Todd, any comments on the pep band Deadspin article?
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I never did the pep band more than twice for non-conference games. But, I did hear stories about hanging out with Bill Cosby the year we went to the Final Four. He apparently adopted MSU as his team that year, and he decided to come hang out and play trumpet with the pep band. I heard that some of the pep band guys flunked a few classes or nearly failed because they were gone so much and they were partying all the time. It was probably worth it.
College band is totally different than high school band. High school- they are more about contests and being artsy. College band- just play the fight song and go have a good time. Unless you go to some band nerd (irony!) school like Jacksonville State.
College band is totally different than high school band. High school- they are more about contests and being artsy. College band- just play the fight song and go have a good time. Unless you go to some band nerd (irony!) school like Jacksonville State.
My sister was in the band at Jacksonville State. They were very, very good - but it was tough on her, especially being a non-music major.
Ironically, she says the culture has changed there dramatically. In the 90s, the band was so important to the university, it was a huge deal and they had some clout. Now that they have gone Division I, they are treated just like any other organization. Football is actually bringing in some money. Her band alumni friends "hate what the university has become."
Ironically, she says the culture has changed there dramatically. In the 90s, the band was so important to the university, it was a huge deal and they had some clout. Now that they have gone Division I, they are treated just like any other organization. Football is actually bringing in some money. Her band alumni friends "hate what the university has become."
They visited Starkville several years ago, before Division I, and their band was indeed very, very good. The best I've ever seen in person, in fact. It's a shame that they've gone downhill since then. Many of the smaller schools (in stature, not necessarily size) have fantastic bands. Troy State used to ... not sure how they are now.
Band is still important there, but its not the player on a university scale that it used to be.
They used to give full scholarships out. A band-only dorm and dining hall, etc. Now its just another organization on campus that receives funding based on number of students that are members. That has drastically cut down their scholarship money. A music major that is All-state first band might get 1/3-1/2 tuition while in the past, they got full tuition, books, room and board.
That was my sister's experience. She was a flag girl and a very good pianist. She majored in business, twirled a flag and played the marimba - and almost got her entire tuition paid for four years. But it was tough for her because she wasn't "all in"
Like Todd said, the uber band geeks that hated that band actually centered around football went to schools like this, while the I'm in band but I want to have a normal college experience go to MSU and get $500 a semester + the trips and SEC Football experience.
Now that Jax State is in the "We can make $700,000 by playing an SEC game" club, band isn't as important.
They used to give full scholarships out. A band-only dorm and dining hall, etc. Now its just another organization on campus that receives funding based on number of students that are members. That has drastically cut down their scholarship money. A music major that is All-state first band might get 1/3-1/2 tuition while in the past, they got full tuition, books, room and board.
That was my sister's experience. She was a flag girl and a very good pianist. She majored in business, twirled a flag and played the marimba - and almost got her entire tuition paid for four years. But it was tough for her because she wasn't "all in"
Like Todd said, the uber band geeks that hated that band actually centered around football went to schools like this, while the I'm in band but I want to have a normal college experience go to MSU and get $500 a semester + the trips and SEC Football experience.
Now that Jax State is in the "We can make $700,000 by playing an SEC game" club, band isn't as important.
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