Found family: the importance of American college marching bands

The intense training all leads to performances like these. (Wikimedia Commons)

When Morgan Oliver stepped onto the Clemson University campus, she knew almost no one.

It was about a week before classes started and well before most people would be moving in, still busy enjoying their summer.

The campus was empty, with classrooms were dormant and the usual social spots eerily quiet.

However, the performing arts centre was buzzing with students new and returning getting themselves settled in and ready for the weeks to come.

“In the Brooks Centre we have a big registration setup in our band room that files everyone through [to] make sure everyone’s information is correct,” recounted Morgan.

It has been almost four years since Morgan started at Clemson, however her journey has been exciting from that very first day.

Morgan auditioned for Clemson’s Tiger Band, the collegiate band that supports the football team at every game.

Initially, Morgan was hesitant about auditioning, as she did not want to continue playing past her high school days.

“It’s a lot different from high school marching band.”

“One of my friends who had already graduated and come to Clemson and did Tiger Band; he had reassured me [that] it is a lot of fun.”

Even now, the audition process is still stressful for Morgan, who had to record the Tiger Rag 22 times before she was happy enough to send it in.

About two weeks after auditions, emails are sent out telling everyone whether they got into the band.

“You get an email [with the] title block [saying] congratulations, you’re in Tiger Band.”

Even if you don’t get in, there are other ways to get involved.

“If you don’t make it one year you can absolutely come back the next year.

“We have managers who help us out at games, during rehearsal and they’re not instrumentalists in the band.

“Some of them… didn’t make it through their audition but they were invited to be a manager in the band just because it was very obvious they would care for this program a lot.”

Morgan had to change her move-in details once she got into the band as band camp starts before anyone else arrives for classes.

“Our first day of [band] camp is a week before school starts.

“[So] whenever you get into Tiger Band you have to move into campus early.”

Dr Mark Spede, the director of bands at Clemson, explains that the community of the band has become paramount to the way he runs Tiger Band.

“If you ask a typical college band member what they enjoy most about band, they’re probably not going to say performing; they’re gonna say the social aspect.”

“As the years have gone on, I have realised how important [socialising] is to them.”

Band camp gets into full swing in the afternoon with many traditions and bonding opportunities as well as rehearsals for up to ten hours a day.

Morgan was made section leader last academic year and loves creating a strong sense of community among the baritone players.

“We all sat down together – there were 26 of us in my freshman year – and they were like ‘Ok, tell us your most embarrassing story.’

“And so everyone in the section told their most embarrassing story.

“We had never talked to any of these people before and we were just laughing with each other right then.

“We really just got to know each other right then.”

Tiger Band’s first gameday performance of the year is only two weeks into semester, so players work hard to perfect their pregame and half-time shows.

The most stressful aspect of the performance to rehearse is Tiger Band’s pregame show.

“Pregame has been the same since the 70s but it is a huge deal at Clemson,” Morgan explained.

Known as “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football,” Clemson’s football team’s entrance is one of the most unique in the country.

“The band is involved in the team entering the field – a lot of other stadiums don’t do that – the teams just come through the tunnel and the fight song is being played,” says Morgan.

Instead, the band enters the stadium, plays the traditional tunes and then splits in two, heading to the other side of the stadium to a small hill that makes up one side of the home arena.

A cannon fires and the football team, who have assembled around that rock, sprints down the hill accompanied by fireworks and flags flying everywhere.

Morgan comments that the first time playing the pregame show is incredibly emotional.

“Everyone’s first pregame is the one that you remember,” Morgan explains, pointing out that, while the other performances are important, pregame sticks with her the longest.

Once things get into a rhythm, rehearsals are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with an extra one 4 hours before each game.

Tiger Band goes to every game, no matter where the football team goes and plays.

This means that band members have the opportunity to explore the country.

Morgan had not really travelled much before joining Tiger Band but now she gets to visit new cities regularly.

“I have seen more of the country with Tiger Band in the last three years than I have in my whole life,” Morgan explains.

While about 50 band members will only be sent to away games during semester, playoffs and championships – usually after finals – give the opportunity for all 356 members of Tiger Band travel around the country.

Clemson charters planes for the marching band to travel to these games. It is a huge and expensive undertaking and completely free for band members.

In her freshman year, Morgan went to California with about 400 other band members for the national championships.

Clemson chartered two planes, sent a truck with all the larger instruments and costumes and used eight busses to transport the band around once there.

“I got a free four-and-a-half-day trip to California.”

Tiger Band has become so important to Morgan that she got a job as an assistant to the administrative coordinator for the band.

She assists with organising trips as well as the day-to-day operations of the band.

Morgan will be graduating at the end of this academic year after studying a degree majoring in landscape design.

However, her passion for the band has led her in a new direction.

“I am working with the media team for our band…I do recap videos for every game we do.

“That’s the career that I have decided to go towards instead of what I’m actually majoring in.”

Morgan has been helping the media team create recap vlogs for each performance both on social media and YouTube.

Morgan has decided to do her masters, continuing to play for the band that has changed her life.

“I’m planning on staying here and working with the band more as well as getting my second degree.”

While she may have been hesitant initially to join Tiger Band, every new day proves to Morgan that she made the right choice all those years ago.