Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band
Encyclopedia
The Spartan Marching Band (or SMB) is Michigan State University
's Marching Band
. Founded in 1870 as a 10-member student group, the 300-member SMB has since grown into one of the premier college bands in the nation. The SMB is nationally renowned and prides itself on its musical excellence, physical toughness, and military-grade precision, and they have maintained a reputation as one of the nation's best marching bands since their first appearance on college football's greatest stage in Pasadena in 1954. The band has played for five U.S. Presidents, performed at four Rose Bowls
, two World's Fair
s, and one World Series
.
The Spartan Band has toured the United States extensively, appearing in concert and on football fields in San Francisco
, New York City
, Dallas
, Chicago
, Indianapolis
, Detroit
, Las Vegas
, Albuquerque
, Orlando
, St. Louis
, Denver
, New Orleans
, Pasadena
, Salt Lake City
, El Paso
, San Antonio, Tokyo
, Tucson
, San Diego
, and Washington, D.C.
and San Jose State University
(ONLY ALL BRASS) marching bands are the only Division I bands with similar instrumentation. There are no flute
s or clarinet
s in the SMB. Instead, E-flat cornet
s play the high "woodwind-like" parts. The extra brass and elimination of flutes and clarinets allows the full ensemble sound to fill large Big Ten
stadiums. In addition to the percussion and color guard, each year the pregame block contains 238–241 additional personnel:
Audio: Michigan State University Fight Song
Audio: Kickstep and State Fanfare
Audio: Brick House
Audio: City of Angels
Once accepted into the Spartan Marching Band, members must complete an additional audition on the first day of pre-season rehearsal with the full band in attendance to determine chair and block placement. For example, if there are 60 trumpet players in the section and only 56 members charted in the pregame block, the 56 best trumpets from the audition become members of the pregame block. The 4 extra members will not be included in the block and are known as "alternates." Alternates still have full band privileges and responsibilities and must still memorize the music and drill in case they are needed. Every week, all alternates audition in front of a graduate assistant for both pregame and halftime placement. The winning alternate takes the place of the last place member in the block (known as the "rotating chair"); the person who previously held this rotating chair position then joins the alternate pool for that week.
week is especially demanding as band members may have multiple parades, performances, and small "gigs" around campus. There are four types of rehearsals:
, a graduate of Michigan State University
and an SMB alumnus. Madden is also the director of the Spartan Brass, the athletic band for men's and women's basketball and hockey. As Associate Director of Bands, he also directs the MSU Symphony Band (the middle of MSU's three auditioned concert bands), and teaches private conducting lessons for several Wind Conducting graduate students. Furthermore, he teaches a "Marching Band Methods" class each Spring for music education undergrads who might teach high school marching bands in the future. Dr. Cormac Cannon serves as the Assistant Director of the Spartan Marching Band
Typically, the Spartan Marching Band has only one drum major for the entire ensemble. However, in years when the drum major is a graduating senior there are two, allowing the new drum major to have one season of apprenticeship. Auditioning for drum major requires attending instructional sessions by the current drum major, culminating in a one-day event with the director making the final selection. The drum major is the highest ranking student official in the organization. Gameday responsibilities include leading the pregame show and performing a backbend, a hallmark of the Spartan Marching band.
Field (formerly Landon Field) next to the music building. The concert usually begins 1.5–2 hours before kickoff
.
("street beat") used by the SMB for parade marching. It is composed of seven different cadences strung together (in series) in march tempo. Each cadence has a unique set of maneuvers specific to each section—the tubas, for example, will have horn flashes during one cadence, while the trumpets will perform different horn flashes during another. The Series is extremely intricate and requires hours of practice (in addition to regular pre-season rehearsals) by new members to memorize their section's moves. It uses a full high step throughout (with the exception of the drumline and the color guard), and combined with the intricacy of the upper body movements and vocals, is one of the most physically demanding and uniquely recognizable trademarks of the SMB. This is the cadence used as the band marches to Spartan Stadium
each game day. Thousands of fans line the Kalamazoo Street bridge to cheer on the band as they march to the stadium. Video: The Series during the "March to the Stadium" before a football game
of the SMB. It was established in 1954, the first year MSU attended the Rose Bowl
. Performed at 220 beats per minute, the kickstep is a run-on routine choreographed in eight-count segments with horn, knee
, and hand
accents on counts two and four. The kickstep is a highly strenuous physical routine which requires intensive practice and conditioning. Video: "Kick Step" field entry before the University of Michigan game on Nov 3, 2001
. While playing the breakstrain of the fight song, marching band shifts to a hollow Block "S" formation, with the final shape popping up and charging down the field at the exact moment that the chorus of the song begins. The four-man "squad" drill that is unique to the Spartan Marching Band causes the "S" to appear as though it is being "spun" as the marching band shifts to position. Video: The Spinning of the "S" during the pregame show of the University of Michigan game on Nov 3, 2001
during parade marching and the pregame routine, all of the instrumentalists and auxiliary performers execute an eight-count horn swing with an accented upward movement on the 8th count. New members learn this maneuver as a "7-up", counted as such: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - UP! Video: A close up of the Spartan Marching Band performing the "7-up" while playing the fight song during the Homecoming 2007 parade
upfield towards the visitor's section. In Spartan Stadium
and wherever the band travels, from Hawaii to arch-rival Michigan, the SMB considers it a point of pride and respect to play the opposition's fight song with the utmost musicality.
