- Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
CollegeMarchingBandInfoBox | bandname=Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
"Pride of the Southwest"
Sun Devil Marching Band in Pitchfork formation during Pregame in 2007.
school=Arizona State University | location=Tempe, AZ | conference=Pacific Ten Conference
founded=1915| director=Mr. James G. Hudson| members=330+ | uniform=Maroon and white jackets with a mirror in the center of a sun on the front, black pants, maroon shakos with 14" white plumes, and white capes with the letters "ASU" in gold. |The Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band (or ASUSDMB),known as "The Pride of the Southwest", is the Athletic Band of
Arizona State University inTempe ,Arizona . The 330+ member ensemble was the firstPacific-10 marching band to be awarded the Sudler Trophy in 1991 [http://www.sousafoundation.org/allProjects/trophy.htm] and marched in the 1987 and 1997 Rose Bowl Parades all under the tenure of former Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Robert "Coach" Fleming (1973-2002). [http://www.tournamentofroses.com/photogallery/RBGtimeline/1980sb.htm] [http://www.tournamentofroses.com/photogallery/RBGtimeline/1990sb.htm] Also on February 3, 2008, the band was invited by theNFL , to be part of the pregame and halftime festivities ofSuper Bowl XLII inGlendale ,Arizona . The band is currently under the direction of Director of Athletic Bands James G. Hudson, who took over the program in 2006. [http://music.asu.edu/faculty/selectOne.php?ID=309&] They perform for each ASU football game atSun Devil Stadium .Trips
The band has traveled all over the
PAC-10 . It makes an annual trip toLos Angeles ,California for either the USC or UCLA games, and it travels bi-annually to Tucson,Arizona to play against rivalUniversity of Arizona . They also follow the football team to any bowl game that they get invited to.Bowl game appearances
*The
Rose Bowl , the "Granddaddy of them all" inPasadena ,California
*TheFiesta Bowl inTempe ,Arizona (now inGlendale ,Arizona )
*TheHoliday Bowl inSan Diego ,California
*TheSun Bowl inEl Paso ,Texas
*TheInsight Bowl inPhoenix .Arizona (now inTempe ,Arizona )
*TheFreedom Bowl inAnaheim ,California (now theHoliday Bowl )
*TheAloha Bowl inʻAiea ,Hawaii
*ThePeach Bowl inAtlanta ,Georgia (now theChick-fil-A Bowl )
*TheGarden State Bowl inEast Rutherford ,New Jersey
*TheSalad Bowl inPhoenix ,Arizona (now theFiesta Bowl )Arizona State University Band Day
Every year, the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band hosts its Band Day at
Sun Devil Stadium . Schools from all over the state of Arizona come to play for judges and their peers. About 50+ high school bands perform, followed by the Sun Devil Marching Band. There is a morning block for one half of the bands to performed and a night block of the rest of the bands to perform which makes Band Day an all-day event.Practice
The Sun Devil Band begins their practice schedule before the school semester begins and a 3 to 5 day long program called band camp. During band camp members practice in up to 118 degree heat for 6 hours of the day with an additional 2 hour indoor rehearsal in
Gammage Auditorium . Band camp serves as a time to learn the basic fundamentals and skills necessary for both normal and high step styles. Members also use this time to learn the coming year's show music and drill.During the school year the band meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm and in the morning of game day. [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/marchingband.php] The Sun Devil Marching Band performs 4 to 5 halftime shows and a pre-game pep show on the steps of
Wells Fargo Arena before every home game. Practices are used to learn, perfect and improve the many shows the band member will have to learn.Uniforms
In 2007, a very generous donor, Dr. Verde, funded the purchase of a new set of uniforms for the Sun Devil Marching Band. These new uniforms consist of white jackets fading into gold with a sunburst at the clip. In the middle of the sunburst is a mirror which represents the illumination of not only the sun, but also the bright personality a Sun Devil reflects. The arms of the jacket are black, with white gauntlets fastened with suns, and white gloves using Velcro. A cape with the ASU lettering will be added to the ensemble as a throwback to capes worn by the band in years past. The pants are purely black, rising to about chest level with the aid of suspenders. Black Viper marching shoes will be used paired with equally black socks.
Instrumentation
The marching band uses many different instruments of varying range and sound in its ranks. Providing a central point to tempo and beat by conducting on the sideline the band are the three Drum Majors. The hornline is divided into two major groups: woodwinds and brass. In addition to the hornline the band also uses a percussion section that is divided into a marching battery of drums and a stationary pit.
Hornline
Brass
*Trumpets
*Mellophones
*Trombones
*Bass Trombones
*Baritones
*TubasWoodwinds
*Piccolos
*Clarinets
*Alto Saxophones
*Tenor SaxophonesPercussion
Battery
*Snares
*Tenors
*Bass Drums
*Cymbals
Front Ensemble
*Marimbas
*Vibraphones
*Xylophone
*Timpani
*Miscellaneous Percussion Instruments
*Drum Set
*Bass Guitar
*Synthesizer
[http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/drumline.php]Auxiliary
Outside of the music producing sections of the band are the Sun Devil Spirit Squad, Featured Twirlers, and the Colorguard, all in charge of providing a visually stimulating color and movement to the band in addition to the bands show forms and design.
[http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/colorguard.php] [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/danceteam.php] [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/featuretwirler.php]
Pep Band
Members of the Marching Band are allowed to participate in the ASU Pep Band, which plays at all home Men's and Women's Basketball games and travels annually to
San Jose ,California for the Women'sPAC-10 tournament and toLos Angeles ,California for the Men'sPAC-10 tournament. They also follow the teams to anyNCAA andNIT tournaments they qualify for. [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/basketballbands.php]Dixie Devils
In addition the Dixie Devils are the newest member of the ASU Athletic Band family. This group, under the direction of world renown and ASU School of Music Professor Sam Pilafian, is a tradition six-piece Dixieland Combo that performs at all Sun Devil home football games as well as selected basketball and baseball games. [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands/dixiedevils.php]
Notes and references
External links
* [http://music.asu.edu/bands/ensembles/athleticbands ASU Athletic Bands]
* [http://thesundevils.cstv.com/trads/asu-trads-band.html Sun Devil Marching Band]
* [http://www.asubandswag.com/ Sun Devil Marching Band Merchandise]
* [http://www.asu.edu Arizona State University]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroon_and_Gold Maroon and Gold]succession box
title =Sudler Trophy Recipient
years = 1991
before = Iowa
after = Northwestern
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