| The "Pride of Mid-America" | |
|---|---|
| School | Ball State University |
| Location | Muncie, Indiana, USA |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Director | Dr. Shawn Vondran |
| Members | 200[1] |
| Uniform | Red jackets with silver buttons, B/Cardinal logo on the front, Cardinal on the back, white shakos and white plumes, black pants |
| Website | www.ballstatebands.com |
The "Pride of Mid-America" is the name of the Ball State University marching band. Consisting of nearly 200 members, it is the largest student organization at Ball State.
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The band was first organized in the 1930s by Claude E. Palmer, who at that time was the head of the Music Department at the former Ball State Teachers College. In 1945, Robert Hargreaves became the new director of the band program. He and his assistant, Robert Holmes, conducted the band for one year. The next year, Hargreaves selected Robert Hamilton as the new director.
In 1950, Herbert Fred was designated Director of Bands. Under his direction, the Ball State Marching Band was one of the first bands in the country to perform drill patterns on the field. In addition, the band began accepting coeds into the organization, which previously had been all-male.
In the late 50's, Hargreaves appointed Earl Dunn as the new Director of Bands. During the 60's, the band membership grew from 66 to 190, receiving national recognition for its outstanding performances. In 1965, the marching band participated in the Presidential Parade while Lyndon B. Johnson was in office.The band also performed for presidents Richard Nixon, and George H. W. Bush.
By the mid-60's, the band had established a reputation of playing Big Band arrangements for the haltime shows. "The Pride" also appeared in the 1965 and 1967 Grantland Rice Bowl games; in televised performances of the Chicago Bears(1966, 1967, and 1968); and in the 1967 NFL Championship Game of the Western Conference. By the end of the 70's, the band had 250 players, and was still growing in both membership and prestige.
In 1984, Joseph Scagnoli became the new director of the Ball State Marching Band. Growing to 300 members, it was the first band in Indiana to perform curvilinear drills on the field. In 1989, the band traveled to Fresno, California for the California Raisin Bowl, and to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993 and 1995 to perform in the Las Vegas Bowl. "The Pride" also played for the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Indianapolis Colts.
The marching band became so popular during the 90's it recorded a cassette featuring the Ball State Fight Song, Victory March, and Fanfare. All copies sold out quickly due to its popularity. A compact disc was released in 1998, featuring the Ball State traditional songs, and fight songs of the Mid-American Conference. By the end of the decade, Christian Zembower had become the new director.[2]
In 2006, Dr. Thomas Caneva was appointed Director of Bands, and Dan Kalantarian was appointed associate Director of Bands.[2] That same year, "The Pride" went on a trip to the University of Michigan for their game against Ball State. In 2007, the band executed new drills, debuted a new uniform, and performed for David Letterman (Ball State's most famous alumnus) at the inauguration of the new Letterman Communication and Media Building; a pregame and half-time show at Indiana University; and an appearance at the International Bowl in early 2008.[3][4] The band's other appearances included an Indianapolis Colts game at the new Lucas Oil Stadium,[5] an appearance at the MAC Championship in Detroit, Michigan, and a trip in early 2009 to Mobile, Alabama for the GMAC Bowl.
The name of "Pride of Mid-America" was first introduced in the 60's by former director Earl Dunn. Some speculations refer that the name could have come from the prestige and recognition that the marching band started to have at that time; perhaps linked to the sudden grow in the number of members who joined during Dunn's direction; or referred from the university's participation in the Mid-American Conference, which is probably where the "Mid-America" part came from. Nevertheless, where the name was inspired from is not clearly determined.[2]
Today, the name forms part of Ball State's landmarks and traditions, and has become the main title of the marching band, which is called by this name very often during parades and football games. It is also used as an encouragement tool for the members, such as the traditional dismissal after every rehearsal or performance, which goes:
Leader: Who are we?!
Band: Ball State!
Leader: What do we have?!
Band: PRIDE!
Leader: Let's go, let's go!
Band: Let's go Ball U!
"The Pride" consists of a great number of brass and woodwind players, and a limited number of percussion players who are required to audition. As part of the auxiliary, the band currently has a colorguard, but it previously included cardettes and majorettes in past years. As of the 2010 season, the colorguard has 20 members.[1] [2][6]
The directors of "The Pride" have often changed their duties and responsibilities. As for today, the director is mainly in charge of arranging the music, and writing drill patterns.
Former and today's directors:
They often help and shadow the director as part of they graduate work. Yet, they also play an important role by assisting the band itself by often arranging music or writing drills. The current graduate assistants are Charles Reader, Thomas Wallis, and Patrick Horton.[1][6]
The marching band counts with several instructors to support and cooperate with the betterment of the organization overall. They are qualified and appointed by the director of bands and/or the marching band director. In most cases, the band counts with a color guard instructor, and a percussion instructor.
The percussion instructor has several duties among his work, which is to instruct the Ball State Drumline including but not limited to arranging music, directing rehearsals, and practicing drill. The percussion instructor, in most cases, has been part of the drumline in the past.
The color guard instructor is responsible for providing and teaching flag and/or dance routine to the group, as well as practicing drill.
"The Pride" has currently two drum majors. Their current duties include: conduct the band, guide the players, assist the section leaders, and enforce rules and regulations.[6]
Each instrument section in the band counts with a section leader. Their main responsibility is to help and guide their peers along the music and marching during sectionals. They follow any instruction from the director and from the drum major(s) as well. In some cases, they are responsible of writing the music for their section as for their affiliation with the Ball State School of Music.[6]
It is vital for the band to have an equipment crew. They are responsible of taking care of the instruments owned by the university (drums, and sousaphones), provide food and water to the band, and help with stadium hardware. Most of the time, the equipment crew has a truck. The crew is led by the Equipment Manager.
Part of the success of "The Pride" is its music and drill. Usually, the music is arranged by the director and/or the graduate assistants, or any other person interested in contributing to the band. Traditional music, like the fight song, is elemental for any kind of event that the band is involved in, it represents and identifies the organization and the university.
Drill patterns accompany the music when the band is on the field. The forms vary depending on the theme that is played or the occasion. As of today, the band performs modern drill with a traditional marching style, "walking" style, and makes from simple geometric shapes and straight lines, to complex curves, words, and figures.[6]
"The Pride" is always present in the home football game, and parades. During the 2008 Homecoming Parade (as well as the 2009), the absence of the marching band disappointed many fans, as a result of the time of the game that usually took place at 2:00pm being moved to a noon game, cutting valuable rehearsing time.[6][7] On a regular football game, the band performs during the Tailgate, Pregame, Half-time, and in the stands next to the student section during the game.
Before the football game starts, the band plays at different gathering points around Scheumann Stadium where people are tailgating before the game. Right after it, the section leaders and a few appointed members gather near the entrance of the stadium to welcome the football players.[6]
Part of Ball State football tradition is the pregame show from "The Pride". As of today, pregame consists of:
"The Pride's" half-time show consists of a variety of music, such as themes from movies, TV shows, or cartoons, music from Broadway, Big Band or jazz, modern music like rock n' roll, or popular folk songs, traditional marching band music, like Sousa's marches, arrangements of classical music, or any kind of music that the fans would enjoy. The music is often played with drill patterns.[6]
During this time, the band has the only duty to keep the fans entertained with vibrant and short pieces of music, excerpts of the half-time show, and whenever a touchdown, the fight song is always played.[6]
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