"Everybody's Everything". Postgame shows traditionally end with MSU's alma mater and fight song to round out another Spartan football experience.
Video: "Reich" during a drum off
Video: "Martian Mambo" during a drum off
Members carry large banner type flags on lance poles, which salute the twelve universities in the
Big Ten Conference. The section consists of dedicated, hard-working and athletic individuals
who carry out unique traditions that exhibit the style and form of the Spartan Marching Band.
The Big Ten Flag Corps comprises two squads. The section leader, who carries the
Michigan State flag leads the squad consisting of the Minnesota, Indiana, Northwestern, Iowa
and Ohio State flags. The squad leader carries the Michigan flag and leads the squad consisting
of the Illinois, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin flags. Members audition once during pre-season and
a second time during the middle of the season for flag placement. The section leader and squad leader evaluate members for flag placement. Members are evaluated on performance of the Series,
fundamentals and Prancing.
Flags are not ranked; however each flag has a specific role dependent upon their position in the block. For example,
typically the Ohio State flag and Wisconsin flag are held by good prancers because that position requires the individual to travel the furthest during pre-game, while Penn State is in the center of the squad and therefore requires an individual with good 8 to 5 marching.
from 9 P.M. to 11 P.M. Pre-season rehearsal ends with a light schedule on the before classes start: uniform inspection and full-band and section pictures, followed (after an opportunity to change out of uniform) by a few hours of drill practice, and finally a practice "march to the stadium". In-uniform pictures are scheduled no earlier, because incoming freshmen earn the right to wear the uniform the evening prior, by demonstrating everything they learned during the week in a rite of passage known as "Freshman Dress Rehearsal" (formerly known by many names including the "Hayride", "Midnight March", and "Student-Run Review Rehearsal").
, with words by coach Barney Traynor. Sung in four-part harmony, "Shadows" was introduced in 1948 and is both sung and played by the band. After marching to Spartan Stadium, the band gathers near the tunnel leading onto the football field and sings before lining up for the pregame Kickstep entrance. It is always played during the Pregame performance. "Shadows" is also sung at the end of game days, after marching back and usually performing for the sizable crowd of band fans. On the seniors' last game, after singing the first verse, the seniors sing the infrequently-sung second verse. "Shadows" also figures prominently during the annual Alumni Band day, during which band alumni gather from literally around the world to perform at halftime during a home game, usually in the early part of the season.
game and ending the evening after the game. Sparty Watch is a 24-hours/day guard of the Spartan statue
to prevent vandalism. The football coach has been known to show up with food for the hungry band members camped out in the cold.
patches. All bowl game patches must be placed one inch apart on the left sleeve. Only two patches are permitted on the sleeve at any given time. All sections but the Trombone
s are represented by a unique section patch. Only one section patch is permitted on the sleeve; however, a member who switches sections may sew the former section patch inside the jacket. Rose Bowl patches replace the Spartan Marching Band logo on the front of the band jacket, with the MSU Shield patch being stitched inside the front-left portion of the jacket, over the wearer's heart. All non-bowl patches can be sewn one inch apart into the inner lining of the jacket, along with any bowl patches that exceed the sleeve limit.
Bowl appearances for the Spartan Band include: 1954, 1956, 1966, 1988 Rose Bowl
; 2009 and 2011 Capital One Bowl
(Orlando, FL); 2007 Champs Sports Bowl
(Orlando, FL); 2003 and 2010 Alamo Bowl
(San Antonio, TX); 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic
(San José, CA); 2000 Citrus Bowl
(Orlando, FL); 1996 and 1990 Sun Bowl
(El Paso, TX); 1995 Independence Bowl
(Shreveport, LA); 1993 St. Jude Liberty Bowl
(Memphis, TN); 1990 John Hancock Bowl (El Paso, TX); 1989 Mazda Gator Bowl
(Jacksonville, FL); 1985 All-American Bowl
(Birmingham, AL); and 1984 Cherry Bowl
(Pontiac, MI). A portion of the SMB also traveled to the 1993 Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan and the 1997 Aloha Bowl
in Honolulu, HI.
organized the first band on campus. A little known fact of MSU is that a bronze marker commemorating the students of MAC's class of 1861 who left to fight in the war is hidden on the wall behind tall bushes alongside the lobby of the present music building. The field North of the building, where the band practiced from its early days through most of the 20th century was originally the military drill field and the music building sits on the site of the old armory building in front of which that memorial was placed. These veterans, under the leadership of Ransom McDonough Brooks performed on campus in the 1870s and were the predecessors of today’s Spartan Marching Band.
