top 10 largest college marching bands top 10 largest college marching bands

Some Marching Bands do it much better than others, while some of the best college marchingbandsin the country miss the markcompletely. The programs here are listed alphabetically by school, so there are no arbitrary distinctions between rankings. The number of Pregame videos per school on Youtube made a big difference in my judging because if there were more videos available for any specific pregame, then there is more fan appreciation for it. Currently boasting 400 members and under the direction of John Pasquale, the band is widely considered one of the premier collegiate bands in the United States. There are many high school and college marching Wisconsin is also better known for producing more alcoholics than graduates. Here are 25 bands that put on must-see shows that elevate attending these schools game from a "should go" to a "MUST GO!" 1 University of Oklahoma Pride of Oklahoma 2 Boston College Screaming Eagles Marching Band 3 Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band 4 1. Over the years, the band has endured many changes, not the least of which was the decision to open membership to women in the 1940s. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. For over one hundred years the band has performed for Michigan football fans, establishing a long tradition of marching band excellence in Ann Arbor. 1. When the Super Bowl was held in Minnesota in 2018, the Pride performed during the halftime show with Justin Timberlake, and the Pride performed earlier at Super Bowl XXVI in 1992. In addition to performing at Purdue football games, the All-American Marching Band has also performed at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rose Bowl, and the Presidential Inauguration. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-college-marching-band-programs-788278 (accessed March 4, 2023). The Ohio State University Marching Band performs at all home football games and also travels to bowl games and other events. Because of the subjective nature of evaluating musical and marching traditions, this ranking presents the bands in alphabetical order. Under the direction of Dr. Timothy Rhea, the band is known for its military precision. In addition to 260 band members, the marching band features performances by the band drum major, Golden Girl, and Dance Team. With around 450 band members, JMU has the largest collegiate marching band in the nation. Im Dan and I run this website. Council Rock North High School Marching Band. HBCU school bands take on a revered, mythical status. In addition,to live performances, the Sonic Boom was filmed for EA Sports NCAA 2005 video game. i can tell you that the Ohio State Marching Band is the best in the Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band 4. Forget everything you think you know about college marching bands. In addition to marching at football home games and major parades, the band has made tours of and performed on an international stage in Canada, Ireland, and Italy. The University of Nebraska "Cornhusker Marching Band" offers lots ofopportunitiesto clap-along, but not many to sing-along. Finally, the Huffington Post named the band as one of the "Top Ten College Marching Bands in the United States" in 2012. And though not everyone appreciates the marching bandspartly because they get far less exposure to national audiences than the football playersthese musicians bring something special to every game. Fun tidbit: The Blue Band's twirler is called "Blue Sapphire." 3. Marching Band Senior 2023: Marching Band Notebook, Blank Paperback Lined Journal to write in, Back To School Gift, 150 pages, college ruled. A total of 11,157 people in 317 bands, including a flag team of 1,092, marched at the Japan International Exposition Memorial Grand in Osaka, Japan on the 11 May 1997, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Music for Wind Instruments League in Kansai. country. University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. The Michigan Marching Band is composed of woodwind, brass, and percussion, with a full color guard. Cumberland Valley High School Marching Band Boosters. The band also has international acclaim, having performed at athletic events in Australia, Japan, and Brazilsomething not all marching bands on this list can boast. In 1919, the band became an annual performer at the Indy 500. These includeUSA Today, NCAA, ESPN, andTime. Grambling: The Bayou Classic is a must-watch in the . Southern University and A&M College have a band that may be the most famous thing about the Louisiana school. I honestly cant tell you the top ten college marching bands. Known for its unique marching style and choreographed dance moves, theMarching 110 has marched and performed in Carnegie Hall, Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade to delight and awe of spectators. Students are required to audition for the band, both in music and in marching, and then, once admitted, must enroll in the marching band course for credit. One thing that sticks out to me when watching this pregame, even though it's much more "Show Time" rather than "Game Time," is that everyone in Neyland Stadium is on there feet, clapping and singing along. At halftime . Ohio University Marching 110. With only about 30% of the band members being music majors, any students who play an instrument are welcome to audition for the world-renowned group. Computer Engineering Degree Its fitting that the Million Dollar Band is also a stellar outfit. Ed.d Programs When putting together this