said of the time commitment. "The students view band as more of a social outlet than
as an obligation. It's a wonderful opportunity to instantly gain 200 friends."
Tim Patterson, 1990 graduate, was a trumpet player in the University's marching and basketball pep bands under director Robert Foster. Patterson was present for what may be considered the greatest sports victory in University history.
"I was in the basketball band in 1988 when KU won the national championship. That night was the last time I ever played 'I'm a Jayhawk,'" Patterson said.
Patterson counts the road trips to away games as some of his fondest band memories.
"I went to Hawaii in 1985," Patterson said. "We also got to travel to the away football
games, which was fun. I had the opportunity to see a game at all of the old Big 8 schools."
Patterson said his favorite marching band memory was beating Oklahoma at home in 1984. A football season-ticket holder, Patterson still enjoys watching the band play for home games.
"I sometimes get goose bumps when I watch the 'run-in' part of the pregame," he said.
The 'run-in' is when the band members run onto the field from the north end of the stadium.
When all is said and done, the experience speaks for itself, as far as Motter is concerned.
"It it gets hot outside and we prep a lot," she said. "But when the game comes around, it's worth it."
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