). Other directors in this period included A.J. Clark, Frederick Abel, J.S. Taylor, and Carl Kuhlman. Taylor would lead the first band to perform the new college fight song
written by cheerleader Francis Lankey. That performance would come shortly after young Lankey’s death in 1919.
. He was an Italian immigrant and brother of University of Michigan band director Nicholas Falcone. During his 40 year tenure, many of the band's traditions were established and the band grew from a 65 member ROTC auxiliary into an adjunct of the new department that would become today’s college of music. The first green and white uniforms and many other significant changes would happen during this time. When the career of Nicholas came to a premature end due to illness in 1935, Leonard Falcone
would earn the distinction of being the only person to direct the bands at the rival schools concurrently.
Falcone was a baritone horn
virtuoso, professor of baritione and euphonium
, and a prolific transcriber and arranger of music for concert band. He arranged and rearranged the fight song
continuously throughout his career and his name is still tied to one of those arrangements used at every game dubbed “Falcone Fight” by the band.
Falcone drastically increased the visibility of the band through an aggressive schedule of performances and trips. He added 3 US Presidential performances to the band’s resume as well as 3 televised Rose Bowl Parade and game performances in the 50s and 60s. There was a band shell on the campus where Bessey Hall stands today that was the site of regular band concerts for many years.
Falcone retired and took on a roll as professor emeritus in 1967, though he remained a fixture around the campus until weeks before his death in 1985.
in later years and invading the quiet neighborhoods of East Lansing to march them to Falcone’s doorstep before a game in 1985, added a new dynamism to the marching patterns on the field in the 1960s. This continued under future directors including Harry Begian, Kenneth Bloomquist, Thad Hegerberg, Carl Chevallard, David Catron and long time assistant William Wiedrich. Many of these served only one year as director of the band including William Wiedrich who had previously been the assistant for 6 years under the only long-term director of this period, David Catron. In 1989, John T. Madden became director of the band, now the second-longest-serving director in band history. During his tenure, the band has added two more presidential performances and foreign venues to its long list of accomplishments.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
's Marching Band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
. Founded in 1870 as a 10-member student group, the 300-member SMB has since grown into one of the premier college bands in the nation. The SMB is nationally renowned and prides itself on its musical excellence, physical toughness, and military-grade precision, and they have maintained a reputation as one of the nation's best marching bands since their first appearance on college football's greatest stage in Pasadena in 1954. The band has played for five U.S. Presidents, performed at four Rose Bowls
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, two World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
s, and one World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
The Spartan Band has toured the United States extensively, appearing in concert and on football fields in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, San Antonio, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Instrumentation
The Spartan Marching Band instrumentation of "all brass and sax" is notable among college bands in the United States. The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University Marching Band
The Ohio State University Marching Band performs at Ohio State football games and other events during the fall quarter...
and San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
(ONLY ALL BRASS) marching bands are the only Division I bands with similar instrumentation. There are no flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
s or clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s in the SMB. Instead, E-flat cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
s play the high "woodwind-like" parts. The extra brass and elimination of flutes and clarinets allows the full ensemble sound to fill large Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
stadiums. In addition to the percussion and color guard, each year the pregame block contains 238–241 additional personnel:
- 1 or 2 Drum MajorDrum MajorA drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
s - 1 to 3 Feature Twirlers
- 36 member color guard
- 32 Alto SaxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
s - 16 Tenor SaxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
s - 8 E flat CornetCornetThe cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
s - 48 B Flat TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s - 24 MellophoneMellophoneThe mellophone is a brass instrument that is typically used in place of the horn in marching bands or drum and bugle corps....
s - 32 TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s - 16 BaritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
s - 16 SousaphoneSousaphoneThe sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
s - 12 Big Ten Flags
Audio: Michigan State University Fight Song
Audio: Kickstep and State Fanfare
Audio: Brick House
Audio: City of Angels
Auditions
Gaining membership in the SMB is highly competitive. Typically, many more incoming students audition than are eventually accepted. However, once accepted, students do not have to reaudition every year (with the exception of the percussion section). Auditions are arranged through the MSU College of Music http://www.music.msu.edu/ and occur in June, with results made known at the beginning of July. Music majors may join the band on their primary college of music instrument (brass or saxophone) without this initial audition. For non-music majors or music majors wishing to play a different instrument in marching band, the audition consists of:- A prepared piece of music typically 1–2 minutes with contrasting styles
- Scales prepared up to four sharps and flats
- Sight-reading
Once accepted into the Spartan Marching Band, members must complete an additional audition on the first day of pre-season rehearsal with the full band in attendance to determine chair and block placement. For example, if there are 60 trumpet players in the section and only 56 members charted in the pregame block, the 56 best trumpets from the audition become members of the pregame block. The 4 extra members will not be included in the block and are known as "alternates." Alternates still have full band privileges and responsibilities and must still memorize the music and drill in case they are needed. Every week, all alternates audition in front of a graduate assistant for both pregame and halftime placement. The winning alternate takes the place of the last place member in the block (known as the "rotating chair"); the person who previously held this rotating chair position then joins the alternate pool for that week.