list I was looking for "Game Time" and lots of "Rah-Rah" and Michigan can do it all with one formation and one song; and everyone in the stands goes nutz. Directed by Dowell Taylor, Roderick Little, and Lowell Hollinger, the Sonic Boom, sometimes called Hollywoods band of choice, and was featured in a TV special commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of Motown and in the 34th NAACP Image Awards. There are plenty of opportunities to travel, as the MI performs at various games and events around the state--at college games, high schools, and National Football League games. With over 350 members, the Pride of the Southland Band is one of the largest college marching bands in the country. With a few modern additions, this pregame is a total throw back. Sentiment Score 9.5. A couple of the bands performances have gone viral on YouTube: Party Rock Anthem and Gangnam Style. Ohio State University Marching Band 1. In 1969, the band was first to have a former member, Neil Armstrong, walk on the moon. Fightin' Texas Aggie BandTexas A&M University. 9 Godwin Heights HS Marching Band - Godwin Heights, Michigan They got dope stuff 10 Plymouth-Canton Educational Park HS Marching Band - Plymouth, Michigan The Contenders 11 Flower Mound High School Marching Band - Flower Mound, Texas Love you guys. In 1983, the band was the first recipient of the Sudler Trophy. This woodwind, brass, and percussion band is the largest military marching band in the country. Here are ten of the best college marching bands in America. The Pride of the Southland Band began in 1869 and is one of the oldest marching bands in the country. The band has been placed on probation multiple times and even had to sit out a game against Ohio State in 2008 because of allegations involving sex, booze and hazing. It's the most powerful sight in all of college football. Berwyn. TheSpirit of Troy marching band sums up and channels the USC spirit. In 2003 theMillion Dollar Bandwon the Sudler Award, which designates the equivalent of a national champion in college and university bands. This is one of my favorite pregames because everything is geared towards school pride and the football game itself. Conestoga High School Marching Pioneer Band. Seriously, who wouldnt want a full field of musicians playing songs and cheering for you? I believe the Largest Music The national exposure and international appeal of Fighting Irish football, the band performs to the world. The Texas Aggie Band is a 400+ member military marching band - the largest of its kind. By John Gentile. Liz Wager wrote and edited college admissions articles on ThoughtCo for three years. Fight Song: "Oskee Wow-Wow". A College Football Game does not start at kick-off, it starts at sunrise on game day. Find on Ebay Customer Reviews. In 1995, Purdue became the first university without a music school to have its marching band win the Sudler Trophy. The Performance Block performs the pre-game and half-time shows at football games; the Reserves join this group to play in the stands during the games. Sometimes I had to watch two or three from the same school to get a sense of the entire pregame. The Pride of Bethune-Cookman University, The Marching Wildcats, was top-ranked in two of this season's four polls, as was Miles College's Purple Marching Machine. The Fightin Texas Aggie Band is the largest military band in the nation with over 400 members and is famous for winning the Sudler Award in 2001. The Human Jukebox plays marching band renditions of pop music, has performed at six Super Bowls, appeared in music videos, and is half of the Battle of the Bands. Top College Marching Band Programs. Texas A&M Aggie Band. In 2004 the Auburn University Marching Band decided they needed to put a little more pep in their pregame. Quite a scene! Neil Armstrong was a member of the band, and the band was the first band to play the opposing teams fight songs at games. Online High School Founded just after the Civil War, the now 350-memberPride of the Southland Band is regarded throughout the world as one of the countrys most outstanding collegiate marching. Presently under the direction of Dr. David Thornton, the Spartan Marching Band continues to amaze crowds with its intricate percussion cadences and overall outstanding level of musical and organizational quality. University of Alabama- Million Dollar Band #2. University of Texas Longhorn Band. The University of Michigan Marching Band. Top 10 Legendary HBCU Marching Bands. Voting for bands in this list that are so different is not an easy endeavor. The West Virginia University "Mountaineer Marching Band" has Copeland's "Simple Gifts of anAppalachianSpring" to play with. With his and other coaches success, the Million Dollar Band has appeared in the halftime show of more than 50 postseason bowl games. ThoughtCo, Jul. Glockenspiel & Wood Blocks. Emerging from a tunnel near the fifty yard line, the MichiganMarchingBand hops onto the field, forms the letter "M," then marches from west to east blasting "Hail to the Victors" while all one hundred thousand plus in attendance sing along. I know of that probably fit in the top ten are Arizona State and Pharm D Degrees One of the highlights of being a member of the band is getting to perform in front of thousands of fans at Kinnick Stadium. Dating back to 1904, the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band fields upwards of 300 band and auxiliary members for halftime shows, and like most other college bands, smaller contingents play at other sporting events like basketball games. With a program that incorporates a