Music at Basketball Games.

[amckillip]

Speaking as someone who has had familiy members that played in the band and someone who loved being a part of the student section...you have to understand, RedSea, that the band is the largest and most uniformly vocal supporters of the team at games.

They cheer with the cheerleaders (not against them...usually) and they do so whether the team is winning or losing. They never sit and they always are wearing red and white.

Because you are a newer student you probably wouldn't know about this...but a couple of years ago they tried to pipe-in music to "upgrade" the atmosphere.

Any guesses as to what happened next?

The band - who normally stand for 100% of pretty much every game - sat down. They didn't cheer, they didn't play, it completely sapped them. Needless to say, they were pissed.

They joined the band to go to games and support the team musically. Every time a silly commercial runs, the dance team is out on the floor, they play any of your "piped-in" music, or Paul Herzog rambles on for WAY TOO long it cuts into the time that the band has for doing what it came to do.

How lame would it be to join the band and only get to play the fightsong and like two-three other tunes. I know I wouldn't bother with the commitment.

LIVE MUSIC AND EXCITED BAND > any piped in music you could dream up

If you'd like to hear "newer" music - why not ask the band to play it. I know Dr. V is always up for suggestions. Seriously, send him an email if you want to hear something at a game.

Here is his email address: dvroman@bradley.edu

- - -

On a separate note...I happen to think the fightsong is played just about the right amount of times. Begining (team enters court), end (team leaves court - actually an abbreviated version of the fightsong), usually the under 4 minute timeout of each half and whenever BU is on a run and forces the other team to call timeout.

I would agree with most of this, but I wouldn't agree with the sentiment displayed here that the piping in music is always a bad thing. IMO if the band sits down then, it's a statement to the fact that they aren't as good a group of fans as you're suggesting. Also, they do deviate from cheers the cheerleaders are doing, and often in a quite obnoxious fashion that I annoyed not only myself, but the cheerleaders, other students, and fans.

Finally, a student outside of band suggesting something to Dr. Vroman is like talking to a wall. The man won't listen. Period. Nearly any band member will agree with me (my best friend, and many of my friends participated in basketball band) that Vroman is as stubborn as they come, especially in the face of outside (positive) criticism.

I agree the band is a boon to the overall fan experience and one of the more vocal components of the crowd. But they also have plenty of room for improvement, and they're musical selection could use some improvement.

[LG281]

I would agree with most of this, but I wouldn't agree with the sentiment displayed here that the piping in music is always a bad thing. IMO if the band sits down then, it's a statement to the fact that they aren't as good a group of fans as you're suggesting. Also, they do deviate from cheers the cheerleaders are doing, and often in a quite obnoxious fashion that I annoyed not only myself, but the cheerleaders, other students, and fans.

Finally, a student outside of band suggesting something to Dr. Vroman is like talking to a wall. The man won't listen. Period. Nearly any band member will agree with me (my best friend, and many of my friends participated in basketball band) that Vroman is as stubborn as they come, especially in the face of outside (positive) criticism.

I agree the band is a boon to the overall fan experience and one of the more vocal components of the crowd. But they also have plenty of room for improvement, and they're musical selection could use some improvement.

I guess my family and I have had different experiences with Dr. Vroman. I know that he asks the band and even the coaches if they have certain songs that they would like to be played. I'm pretty sure that I heard new stuff last year too.

I'm not sure how you approached Dr. Vroman when and if you suggested different music...but I'm positive that if it was in a non-critical way he would be receptive.

I will agree that there is always room for improvement, everywhere...but to suggest that the band sitting that one game discounts what they bring to the table isn't accurate.

The band invests alot of time into practicing/prepping the music they play for games. They show up early before games for rehersals, lug their instruments to and from Dingledine, down to Carver and in and out of the arena. If you put that much work into a game and then didn't get to do what you showed up for because someone thought they should play "YMCA" instead...you'd sit down too.

Let 'em play - keep them in the game.

[Chico]

Speaking as someone who has had familiy members that played in the band and someone who loved being a part of the student section...you have to understand, RedSea, that the band is the largest and most uniformly vocal supporters of the team at games.

They cheer with the cheerleaders (not against them...usually) and they do so whether the team is winning or losing. They never sit and they always are wearing red and white.

Because you are a newer student you probably wouldn't know about this...but a couple of years ago they tried to pipe-in music to "upgrade" the atmosphere.

Any guesses as to what happened next?

The band - who normally stand for 100% of pretty much every game - sat down. They didn't cheer, they didn't play, it completely sapped them. Needless to say, they were pissed.