Rehearsal
Membership in the Spartan Marching Band requires a tremendous time commitment. Some weeks require over 20 hours of rehearsal and performances. HomecomingHomecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
week is especially demanding as band members may have multiple parades, performances, and small "gigs" around campus. There are four types of rehearsals:
- During fall semester the band has general rehearsal every Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:00pm on Demonstration Field, located between SpartySpartySparty is the mascot of Michigan State University. Sparty is usually depicted as a muscular male Spartan warrior/athlete dressed in stylized Greek costume. After changing the team name from "Aggies" to "Spartans" in 1925, various incarnations of a Spartan warrior with a prominent chin appeared at...
and Demonstration HallDemonstration HallDemonstration Hall is a structure on the campus of Michigan State University. It was built in 1928 with offices, classrooms, and a riding arena for the Military Science department as a replacement for the Armory . Exhibitions of agricultural stock and implements were often held here, as well as...
on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. Practice is open to the public and grandstand seating is available. Typically, the drumline will practice an additional hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday before full band rehearsal. - In addition to general rehearsal, members of the brassBrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
and saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
sections are required to attend an indoor music rehearsal every Monday night from 7-9pm in Demonstration Hall. This rehearsal is not open to the public. Other sections (drumline, Color Guard and Big Ten Flags) use this time for their own rehearsals in separate locations. - The band has Saturday morning rehearsal before every home game on Ralph Young Field, located directly west of Spartan StadiumSpartan Stadium (East Lansing)Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
. Although times vary, practice usually begins 4–5 hours before kickoff and lasts for around an hour. This rehearsal is open to the public and seating is readily available. - Finally, members are expected to attend sectional rehearsal ("sectionals") at least once per week, usually twice. Times and days vary by section and typically occur on Wednesday/Friday before general rehearsal. This practice is not open to the public.
Class
Members of the Spartan Marching Band are not paid or given any scholarship money by the university for being a member of the band. Marching Band is a 1 credit "pass/fail" class (MUS 114) that students must pay to enroll in. However, music majors participating in both the marching band and another School of Music ensemble are not required to formally enroll in the SMB. Attendance at every rehearsal is mandatory.Director
Since 1989, the director of the Spartan Marching Band has been John T. MaddenJohn T. Madden
John T. Madden is Director of the Spartan Marching Band, Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He is the conductor of the MSU Symphony Band and Associate Conductor of the MSU Wind Symphony...
, a graduate of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and an SMB alumnus. Madden is also the director of the Spartan Brass, the athletic band for men's and women's basketball and hockey. As Associate Director of Bands, he also directs the MSU Symphony Band (the middle of MSU's three auditioned concert bands), and teaches private conducting lessons for several Wind Conducting graduate students. Furthermore, he teaches a "Marching Band Methods" class each Spring for music education undergrads who might teach high school marching bands in the future. Dr. Cormac Cannon serves as the Assistant Director of the Spartan Marching Band
Instructors and graduate assistants
Working directly under Mr. Madden are graduate assistants and instructors. Instructors are typically paid positions and their duties include looking after the colorguard and percussion sections. In addition, the Spartan Marching Band has a visual and field coordinator - Glen Brough, alumnus and former drum major of the SMB. Graduate assistants are graduate students from the MSU School of Music who help arrange music for halftime shows, conduct challenges, and assist with auditions.Drum major(s)
Band president and vice president
Each year, the band elects a new president and vice president. The band president and vice president represent the band and are the connection between the directors and the band members. It is the job of the band president to organize and distribute all gigs that the Spartan Marching Band must fulfill during the school year, and make sure that everything at the gigs runs smoothly. The band vice president assists the band president in his duties, and also sends out much of the business correspondence that goes out to band members. The president and vice president are elected at the end of the normal marching band season by popular vote, with all candidates running for both president and vice president.Section leaders
The section leader is the head of an individual section within the band. Larger sections, such as the trumpets, may have two leaders. Section leaders for the upcoming year are elected at the end of each football season. Soon after becoming director, John Madden in 1991 instituted a leadership training program for the band's student leaders. Section leaders, squad leaders, and drum majors meet in April to learn leadership strategies and the expectations of their respective roles.Squad Leaders
Each squad leader is responsible for three other marchers on the field. This four-person block allows for great flexibility and complexity during the pregame show. Squad leaders for the upcoming year are also elected by the members of their section at the end of each season. Each alternate is also assigned to a specific squad; however, all alternates substitute for the rotating chair position, unless an injury prevents another member of the section from performing in the show.Concert on Adams Field
Before all home games the band performs a free concert on Walter AdamsWalter Adams (economist)
Walter Adams was an American economist and college professor. He served as the 13th President of Michigan State University and served as an expert witness before 36 congressional committees.-Early life:...
