Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

[r54uni]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

We can somehow get the cheerleaders and dance team to games over break but it would be impossible to get a band together??

[tobiasfunke]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Again I feel compelled to come on here to defend the band. . . .
FWIW, I think it's lame that the band didn't play for the Moorhead State game. But every other home game has either been during Thanksgiving break or Christmas break, even *if* there was going to be a band, a good chunk of the dorms would've been closed over Christmas.

I think having a band at games is great, and I enjoy supporting the team with music. But why is the prevailing attitude here that the School of Music has some sort of special obligation regarding school spirit that every other department doesn't? Yep, music majors don't play for "fun". They spend maybe ten hours a week rehearsing for concert ensambles, ten-plus hours a week practicing on their own, and still have a decent load of "real" classes. It gets a little taxing, physically so for brass players.

No one suggests that business majors should be obligated to volunteer with the athletic business offices for the sake of school spirit (much less enjoy it), nor is anyone suggesting that the business faculty work overtime to help out the AD. Why does the music department get this "special" treatment?

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Again I feel compelled to come on here to defend the band. . . .
FWIW, I think it's lame that the band didn't play for the Moorhead State game. But every other home game has either been during Thanksgiving break or Christmas break, even *if* there was going to be a band, a good chunk of the dorms would've been closed over Christmas.

I think having a band at games is great, and I enjoy supporting the team with music. But why is the prevailing attitude here that the School of Music has some sort of special obligation regarding school spirit that every other department doesn't? Yep, music majors don't play for "fun". They spend maybe ten hours a week rehearsing for concert ensambles, ten-plus hours a week practicing on their own, and still have a decent load of "real" classes. It gets a little taxing, physically so for brass players.

No one suggests that business majors should be obligated to volunteer with the athletic business offices for the sake of school spirit (much less enjoy it), nor is anyone suggesting that the business faculty work overtime to help out the AD. Why does the music department get this "special" treatment?

I can actually agree with a lot of this. However, with all of that said, I would like to either field a band of UNI students that WANT to be a part of, and contribute to our atmosphere or scrap the UNI student side of it altogether. If UNI students don't want or can't commit to this schedule then I would rather see us solicit the town folks that play in the summer band shell concerts, or high school students looking to further themselves in music, or some other group to become our new pep band. When we travel with a band, they get to go, too...and not the group that can't commit under regular circumstances. You are either committed to playing and sign on to be at the games without fail or you lose out when we go to STL or the NCAA tourney and buy your own ticket and arrange your own travel to those games...with or without a Hawkeye bag.

[Panther-at-Arms]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

I should note I'm not trying to trash music majors. I was one and I know just how much time is put in. But the prevailing attitude in Russell Hall when I was there was very elitist and anti-sports. The attitude was perpetuated by many profs. Indeed the School of Music is NOT there for school spirit, but to create and foster professional musicians and educators. I would also like to say they do a very fine job of that.

[Casey'sitsallgood]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

I can actually agree with a lot of this. However, with all of that said, I would like to either field a band of UNI students that WANT to be a part of, and contribute to our atmosphere or scrap the UNI student side of it altogether. If UNI students don't want or can't commit to this schedule then I would rather see us solicit the town folks that play in the summer band shell concerts, or high school students looking to further themselves in music, or some other group to become our new pep band. When we travel with a band, they get to go, too...and not the group that can't commit under regular circumstances. You are either committed to playing and sign on to be at the games without fail or you lose out when we go to STL or the NCAA tourney and buy your own ticket and arrange your own travel to those games...with or without a Hawkeye bag.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Coleman should start.

[run&blade]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Should be plenty of seats.

[Cat80]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Legend has it that when Lynn King was at Drake and the Drake Music Dept. pulling what appears to be the same &^%* as what's going on at UNI, he did this: He gave the music folks an ultimatum that if they didn't sign a contract with the athletic department to provide a band for each home game; men's and women's when students were on campus, he would 'do music the NBA way' and refer all calls about the issue to the head of the music department. Hasn't been an issue since.

[UNI83]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

I've sent an email to 10 people in the athletic department about the band getting to go on these trips for free but not being able to make it to half of the home games for men's and women's basketball.

The basketball players don't get the "I play basketball so my assignment will be late" crap either. They, a lot of times, have to turn their work in early. They are required to go to study sessions with tutors/coaches to get their work done. They don't get to skip class whenever they want like the general school population does.

If you can't commit to being at all of the games don't freaking do it.

[UNI83]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Also, FWIW, every IIAC football and basketball game I've ever been to has had a pep band of some kind.