They joined the band to go to games and support the team musically. Every time a silly commercial runs, the dance team is out on the floor, they play any of your "piped-in" music, or Paul Herzog rambles on for WAY TOO long it cuts into the time that the band has for doing what it came to do.

How lame would it be to join the band and only get to play the fightsong and like two-three other tunes. I know I wouldn't bother with the commitment.

LIVE MUSIC AND EXCITED BAND > any piped in music you could dream up

If you'd like to hear "newer" music - why not ask the band to play it. I know Dr. V is always up for suggestions. Seriously, send him an email if you want to hear something at a game.

Here is his email address: dvroman@bradley.edu

- - -

On a separate note...I happen to think the fightsong is played just about the right amount of times. Begining (team enters court), end (team leaves court - actually an abbreviated version of the fightsong), usually the under 4 minute timeout of each half and whenever BU is on a run and forces the other team to call timeout.

I agree with you when the fight song should be played, but usually the band starts the fight song during the timeout when the Braves are on a run and then comes the goofy promotions or a PA announcement that most don't care about. Then everybody is back down. Also, as easy as the dance team is to look at, save them for halftime or before the games. During the games everybody sits down and watches them. The band should be playing every second of the timeouts and the cheerleaders, sorry, should be running around and not seeing how high they can lift somebody. Boy, that keeps the crowd in the game. Also, I think it was wrong for the band, even though they had a right to be upset, not to cheer for their team.

[squirrelgotdead]

For the record, I am unaware that the basketball band EVER refused to cheer for the team. I'm not even sure that they sat down because they weren't allowed to play the tip when they stopped playing the "Swing March" in favor of piped in music.

If they did sit, it was one time as a sit-down protest, but I would be surprised if that had been allowed by Dr. Vroman. It was likely angry students. He realizes the band's presence their is a privilege, and such an act would jeopardize the schools willingness to let them be there.

After several painful years where there was little atmosphere at tip, they allowed the basketball band to play Swing March again. But the tradition of cheer-clapping going deep into the half in the Swing March rhythm is forever lost.

As for the commitment to be in the basketball band, one of the requirements is you must be involved in another band ensemble first, and then you add this as a second commitment. Most students that are serious about music have an additional 2-3 ensembles that they participate in. The basketball band commitment includes a series of rehearsals, on top of the men's AND women's games. A few years ago, to ease the burden he divided the band into three squads to rotate the women's games.

As for the recommendations. . .he does welcome suggestions. But be aware much of today's pop music simply doesn't translate well (at all) to band. Also, if unavailable yet as an in print band piece, he would have to do the arrangement himself, and while he has done a good number of them he doesn't necessarily have the time to do so.

[Chico]

For the record, I am unaware that the basketball band EVER refused to cheer for the team. I'm not even sure that they sat down because they weren't allowed to play the tip when they stopped playing the "Swing March" in favor of piped in music.

If they did sit, it was one time as a sit-down protest, but I would be surprised if that had been allowed by Dr. Vroman. It was likely angry students. He realizes the band's presence their is a privilege, and such an act would jeopardize the schools willingness to let them be there.

After several painful years where there was little atmosphere at tip, they allowed the basketball band to play Swing March again. But the tradition of cheer-clapping going deep into the half in the Swing March rhythm is forever lost.

As for the commitment to be in the basketball band, one of the requirements is you must be involved in another band ensemble first, and then you add this as a second commitment. Most students that are serious about music have an additional 2-3 ensembles that they participate in. The basketball band commitment includes a series of rehearsals, on top of the men's AND women's games. A few years ago, to ease the burden he divided the band into three squads to rotate the women's games.

As for the recommendations. . .he does welcome suggestions. But be aware much of today's pop music simply doesn't translate well (at all) to band. Also, if unavailable yet as an in print band piece, he would have to do the arrangement himself, and while he has done a good number of them he doesn't necessarily have the time to do so.

Always liked the Swing March. It's the ring tone on my cell phone.

[Big Lance]

Just my own opinion and perhaps I am alone in musical taste, but I've always thought Missouri State has the most entertaining/obnoxious/raucous band. It seems to me that the MVC bands that are conducted by younger people have more energetic bands with more appeal to college-aged people. That being said, I do think Dr. Vroman does a very professional job. He is obviously very talented. I just wish he would loosen up a bit. This isn't the 60s, nor should a basketball band be conducted as if it were the Peoria Municipal band. Just my opinion.

[squirrelgotdead]

That's a fair assessment. . .I wouldn't necessarily say any band in the MVC stands out over the others. . .a lot has to do with personnel as well.