Field (formerly Landon Field) next to the music building. The concert usually begins 1.5–2 hours before kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
.
The Series
"The Series" is the name of the percussion cadenceCadence
Cadence may refer to:Music:*Cadence , a melodic configuration the end of a phrase, section, or piece of music*Cadence Magazine, a monthly review of jazz, blues and improvised music...
("street beat") used by the SMB for parade marching. It is composed of seven different cadences strung together (in series) in march tempo. Each cadence has a unique set of maneuvers specific to each section—the tubas, for example, will have horn flashes during one cadence, while the trumpets will perform different horn flashes during another. The Series is extremely intricate and requires hours of practice (in addition to regular pre-season rehearsals) by new members to memorize their section's moves. It uses a full high step throughout (with the exception of the drumline and the color guard), and combined with the intricacy of the upper body movements and vocals, is one of the most physically demanding and uniquely recognizable trademarks of the SMB. This is the cadence used as the band marches to Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
each game day. Thousands of fans line the Kalamazoo Street bridge to cheer on the band as they march to the stadium. Video: The Series during the "March to the Stadium" before a football game
The Kickstep
The Kickstep is a very fast field entrance which has become a trademarkTrademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of the SMB. It was established in 1954, the first year MSU attended the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. Performed at 220 beats per minute, the kickstep is a run-on routine choreographed in eight-count segments with horn, knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
, and hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
accents on counts two and four. The kickstep is a highly strenuous physical routine which requires intensive practice and conditioning. Video: "Kick Step" field entry before the University of Michigan game on Nov 3, 2001
Spinning the "S"
This is a drill move performed by the Spartan Marching Band during the pregame show while playing the Michigan State University fight songMichigan State University Fight Song
The MSU Fight Song is the official fight song of Michigan State University, USA. MSU's fight song was created in early 1915 , when MSU was known as Michigan Agricultural College...
. While playing the breakstrain of the fight song, marching band shifts to a hollow Block "S" formation, with the final shape popping up and charging down the field at the exact moment that the chorus of the song begins. The four-man "squad" drill that is unique to the Spartan Marching Band causes the "S" to appear as though it is being "spun" as the marching band shifts to position. Video: The Spinning of the "S" during the pregame show of the University of Michigan game on Nov 3, 2001
The 7-up
As the Spartan Marching Band plays the fight songMichigan State University Fight Song
The MSU Fight Song is the official fight song of Michigan State University, USA. MSU's fight song was created in early 1915 , when MSU was known as Michigan Agricultural College...
during parade marching and the pregame routine, all of the instrumentalists and auxiliary performers execute an eight-count horn swing with an accented upward movement on the 8th count. New members learn this maneuver as a "7-up", counted as such: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - UP! Video: A close up of the Spartan Marching Band performing the "7-up" while playing the fight song during the Homecoming 2007 parade
Visitor's fight song
A Big Ten tradition, during every pregame show the SMB performs the opposing team's fight songFight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
upfield towards the visitor's section. In Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
and wherever the band travels, from Hawaii to arch-rival Michigan, the SMB considers it a point of pride and respect to play the opposition's fight song with the utmost musicality.
Third quarter cheer
Between the third and fourth quarters of home football games, the percussion section performs their "third quarter cheer" in the southeast endzone. The show varies by year and is a favorite among the student section. Video: Third Quarter Cheer during the MSU vs. Hawaii football game in 2005Postgame Show
After every home game, the Spartan Marching Band takes the field one last time to perform selections from the day's halftime show. In addition, the band often performs a favorite postgame tune, such as Carlos Santana'sCarlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
"Everybody's Everything". Postgame shows traditionally end with MSU's alma mater and fight song to round out another Spartan football experience.
Drum off
After a home football game, percussion members of the visiting band are invited to a drum off on Adams Field. This is not really meant as a competition, but rather a showcase of both drumlines' talents.Video: "Reich" during a drum off
Video: "Martian Mambo" during a drum off
Big Ten Flags
The Big Ten Flag Corps is a pre-game and parade tradition in the Spartan Marching Band.Members carry large banner type flags on lance poles, which salute the twelve universities in the
Big Ten Conference. The section consists of dedicated, hard-working and athletic individuals
who carry out unique traditions that exhibit the style and form of the Spartan Marching Band.
