Tulane University Marching Band

CollegeMarchingBandInfoBox
bandname=Tulane University Marching Band
logo=
school=Tulane University | location=New Orleans, Louisiana
conference=C-USA
founded=1920
director=Barry Spanier
members=65
uniform=Half green, half blue jackets
Interlocking TU logo on R chest
Green pants
Green & white shakos with white & silver plumes
White gloves & shoesThe Tulane University Marching Band (TUMB) is the marching band of Tulane University. It performs at every Tulane Green Wave football home game in the Louisiana Superdome, bowl games, and some away games. It is also the only university band to march in New Orleans Mardi Gras parades each year, regularly appearing in Le Krewe d'Etat, the Krewe of Thoth, and the Krewe of Rex.

History

* The band was formed in 1920 as a military band under the direction of Dr. Frederick Hard.
* Maynard J. Klein became director in 1936.
* John J. Morrissey became the director for 30 years beginning in 1938.
* The colorguard was first introduced in 1938. [ cite web
title =John Morrissey
publisher = Tulane Alumni Affairs
url = http://alumni.tulane.edu/morrissey/jam1939.html
accessdate = 2008-03-11]
* The band was dissolved in the mid-1970s, shortly after the closure of Tulane Stadium.
* The band began its revival in 2004 with the help of SoundWave, the student-run pep band.
* In response to student and alumni interest, the university administration hired Barry Spanier in 2004. [ cite web
title = From a Vision to a Band
publisher = School Band & Orchestra Magazine
url = http://www.sbomagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=4C0D33DB53774698A03B135C76D5DBCE
accessdate = 2008-03-11] The current uniform design was adopted.
* As a result of Hurricane Katrina, the band's planned debut in the fall of 2005 was postponed. cite web
title = Marching to the Mardi Gras
publisher = Tulane New Wave
url = http://www2.tulane.edu/article_news_details.cfm?ArticleID=6265
accessdate = 2008-03-11]
* The band formally debuted in the Krewe of Alla Mardi Gras parade in 2006.
* The TUMB Mardi Gras doubloon was introduced in 2007. [ cite web
title = 2007 Tulane University Marching Band Mardi Gras Coin
publisher = The Coin Page
url = http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-6739.html
accessdate = 2008-03-11]

Organization

Leadership

*Barry Spanier, Director
*Mark Lighthiser, Assistant Director
*Mendel Lee, Percussion Instructor
*Valen Gonzales, Guard Instructor
*Patricia McWhorter-Broussard, Program Coordinator
*Catherine McPherson, Drum Major
*Dylan Borst, Assistant Drum Major

Committees

TUMB members are also members of committees that help with planning and organization. These are the Band Camp, Community Service, Creative (which helps develop shows), Drum Major (which oversees the selection of new drum majors), Mardi Gras, Recruitment, and Travel Committees.

Instrumentation

The TUMB mostly marches silver Yamaha instruments to maintain a consistent look and sound. Its drumline uses sticks and mallets from Innovative Percussion.Woodwinds
*Piccolos
*Clarinets
*Alto Saxophones
*Tenor Saxophones
*Baritone SaxophonesBrass
*Trumpets
*Mellophones
*Trombones
*Baritones
*TubasPercussion
*Battery
*Front Ensemble

Guard

The guard debuted in 2006 with retro uniforms based on archived designs and pictures. In 2008, it introduced a new design more in line with modern guard units. Unlike many university guards, the Tulane guard accepts both male and female members.

tudent Benefits

Members of the TUMB can receive credit both semesters - in the fall for football season and in the spring for Mardi Gras parades. Students also have the opportunity to be awarded scholarships in their freshman year, provided they audition for the band, and are eligible for a stipend each semester once they have received four credits in any TUMB-related course(s).

Traditions

Tailgate Performances

After its field time in the Superdome, the TUMB marches to the tailgating area to perform for the crowd before visiting the Tulane Athletics Fund (TAF) lounge and playing some part of the day's show for the fans there.

Pregame

During the pregame show, the front ensemble becomes the cymbal line and marches with the rest of the band for a more traditional effect. The drumline, led by the drum major with a traditional mace, enters the field from the center tunnel then stops and plays a cadence, to which the rest of the band waiting in the other two tunnels yells "T...U...TULANE!" The band runs onto the field before playing a shortened version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" then plays "Roll On, Tulane" as it forms a cresting wave. They then play the Tulane Fight Song while forming a block "T" before the dance team (Shockwave) and cheer squad join to lead fans in "The Hullabaloo."

Halftime

The TUMB performs a halftime show at every home game and any away games at which the full band is present. The band generally performs 2-3 shows a season, depending on scheduling, and themes can range anywhere from popular soundtracks to New Orleans brass bands.

Alumni Band

Each year several band alumni attend the homecoming game to join the band in the stands and perform at halftime. Due to the band's relative non-existence since the 1970s, Tulane alumni who play instruments but were not members of the band are also invited to participate.

Band Camp

As with most marching bands, the TUMB holds a week-long band camp at the beginning of each academic year to give the band a head start on learning the pre-game show and one or two halftime shows for each season. The camp runs from 8 AM to 8 PM each day and usually involves visual blocks in the morning and evening with a music block in the afternoon. The guard, drumline, section leaders, and drum majors arrive for camp a few days before the rest of the band.

upport

In order to supplement its budget and provide food during band camp (and Mardi Gras parades), the TUMB is sponsored by several businesses and individuals. These sponsors include Whole Foods, The Creole Creamery, WOW Café and Wingery, World's Finest Chocolate, and the Ray Hester Chapter of the TAF.

In addition to sponsors, the band has its own booster organization - the Friends of the Band. The organization is administered through the Tulane Fund, under the direction of Jeff Bush. It provides many forms of support, including an annual jambalaya dinner during band camp.

oundWave

The pep band plays at all basketball and some volleyball games in Fogelman Arena. Established in the mid-1990s as a student organization, it became the impetus for the revival of the TUMB in 2005, meanwhile performing at football games and parades when asked. It has since returned to its original form as a pep band and continues to function as a student organization separate from the TUMB. SoundWave's alumni are organized as the SoundWave Alumni Booster Association (SWABO) and provide additional support to the organization.

Additional Appearances

*FOX's The Best Damn Sports Show Period - New Orleans, September 2006 [ cite web
title = Best Damn Sports Show Period
publisher = Tulane University Band Program
url = http://dreamland.tcs.tulane.edu/~band/gallery/BestSportsShow.html
accessdate = 2008-06-23]
*New Orleans Saints Football Game - New Orleans, October 2006 [ cite web
title = In That Number
publisher = Tulane University Band Program
url = http://dreamland.tcs.tulane.edu/~band/main.php?page=welcome
accessdate = 2008-06-23]

External links

* [http://www.tulane.edu/~band/ The Tulane University Band Program]

References