dance troupe with outstanding musical and choreographic execution, the band has performed at numerous NFL games, including six Super Bowls, and exhibitions, in addition to rallying school spirit at Southern football games. Another one of Americas best college marching bands hails from the University of Michigan. Florida A&M University The Marching "100" 2. Some of the bands signature maneuvers are the Block T and Block ATM. She previously worked as a faculty copy editor at Southern Connecticut State University. With trademark Trojan regalia, the USC marching band is both one of the most recognizable and most highly regarded college marching bands in the country. Starting as a military band in 1881, the Hawkeye Marching Band has grown to excel in many marching band styles, including the precision military marching techniques to the more modern glide step. Every year, thousands of fans flock to Athens, Ohio to watch the Marching 110 perform at home football games. Not every college sends the band to play at every road game. The Michigan State "Spartan Marching Band" may be better known for their march to the stadium, called the "Series," or for theirdrum line, but they can put on a good pregame too. But not the University of Iowa. Florida A&M University Marching 100. Like the other bands in this ranking, the primary job of the Marching Illini is performing at football home games to foster school spirit. It claims to be the world's largest marching band at over 800 members! No extra fluff. 1 Ohio State University Marching Band 408 votes College: The Ohio State University Founded: 1878 2 Purdue All-American Marching Band 145 votes College: Purdue University Founded: 1886 3 Sonic Boom of the South 241 votes College: Jackson State University Founded: 1940s 4 Marching Chiefs 132 votes College : Florida State University Founded: 1939 5 TheMarching Band held its first rehearsal in 1896 and first publically performed the next year. While A&M started as a military college, it gradually shifted to a more traditional university, which began attracting more students. Unlike other sports, the college football fan has more to cherish about their favorite team. With the long-standing success of Sooner football, the Pride has been center stage to the nation dozens of times. They also, for some reason, play the Beatles Hey Jude at the end of the third quarter of every home football game. Wager, Liz. In 2012, CNN Headline News called the Hawkeye Marching Band One of the top ten best college marching bands in the nation! And, in 2014, Sports Illustrated website raved: the Hawkeyes marching band is one of 7 Big Ten Halftime Shows Worth the Watch., Fight Songs: Illinois Loyalty and Oskee Wow Wow. The football program has long had a tradition excellence on the field, and right alongside the Longhorn Band has developed its reputation for brilliant musicality and precise choreography. In addition to outdoor performances, the Hawkeye Marching Band holds a yearly indoor concert and travels to performs. The over 360 member band has performed all over the world with its most notable appearance taking place at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Currently, under the direction of Dr. Mike Robinson, Dr. Brett Bawcum, and Rob Akridge, the Redcoat Band has performed at bowl games on the national stage at the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game and 2018 College Football National Championship in Atlanta. Founded in 1892, the band now includes 320 members and performs at the University of Minnesota football games as well as some away games, bowl games, pep fests, and other exhibitions. #4. I watched a ton of videos for this list. Every October, as football season ramps up, fans around the country start to get excited about one of the best parts of fall college marching band performances! The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band is one of the most exciting and spirited groups on campus. University of Southern California's Trojan Marching Band (TMB) 1. to pass a tryout, and even after they make it in the band they all Fans of college football wellknow of the dominance of the University of Alabama football team over the past decade. 33 band Now under the direction of Joshua Gall, the 375-member band continues to perform in the traditional Longhorn style. Now under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Dye, the Band of the Fighting Irish continues as one of the oldest college bands in the country. By 1936, the band had become part of the University Fine Arts department and is now part of the University School of Music. TheAll-American Marching Bandat Purdue University has a storied tradition of band excellence through its long history. The 380 member band won the 2004 Sudler Trophy and was one of six bands to compete in ESPNs Battle of the Bands. University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band 3. Most importantly, all the bands listed here balance band practice with studying--your education always comes first. The Royal Artillery Band is Great Britain's oldest military marching band. The band plays for halftime shows for Jackson State, and, in the past, for selected NFL games. Students in the band must be a member of the Corps of Cadets in order to be in the Fightin Texas Aggies, as the band is commonly known. The marching band is a staple of American college life. The band has toured Ireland and Continental Europe and was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy in 1996. Band members keep track of how many times they play Boomer Sooner, the schools fight song, each