The Big Ten Flag Corps comprises two squads. The section leader, who carries the
Michigan State flag leads the squad consisting of the Minnesota, Indiana, Northwestern, Iowa
and Ohio State flags. The squad leader carries the Michigan flag and leads the squad consisting
of the Illinois, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin flags. Members audition once during pre-season and
a second time during the middle of the season for flag placement. The section leader and squad leader evaluate members for flag placement. Members are evaluated on performance of the Series,
fundamentals and Prancing.
Flags are not ranked; however each flag has a specific role dependent upon their position in the block. For example,
typically the Ohio State flag and Wisconsin flag are held by good prancers because that position requires the individual to travel the furthest during pre-game, while Penn State is in the center of the squad and therefore requires an individual with good 8 to 5 marching.
Pre-season rehearsal
Pre-season drill begins 10 days before the beginning of classes. During this week, new members can spend over 120 hours practicing. Percussionists arrive ten days before the start of classes, followed by section leaders, squad leaders, and the drum major(s) on Saturday. New members arrive next, and "non-leader" veteran members ("vets") arrive last. Typically, music and field rehearsal begins at 8:30 A.M. and lasts, with breaks, until 8:50 P.M. After this whole-band rehearsal, freshmen are required to attend "freshmen orientation" inside Demonstration HallDemonstration Hall
Demonstration Hall is a structure on the campus of Michigan State University. It was built in 1928 with offices, classrooms, and a riding arena for the Military Science department as a replacement for the Armory . Exhibitions of agricultural stock and implements were often held here, as well as...
from 9 P.M. to 11 P.M. Pre-season rehearsal ends with a light schedule on the before classes start: uniform inspection and full-band and section pictures, followed (after an opportunity to change out of uniform) by a few hours of drill practice, and finally a practice "march to the stadium". In-uniform pictures are scheduled no earlier, because incoming freshmen earn the right to wear the uniform the evening prior, by demonstrating everything they learned during the week in a rite of passage known as "Freshman Dress Rehearsal" (formerly known by many names including the "Hayride", "Midnight March", and "Student-Run Review Rehearsal").
Memorized music
The Spartan Marching Band learns a new halftime show for every home game of the season. All members are expected to have their music memorized by Thursday of the week of the game. Any member, despite rank in the block, may be pulled out of a show for that week for not having music or the marching drill memorized. Full-sized flip-folders are never used. All freshmen and veterans assigned to a new part must play all the MSU bleacher cheers and pregame music for their section leaders from memory by the end of Freshmen Dress Rehearsal, or forfeit their place in the block, becoming an alternate.Singing of "Shadows"
Every band member must learn the MSU alma mater "Shadows", which was arranged by MSC Music Professor H. Owen ReedH. Owen Reed
Herbert Owen Reed is an American composer, conductor, and author.-Education:Reed was raised in rural Odessa, Missouri, where his first exposure to music was his father's playing of the old-time fiddle...
, with words by coach Barney Traynor. Sung in four-part harmony, "Shadows" was introduced in 1948 and is both sung and played by the band. After marching to Spartan Stadium, the band gathers near the tunnel leading onto the football field and sings before lining up for the pregame Kickstep entrance. It is always played during the Pregame performance. "Shadows" is also sung at the end of game days, after marching back and usually performing for the sizable crowd of band fans. On the seniors' last game, after singing the first verse, the seniors sing the infrequently-sung second verse. "Shadows" also figures prominently during the annual Alumni Band day, during which band alumni gather from literally around the world to perform at halftime during a home game, usually in the early part of the season.
Sparty Watch
Sparty Watch is a band-sponsored event beginning Monday night before the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
game and ending the evening after the game. Sparty Watch is a 24-hours/day guard of the Spartan statue
Sparty
Sparty is the mascot of Michigan State University. Sparty is usually depicted as a muscular male Spartan warrior/athlete dressed in stylized Greek costume. After changing the team name from "Aggies" to "Spartans" in 1925, various incarnations of a Spartan warrior with a prominent chin appeared at...
to prevent vandalism. The football coach has been known to show up with food for the hungry band members camped out in the cold.