At some schools it's more a competitive thing to be involved in, for instance MSU, InSU, and SIU might have auditions some years, they also have a larger talent pool to choose from. Those kinds of bands also emphasize specific instruments, such as brass and saxes.

Vroman struggles to get some of the better players in the band program to do the basketball band thing given the overwhelming commitment, and he utilizes ALL the instruments for better balance. So an argument could be made the body and depth of sound is better from the BU band.

Given the emphasis of the other bands, it makes them more favorable for the more straight rock/jazz charts that they play; which some people argue makes them sound better, and I can agree, given that it is more appropriate.

[Big Lance]

Agreed. Where I really notice the instrument selection is at the valley tournament where it seems the total number of band members allowed per school is much smaller...It seems like some bands like MSU go nearly all brass and percussion, given it a much larger sound, while Bradley goes with the full band sound, just less of everything. While they may be technically better, the BU Basketball band always sounds maddeningly weak in St. Louis where they don't benefit from being piped loudly into the sound system like they do at Carver. Lets face it, in a giant arena playing pep band music, why "waste" precious spots on flutes, clarinets and oboes that no one more than 50 feet away are going to be able to hear anyway? (Absolutely no offense to those fine musicians. I have family members that played those instruments so its not personal. For concert bands, yes. Basketball bands, no.) Just my worthless opinion.

[RedSeaElite1]

Ok well first off I love the band. I'm currently in Bradley's Symphonic Winds, and played pep band in high school (our band was so big we only had to play every 4th game). This was not at all ment to discredit the band as they do a good job, and I have no problem approachin Dr V and asking him to play certian songs or suggesting they get some new stuff. I've actually asked him on gamedays to play certian songs because they have been a hit with the student section.

With all that said, I think that adding some music "piped in" wouldnt hurt anything, but I'm indiferent about it. I guess we will just wait for the fall to see.

Personally more than music "piped in" i think that uitlizing the scoreboard for more than just advertisements could do a lot to add some atmosphere. I know at rivermem games they put up a noise meter and do other things to get the crowd involved and cheering.

[sousaman2089]

I'm a tuba player in the Basketball Band and we play the fight song AT LEAST 4 times a game; AT LEAST! Sometimes, it's close to 10 times.
But I'm totally for some more piped in music pr-game and halftime. But during the game, no. Piped in music during games seems cheesy and fake. Just watch an NBA game

[sousaman2089]

Agreed. Where I really notice the instrument selection is at the valley tournament where it seems the total number of band members allowed per school is much smaller...It seems like some bands like MSU go nearly all brass and percussion, given it a much larger sound, while Bradley goes with the full band sound, just less of everything. While they may be technically better, the BU Basketball band always sounds maddeningly weak in St. Louis where they don't benefit from being piped loudly into the sound system like they do at Carver. Lets face it, in a giant arena playing pep band music, why "waste" precious spots on flutes, clarinets and oboes that no one more than 50 feet away are going to be able to hear anyway? (Absolutely no offense to those fine musicians. I have family members that played those instruments so its not personal. For concert bands, yes. Basketball bands, no.) Just my worthless opinion.

I agree, but I'm a brass player

[shaunguth]

I'm a tuba player in the Basketball Band and we play the fight song AT LEAST 4 times a game; AT LEAST! Sometimes, it's close to 10 times.

That's what I thought, and sometimes it seems like more than that. There's been many games when my son and I just look at each other and smile when the fight song starts.....as if to say "Again?". However, we stand up each and every time. Wouldn't want it any other way!

We appreciate the atmosphere the band creates and keep up the good work!

[sousaman2089]

That's what I thought, and sometimes it seems like more than that. There's been many games when my son and I just look at each other and smile when the fight song starts.....as if to say "Again?". However, we stand up each and every time. Wouldn't want it any other way!

We appreciate the atmosphere the band creates and keep up the good work!

Ha, thanks! We're trying to integrate more new music each year, so we don't play "Splish Splash" as much as the band did in the 90s. Trust me; I remember going to games with my dad during the Parker, Pollard days and I actually thought "Splish Splash" was our fight song!

[Chico]

That's what I thought, and sometimes it seems like more than that. There's been many games when my son and I just look at each other and smile when the fight song starts.....as if to say "Again?". However, we stand up each and every time. Wouldn't want it any other way!

We appreciate the atmosphere the band creates and keep up the good work!

You guys are hearing things that evidently don't make it up to my section.

[amckillip]

You guys are hearing things that evidently don't make it up to my section.

The guys in the band, I feel like he would know...