football season, and the number is often in the 900s. With its unique jazzy fight song and the energy and precision of band performance and execution, theMarching Royal Dukes of James Madison University is considered by many to be Virginias Finest and Americas Favorite Collegiate Marching Band. ", The Band of the Fighting Irish gets to play the "Notre Dame Victory March.". For over one hundred years thePride of Oklahoma marching band has rallied Sooner fans and Sooner pride in their team and their state. Additionally, the band became the first to perform at a major fashion show that same year. Purdue University All-American Marching Band. Top 10 College Marching Bands in the United States The Top Ten 1 Western Carolina Pride of the Mountains Mind boggling production. Big time college football fans know that there is more to the allure than just the action on the field when it comes to college football. The Trojan Marching Band is best known for its unique style of low brass playing and its signature Trojan fanfare. Part of the military department of the university, the band was originally strictly cornets; now it is comprised of brass, winds, percussion (no bells or xylophones), a full color guard, and majorettes. The Pride of the Southland Band is presently under the direction of Donald Ryder. Jackson States band has performed halftime shows for several NFL teams including the Falcons, Lions, Saints, and Bengals. Boasting over 400 members, the band is the largest student organization at the University of Alabama. SuperTailgate is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with any University, the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, NASCAR, USGA or any other sports governing body. Ohio University Marching 110. 2 The Pride of Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Marching to the fight song The Eyes of Texas, the Longhorn Band is a source of pride for students, alumni, and fans alike. Why? Here are 25 bands that put on must-see shows that elevate attending these schools game from a should go to a MUST GO!, Appalachian State Mountaineers Basketball, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. On game days the band performs a Concert on the Steps with such traditional songs as Trumpets in the Dome.. Many of these bands have opportunities for students who aren't music majors, so even if you're studying chemistry, engineering, or fine art, you are welcome to audition for these great bands. Others have hundreds! Make your voice heard and vote for your favorites. Privacy Policy Sitemap Contact About Posts. Arkansas at Pine Bluff Name: The Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South Members: Nearly 300 Location: Pine Bluff, Arkansas Best Halftime Show: Arkansas at Pine Bluff Halftime Show 2019 The band continues long-standing music and march traditions such as the 5th Quarter, The Band Banquet, Band Day, and On Wisconsin Finale, among others. Originally named after the number of members of the band, today the 110 stands for the 100 percent effort the band puts into every performance. Crowd participation is off the charts. Students do not have to be music majors to participate in band, however, students in the band will be enrolled in a year-long course for the band. Currently, they have about 400 members. Online Pharmacy School The band marched in the 2007 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in celebration of the state of Oklahomas one-hundredth anniversary. The 382 member band is presently directed by Jay Gephart, who continues to build upon and develop the Purdue marching band tradition at football games and other sporting events as well as parades and exhibitions throughout the U.S. and internationally. Unlike other bands, the Fightin Texas Aggie Band works according to military guidelines because the band is a part of the Corps of Cadets. Joining forces with Starter, the band now sells Human Jukeboxbranded apparel on a national scale. With a broad fan base and national admirers, the University of Michigan Marching Band has a busy travel schedule performing at sporting events and band exhibitions across the country. That's it. By audition only, over eighty percent of the band members are from disciplines outside of music. As with most pregames created post-9/11, there is a lot of "God Bless America" involved, but the band's entrance, crowd participation and overall energy level make this pregame very intense. Founded in 1892, the Marching 110 has performed at countless sporting events and bowls games. The band has an instrumental version of the song, but their sung rendition is so popular, they rarely break out the instruments for it. Texas A& M Aggie Band. Scheduled to take place Saturday, January 29th, the 2011 Invitational . In addition to performing at UT home football games, the Pride of the Southland has represented the state of Tennessee at every presidential inauguration (except 2013) since 1953. Membership is for all woodwind, brass, battery percussion, sideline percussion, colorguard, twirlers, and dance team. With a membership of about 160, the GSU Tiger Marching Band isnt the largest on the list, but its a formidable unit worthy of being on this list. Since then, Grambling State Universitys band has shared the national spotlight with Southern every year. Founded in 1900 by a chemistry professor, the University of Texas Longhorn Band (also called Showband of the Southwest) is yet another outstanding program that puts on eye-catching halftime spectacles and has played Super Bowls and presidential inaugurations. Because the people fromTennesseesay