Huddle
Huddle is a formal dance occurring in February after the season is complete. This is a celebration complete with video presentations and an opportunity to be with graduating friends for, perhaps, the last time.High School Band Day
High School Band Day was a long-running tradition in Spartan Stadium where high school bands from across the state were invited to perform during a home game halftime. The first Band Day was held on November 6, 1954. In its heyday, the event gathered more than 3,000 musicians. After nearly forty years, the tradition ended in 2001. Photo: Band Day, 1987
Band jacket
Though there is no formal requirement to do so, every freshman band member purchases a band jacket at the beginning of their first pre-season. The privilege of wearing the band jacket must be earned, and thus only members, alumni of the band, or honorary recipients are permitted to wear them. Freshmen are not permitted to wear their band jackets until after they have marched their first football game. Jackets may only be dry cleaned after a victory over the University of Michigan football team.Patches
Patches are given to the band to mark important events that the band has performed at and to designate to which section they belong. These include bowl game patches, special event patches (like for the "Cold War" hockey game played at Spartan Stadium, The "Basket Bowl" basketball game played at Ford Field, and Michigan State University's Sesquicentennial Parade), and large Rose BowlRose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
patches. All bowl game patches must be placed one inch apart on the left sleeve. Only two patches are permitted on the sleeve at any given time. All sections but the Trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s are represented by a unique section patch. Only one section patch is permitted on the sleeve; however, a member who switches sections may sew the former section patch inside the jacket. Rose Bowl patches replace the Spartan Marching Band logo on the front of the band jacket, with the MSU Shield patch being stitched inside the front-left portion of the jacket, over the wearer's heart. All non-bowl patches can be sewn one inch apart into the inner lining of the jacket, along with any bowl patches that exceed the sleeve limit.
Away games
The full Spartan Marching Band will travel to one or two away games per year. Travel to Notre Dame (odd numbered years) and the University of Michigan (even numbered years) occur regularly. If the full band is not able to attend more than 2 games then a pep band may be sent. Pep bands do not parade march, perform pregame, halftime, or postgame shows. Overnight travel may be included in which case members are put up with "host families" or in hotels at no cost to members.Bowl games
The Spartan Marching Band enjoys a long standing tradition of traveling to bowl games. There is no further audition required for band members, all members are required to participate in the travel (which is not the case in other Big Ten bands). There is no cost to students.Bowl appearances for the Spartan Band include: 1954, 1956, 1966, 1988 Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
; 2009 and 2011 Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
(Orlando, FL); 2007 Champs Sports Bowl
Champs Sports Bowl
The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic...
(Orlando, FL); 2003 and 2010 Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
(San Antonio, TX); 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic
Silicon Valley Football Classic
The Silicon Valley Football Classic , sometimes referred to as the Silicon Valley Bowl or Silicon Valley Classic, was an NCAA-certified Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that was played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose, California,...
(San José, CA); 2000 Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
(Orlando, FL); 1996 and 1990 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
(El Paso, TX); 1995 Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
(Shreveport, LA); 1993 St. Jude Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
(Memphis, TN); 1990 John Hancock Bowl (El Paso, TX); 1989 Mazda Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
(Jacksonville, FL); 1985 All-American Bowl
All-American Bowl
The All-American Bowl was an annual postseason college football bowl game played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama from 1977 to 1990. The game was known as the Hall of Fame Classic from 1977 to 1985....
(Birmingham, AL); and 1984 Cherry Bowl
Cherry Bowl
The Cherry Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1984 and 1985. The Cherry Bowl is noteworthy as an early attempt to bring a game to chilly Michigan, years before the successful Motor City Bowl...
(Pontiac, MI). A portion of the SMB also traveled to the 1993 Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan and the 1997 Aloha Bowl
Aloha Bowl
The Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
in Honolulu, HI.
Beginnings
Shortly after the founding of Michigan Agricultural College in 1855 as the nation’s first land grant institution intended to promote scientific agriculture through education in the same, 10 veterans of the civil warAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
organized the first band on campus. A little known fact of MSU is that a bronze marker commemorating the students of MAC's class of 1861 who left to fight in the war is hidden on the wall behind tall bushes alongside the lobby of the present music building. The field North of the building, where the band practiced from its early days through most of the 20th century was originally the military drill field and the music building sits on the site of the old armory building in front of which that memorial was placed. These veterans, under the leadership of Ransom McDonough Brooks performed on campus in the 1870s and were the predecessors of today’s Spartan Marching Band.
MAC military band
In 1885 when the campus established a formal relationship with the military, the band was reorganized as a cadet military band. During this time the band was led by students and military officers including cornetist I.E. Hill, and professor B.G. Edgerton who was the first to lead the band in performance before a US President (Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
). Other directors in this period included A.J. Clark, Frederick Abel, J.S. Taylor, and Carl Kuhlman. Taylor would lead the first band to perform the new college fight song
Michigan State University Fight Song
The MSU Fight Song is the official fight song of Michigan State University, USA. MSU's fight song was created in early 1915 , when MSU was known as Michigan Agricultural College...
written by cheerleader Francis Lankey. That performance would come shortly after young Lankey’s death in 1919.
The Falcone years
The longest serving director of the band was Leonard FalconeLeonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone was best known as Professor of Baritone and Euphonium at Michigan State University where he also served from 1927 to 1967 as Director of Bands. The school's Spartan Marching Band transitioned from an ROTC auxiliary to a nationally known Big-10 conference marching band during his...