Not always with band majors, but they at least get some semblance of a band there.


F-ing embarrassing.

[achrist70]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

I think the better question would be is the team going to show up for the game on Sunday?

[Catmandoo]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

It's the ticket office's fault.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Indeed the School of Music is NOT there for school spirit, but to create and foster professional musicians and educators. I would also like to say they do a very fine job of that.

Agreed, that why I said that fielding pep and marching bands should be "part" of the job description, not all of it. It's analogous (sp?) to the corporate world, where every even semi-public facing job has responsibility for representing the company at public events from time to time. That should be part of the job of at least some in the music department. Now I'm getting into the realm of all public institutions being run more like private enterprise, but that's another thread that I'd love to engage our liberal/socialist friends in (somewhat negative comment directed at the elitist academics intended).

To those majors and non-majors who play at the games - keep up the good work. Now that break is about over, and the conference season is here, the team and fans need your support.

[Panther-at-Arms]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

Agreed, that why I said that fielding pep and marching bands should be "part" of the job description, not all of it. It's analogous (sp?) to the corporate world, where every even semi-public facing job has responsibility for representing the company at public events from time to time. That should be part of the job of at least some in the music department. Now I'm getting into the realm of all public institutions being run more like private enterprise, but that's another thread that I'd love to engage our liberal/socialist friends in (somewhat negative comment directed at the elitist academics intended).

To those majors and non-majors who play at the games - keep up the good work. Now that break is about over, and the conference season is here, the team and fans need your support.

Yup. And that is why I said earlier there should be a full sized group at all the games. It has been done in the past and can be done now.

[Sevan]

Re: Will the band be at the game on Sunday?

As a graduate of the UNI School of Music, and a huge fan of UNI sports, I find the tone of the arguments set forth in this thread disturbing. I graduated in 2008, went to almost every home basketball game during my time on campus, and continue to follow the team closely still. While I do not regularly post on this board, I enjoy coming on here to read everyone's insights and reactions.

To clear some things up - I can state with near certainty that music majors make up a small percentage of pep bands throughout division one basketball. This is not a unique situation to UNI. To be fair, music majors are some of the busiest on campus, with degrees that have a staggering number of hours, and classes and rehearsals that are not credited for the time they actually take. For example, marching band counts for one hour of credit for upwards to 15 hours of commitments each week. Factor in that many music majors play in three to four ensembles in the School of Music, and many of these students are putting in just as much time as our student athletes, but without the scholarship money to support them. To be fair, you cannot fault music majors, or any students, for not wanting to play at these games. Indeed, everyone on this board loves the basketball team. I would love it if every game sold out. But, the fact is that everyone doesn't love basketball. Moreover, to expect students who are highly trained, classical and jazz musicians to necessarily want to spend their nights playing "Rock and Roll Part II" or "Centerfold," is unrealistic. Additionally, the pep band DOES rehearse as well, adding even more hours, generally practicing music that any music major should be able to play in their sleep.

Furthermore, your complaints would be better targeted toward the athletic department, as the School of Music usually gets their directives from them. I know there has been more than one band in the past - if there isn't enough interest or money from the athletic department to secure the people, unfortunately that is the case. While the marching band has a sizeable volunteer force, many people's love for marching band does not translate over to the pep band for whatever reason. The pep band is generally run by a graduate assistant in the School of Music as well; and, that is the way it should be. It gives valuable experience to these students, as it is at many universities. If anyone remembers Kevin Brown's direction of the group, it was superb, as he also has a great love for Panther basketball.

I do not condone personally criticizing our student athletes, and find it deplorable that people would be so easy to do the same to our student musicians as well. If you have a problem with their musicianship, then make you constructive criticism heard, being aware that these people are spending a lot of time to make your experience better.

Finally, when is the last time anyone here supported the talented musicians that UNI has in droves? Go to a concert at the GBPAC, or, treat yourself to a Jazz Band One concert in the renovated Russell Hall auditorium. You can see the calendar at www.uni.edu/music. Click on the jazz studies link for that specific calendar. Try to attend the Tallcorn Jazz Festival in February, where Phi Mu Alpha fraternity takes a huge loss of money each year to bring in a world-renowned guest artist to usually be met with very little community support, no matter the amount of advertising. So, there is my plug - I just think it might be helpful to have an idea of what your student musicians are actually doing, and get a little more insight into their lives. Give them a little support yourselves before you criticize them for something they have little no control over.

That being said, Go Panthers! I hope for better results against Bradley.