so. Michigan State is one of them. Dpt Programs OSUs band is set at 225 members (33 of them being alternates) and the instrumentation is entirely brass and percussion. In the same year, the band received the honor of being one of six collegiate bands to selected to participate in ESPNs Battle of the Bands. Texas Tech University Gameday 2012: Goin' Band from Raiderland Texas Tech University takes the entire thing about college marching bands very seriously indeed, even to the point of having a course available about it. It reminds me of a 1930's black and white movie where the coach gives an over-actedspeechabout how important it is to try. All Popular Articles, Best Online Certificate Programs With currently almost 400 members theBand of the Fighting Irish, is one of the largest and best-known college marching bands. In 2008 the band traveled to Ireland to march and perform in the Dublin St. Patricks Day Parade. Now under the direction of Brian Britt, the Pride continues to emphasize outstanding effort and achievement in music, academics, and in the broader community. Students are either placed in the main block or the reserve block, determined after an audition at the summer band camp. Others that I know of that probably fit in the top ten are Arizona State and. Power Ranking the Top 25 College Marching Band Pregame Shows | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report Home > College Football Power Ranking the Top 25 College. One of the most cherished traditions is the Midnight Yell, a rousing pep rally held the night before every home football game. The year 2008 saw the band become the first college marching band to perform in China at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture. If you want your school to be ranked higher then put some damn videos up. That is a good enough indicator to me that the Volunteer's think this pregame is special too. One of the unique things about the Cal Band is that it is run by students rather than the schools music department. Southern Universitys top band is calledThe Human Jukebox because of its ability take any piece of music and bring it to new emotional depths with the old Southern spirit shining through. This band plays at varsity sporting events, with the exception of their fall football games--the Marching Band performs at those games. And in 2010, the All-American Marching Band of Purdue University become the first Big Ten conference band to march in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Redcoats were also at the 2018 College Football National Championship in Atlanta. It is Texas, so there is a lot of crowd participation. Among numerous honors,the band has received over the past century, and it was in 2001 awarded the Sudler Trophy as the nations outstanding collegiate marching band. The Aggie Band is one of the most tradition-rich and unique marching bands in America. The "Trojan Marching Band" puts on a real "Game Time" performance. The Human Jukebox plays marching band renditions of pop music, has performed at six Super Bowls, appeared in music videos, and is half of the Battle of the Bands. Purdue University is home to one of the most iconic marching bands in the country: the All-American Marching Band. Today, the best college marching bands do not simply perform generic halftime shows and make noise during big football plays. In 2008, the band won first place in an ESPN band exhibition. Made up of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and "The Redsteppers" dance line, the band performs at all football home games (IU is a member of the Big Ten Conference), a few away games, and several other special events on and off campus. That means the marching band predates the football team. Also known as The Best Damn Band in the Land, the OSU Marching Band has been delighting audiences with its visuals and sound for over a century. University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. In addition to their performances at football games, the band also holds several concerts each year and participates in a number of community outreach events. 10. ago #1 James Madison University with around 475 members. Music majors represent less than 25% of the group. Additionally, they have appeared in every presidential inauguration but one since 1953. The order of this list changes dyanimcally based on who likes what -- so make your voice heard by voting for your favorite . The Minuteman Marching Band played at the 1981, 1985, and 2001 Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies and won the Sudler Trophy in 1998. Known for their precision and athleticism, the Penn State Blue Band is one of the most respected college marching bands in the country. 15 Best College Marching Bands in 2022 | Top Ranking - Kiiky Here are the best College Marching Bands in 2022: #1. Tuition Free Online Universities Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band. Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! The Michigan Marching Band holds Ohio States band as a rival every bit as much as the football teams do. As the largest military marching band in the country, the Aggie Band plays a central role in many of Texas A&Ms time-honored traditions. Michigan: An autumn afternoon in Ann Arbor is not complete without a performance by this thumping, powerful outfit. Purdue University "All-American" Marching Band. Comprised of over 300 students, the band performs at all home football games, as well as selected away games and bowl appearances. Check out some amazing performances by the best collegiate marching bands in the country.