. He was an Italian immigrant and brother of University of Michigan band director Nicholas Falcone. During his 40 year tenure, many of the band's traditions were established and the band grew from a 65 member ROTC auxiliary into an adjunct of the new department that would become today’s college of music. The first green and white uniforms and many other significant changes would happen during this time. When the career of Nicholas came to a premature end due to illness in 1935, Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone was best known as Professor of Baritone and Euphonium at Michigan State University where he also served from 1927 to 1967 as Director of Bands. The school's Spartan Marching Band transitioned from an ROTC auxiliary to a nationally known Big-10 conference marching band during his...
would earn the distinction of being the only person to direct the bands at the rival schools concurrently.
Falcone was a baritone horn
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
virtuoso, professor of baritione and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, and a prolific transcriber and arranger of music for concert band. He arranged and rearranged the fight song
Michigan State University Fight Song
The MSU Fight Song is the official fight song of Michigan State University, USA. MSU's fight song was created in early 1915 , when MSU was known as Michigan Agricultural College...
continuously throughout his career and his name is still tied to one of those arrangements used at every game dubbed “Falcone Fight” by the band.
Falcone drastically increased the visibility of the band through an aggressive schedule of performances and trips. He added 3 US Presidential performances to the band’s resume as well as 3 televised Rose Bowl Parade and game performances in the 50s and 60s. There was a band shell on the campus where Bessey Hall stands today that was the site of regular band concerts for many years.
Falcone retired and took on a roll as professor emeritus in 1967, though he remained a fixture around the campus until weeks before his death in 1985.
The modern era
Assistant Director Bill Moffit , who was known for directing Purdue's marching bandPurdue All-American Marching Band
The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band is the marching band of Purdue University. The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band is the primary source of auxiliary entertainment for Purdue University football games...
in later years and invading the quiet neighborhoods of East Lansing to march them to Falcone’s doorstep before a game in 1985, added a new dynamism to the marching patterns on the field in the 1960s. This continued under future directors including Harry Begian, Kenneth Bloomquist, Thad Hegerberg, Carl Chevallard, David Catron and long time assistant William Wiedrich. Many of these served only one year as director of the band including William Wiedrich who had previously been the assistant for 6 years under the only long-term director of this period, David Catron. In 1989, John T. Madden became director of the band, now the second-longest-serving director in band history. During his tenure, the band has added two more presidential performances and foreign venues to its long list of accomplishments.
Facts and figures
- The 300 member Spartan Band is one of the oldest and most recognized university marching bands in the country.
- The Spartan Band was founded in 1870 as a 10-member student group. All of the original members were veterans of the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
- The Spartan Band was a military unit connected with the college ROTC for most of its existence. Until 1952, the band members wore military khaki uniforms. When MSU began playing Big 10 Conference football in 1952, the band, under long-time director Leonard FalconeLeonard FalconeLeonard Falcone was best known as Professor of Baritone and Euphonium at Michigan State University where he also served from 1927 to 1967 as Director of Bands. The school's Spartan Marching Band transitioned from an ROTC auxiliary to a nationally known Big-10 conference marching band during his...
, received its first green and white uniforms. Most of the strict military uniform codes are still adhered to today with squad leaders holding routine inspections before every performance.
- Five U.S. Presidents have been entertained by the Spartan Band: Theodore Roosevelt (1907), Herbert Hoover (1930), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1936), Lyndon Johnson (1965), and Bill Clinton (1996 & 2000).
- The Spartan Band has performed at the 1964 New York World's Fair1964 New York World's FairThe 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
, the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair1984 Louisiana World ExpositionThe 1984 Louisiana World Exposition was a World's Fair held in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was held 100 years after the city's earlier World's Fair, the World Cotton Centennial in 1884. It opened on Saturday, May 12, 1984 and ended on Sunday, November 11, 1984...
, and in TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for the 1993 Coca-Cola Bowl.
- The Spartan Marching Band Fan Club was founded in the early 80's by members including Steven Carp and Adam Mandel.
- The Spartan Band performed at the 1984 World Series1984 World SeriesThe 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
to cheer the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
to victory.
- The Spartan Band was the 1988 recipient of the Louis Sudler Trophy for collegiate marching bands, administered by the John Philip Sousa FoundationJohn Philip Sousa FoundationThe John Philip Sousa Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of band music internationally. The foundation administers a number of projects and awards supporting high quality band performance, conducting, and composition....
.
- The Spartan Band has toured the United States. The band has appeared in concert and on football fields in such far-flung cities as San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, St. Louis, Denver, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Tokyo, Tucson, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
- The Spartan Marching Band was selected by ABC Sports to record the 1995 "ABC College Football Theme Music" in June 1995.
- The Spartan Marching Band is associated with MSU's State of Art Winterguard, 2009 WGIWinter Guard InternationalSpawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
Independent A Champions.