University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band
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| Minuteman Marching Band | |
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| School | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Location | Amherst, MA |
| Conference | Atlantic Ten Conference |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Director | George N. Parks |
| Members | 300 (plus apx. 75 auxiliary) |
| Uniform | White with maroon sash, black pants, maroon shako |
The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (UMMB) is the marching band for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The band currently has about 350 members and is directed by George N. Parks and assisted by Thomas Hannum. The Minuteman Band plays halftime and post-game shows at all home football games and frequently travels to away games. The band has also performed at Bands of America in 1993, 2001 and 2004. In 1998, the Minuteman Marching Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy.
In recent years, The Minuteman Band has performed hits from Elton John and Earth, Wind, and Fire as well as songs from West Side Story and the movie Troy. A new tradition, UMass at the Pops, features the Minuteman Band alongside the Boston Pops orchestra. This event is an annual celebration of all things UMass.
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[edit] 2006 Season
The Minuteman Band's main show for 2006 contained music from Henry V and Chicago. The band's normal season was extended because UMass's football team made the playoffs. The band played their final halftime show of the 2006 post season in Chattanooga, TN at the NCAA National Championship game vs. Appalachian State University.
[edit] History
The Minuteman Marching Band, commonly referred to as the "Power and Class of New England", started off small when first formed in 1935. In 1938, the band had its most successful season by playing at all home games and an away game versus the Coast Guard Academy. With World War II soon after, all bands at the university were disbanded from March of 1943 until September of 1945 because many of the members served in the Armed Forces. After the war, the band remained small but since 1950 there has been steady growth. The band's named changed to The Minuteman Band in the 1970s and in 1977, George N. Parks was hired to direct the band. Parks brought the roll-step marching style and fostered the reputation that the band has today. His unique styles and intensity have long been praised. Today, the band is about 350 members and constantly growing.
[edit] Instrumentation
The Minuteman Band is comprised of typical marching band instruments: mellophones instead of French horns, alto and tenor saxophones, flutes, piccolos (audition only), clarinets, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and sousaphones instead of tubas. The Minuteman Band, like many marching bands, has a strong favor for sousaphones, and each season there are over a dozen of them.
The Minuteman Band's percussion section is strongly regarded as one of the best in the nation. The award winning drum line is led by Thomas Hannum and each season he will often arrange a percussion-only piece which is performed at all regular performances.
[edit] Style
Most people would regard the Minuteman Band's style as that of a corps style, forming precise drill sets and shapes. The band moves from set to set using a "roll step" or "glide step" and members stay in the form while in motion. However, The Minuteman Band tends to mix in some free form or scramble band techniques with more the traditional marching styles. Usually, for the main show theme, traditional marching band styles will be used and then there will be some songs that are looser and less rigid and members are frequently encouraged to have fun to excite the audience during these tunes. The band's use of amplification with electric guitars and other percussion often gives the band the reputation as a non-traditional marching band.
