<p>In the big college decision in a few weeks, nothing will be as important to my ds as the strength of its marching band! Really! Anyone have insight into Pitt's program, how much practice a wk, fun/serious? Appreciate your insights.</p>
<p>That is a great question and my son and I have been wondering about that as well. My son is heavily involved in music and is first chair (trombone) in the wind ensemble and the jazz band and he sings in a childrens choir with his beautiful base II voice. He is majoring in physics but it is important to him to continue with his music so he also wants to know about the Pitt band and any other groups he can join without majoring in music.</p>
<p>Glad we’re not alone! We attended “ready-set-Pitt” over the summer which began with a info fair in Alumni Hall where you could talk to specific groups, dept, and grab a bagel, etc. We waited on a long line of people to speak to the rep from the marching band, but then they called everyone to head up to the info session upstairs. I kinda shrugged and said, well let’s go, but the rep pulled my son over and said he’d be glad to continue to talk to him outside. We ended up missing 1/2 the info session because he was giving my son pointers on drum majoring - he also followed up by mailing him a copy of the drum major course that he runs during summers in the Pitt area. It was a really great impression. What he said about the program was that they are actually part of the athletic budget so you are “treated like an athlete” (not sure if that is really really true but…) and they play where the Steelers play (there’s a good Youtube video of the band and they do look nice on that field).</p>
<p>That is what I know, I hope some students give us some more info! Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter is also interested in the marching band. She is thinking of trying out for a colorguard. We went to a couple of Pitt games last year and the reseption the band gets when they come out onto the field is amazing. The band has a website with information, <a href=“http://www.pittband.com%5B/url%5D”>www.pittband.com</a>. We were also told at the PittStar that you are treated like an athlete and were also not sure what that meant.</p>
<p>Here’s my question…do you have to be in Marching Band in the fall to be in Pep band at basketball games in the winter?</p>
<p>Bumping this thread back up - I think I posted during their break. Sooooo, are there any Pitt students who can respond on this? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I’m a peer advisor at Pitt. I’m not in the band, but another peer advisor has a friend who is. She asked him about it for you. The Pitt Band practices four days a week and all day on game days. He says it’s a lot of fun and you really feel like you’re part of a family. You can also join one of four band-based fraternities: two national and two Pitt-based. But you don’t have to do this in order to feel like you’re a part of the group. He said that he was really happy that joined and coming in early for band camp means that you’ll get to meet a lot of your peers ahead of time. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Hey y’all! Last fall I joined the Pitt Band as a sophomore, playing trumpet, so I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have! First off, I’m not a very good trumpet player, so if you aren’t fantastic, don’t worry about it. I joined because I LOVE to march. Dedication is a decision - as long as you’re dedicated to the band, we’ll forgive a few wrong notes. But if you’re really good, we appreciate that too, and there are opportunites for leadership with Herald Trumpets and squad leaders and other positions.</p>
<p>First off, Pitt doesn’t have a music major - all of our band is made up of people who really enjoy it and want to be in it. We march roll-step for the show, and high-step during pregame - I remember asking that as a freshman and nobody outside the band knew what I was talking about, so I did a silly imitation of high-stepping vs roll stepping. It was a sight to see.</p>
<p>The part about being treated “like an athlete” is totally true- last year in addition to free lunch at every game, I got two pairs of shorts, a tracksuit, tshirts, hats, and $90 tennis shoes too. We travel to one away-game per season (plus playoffs) with all travel & hotel fees paid for plus a stipend for food. Each band member gets a free ticket to each football game (in addition to his or her own seat with the band) so you can bring a friend or family member. We usually trade each other so that, say, both my parents could come one week, then the next week I give my ticket to a friend so his parents can come, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the colorguard except that they have to wake up really early to look pretty at ungodly hours of the morning, and they’re reeeally good dancers.</p>
<p>The Pitt Marching Band practices M/T/R/F from 6-8, and on game days we arrive four hours before the game starts (so yeah, all day on gamedays). In return for that hard work, you make some of the best friends, meet amazing musicians, goof off, see the country, and get to play to crowds of 100,000+ at Heinz Field. It really is a one-of-a-kind experience. Oh, and you get a nickname!</p>
<p>I hope I’ll get to meet some of you at Band Camp! Please do post any more questions you think of :). I realize this is super winding and unfocused, but I hope it’s helped!</p>
<p>Thank you sooooo much for responding. I have a few more questions - where do you practice during the week? About how many members are there - do you have many engineering majors (trying to see if students can handle the engineering work and still do band)? And the big question - does the student drum major/s actually conduct the show? How would an incoming frosh sign up - are there auditions? Thanks!</p>
<p>You’re welcome! We practice on the athletic fields behind the Cost Center, roughly A1 on this map (<a href=“http://www.tour.pitt.edu/documents/map200506.pdf[/url]”>http://www.tour.pitt.edu/documents/map200506.pdf</a>). I like to say that we actually do walk uphill both ways, because to get there you walk up a hill then down a hill, and to get back it’s the same. There are about 200 musicians, plus drum line, color guard and dance line. </p>
<p>The engineering question is excellent! About a third of our members are engineering majors, including several of last year’s section leaders, so it’s definitely possible to be an engineer or a pre-med or a nurse and be in the band! Some of my best friends are engineers and band members both :).</p>
<p>Jack (the band director) conducts the show from a podium, while the drum major conducts from the field. Assistant drum majors conduct from podiums at the ends of the field and behind us (we play to both sides of the stadium).</p>
<p>There are auditions but there’s no set piece: you can bring music along or Jack will just set the Victory Song in front of you and ask you to play. In the past, auditions were mainly to decide which part you would play, though I’ve heard that it’s becoming more competitive to join. Sorry for the vague threat implied there; I really don’t know whether that’s true or not but it’s the rumor. The best way to find out about signing up would be to email <a href="mailto:webmaster@pittband.com">webmaster@pittband.com</a> or to contact Jack R. Anderson, Director of Bands.</p>
<p>Best!
RachelleyLee</p>
<p>What is the band called that just plays at basketball games and what are the membership requirements? Can you be in that band and not do Marching band in the fall?</p>
<p>I haven’t done pep band yet (I’m studying abroad this semester) so I asked a friend for you. He said
“basketball band is the pep band. I think it’s possible, but I don’t really know anyone who just does pep band and not marching. It’s pretty much just made up of members from the marching band.”</p>
<p>However, he tends to be pessimistic, so definitely ask Jack Anderson, he’ll be able to give you better info.</p>