Marching Band: High School vs. College

I compared the differences and similarities between the University of Kentucky Wildcat Marching Band and my Western Hills High School Wolverine Marching Band. I compared them on 3 things: Time consumed in rehearsal and the number of shows performed compared to rehearsal time, the music each band played, and the size of each band. What I expected to see was both the same, yet different than what I thought I was going to see.

The Size of Each Marching Band

The Wildcat Marching Band has around 215 marching band members. Having this many students allows them to have very detailed formations on the field and it allows them to have a Color Guard, and a Majorette squad as well. Below (left) is a picture of them in their K-Block in their Pregame show.

My Wolverine Marching Band has around 100 members in it. Having only 100 members doesn't allow us to have very detailed drill on the field. We didn't have a Color Guard but we did have a Majorette squad. Above (right) is is a picture of my Wolverine Marching Band in our Pregame Tunnel that the football players run through as the team is being introduced to the fans. You can clearly see the size difference in each band.

The Music Played by Each Band (Differences)

Though both band programs mainly stuck to the classic rock genre (as you will learn down the page), both bands also played different genres too. 

Though we for the most part played classic rock music at Western Hills, we played a Stevie Wonder show which included "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and "Superstition". Of course Stevie Wonder is in the R&B genre.  We also played OK Go's "Here It Goes", which is in the Pop genre.



 

(kazaa.com)



 (dhsflipside.com)

The Wildcat Marching Band played a couple different genres as well. They play songs such as country's "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy" by Big and Rich.  The Wildcat Marching Band went way back to the 60's to play Bruce Channel's "Hey, Baby!".



 

(new.music.yahoo.com)

 

(new.music.yahoo.com)






The Music Played by Each Band (Similarities)

I was pleasntly suprised when I learned that the UK Marching Band mostly stuck to the classic rock genre, because playing those fun songs is what kept me in band at Western Hills.  My Wolverine Band played songs from Bon Jovi, Eurpoe, and The Ides of March just to name a few.  The Wildcat Marching Band plays songs from the Blues Brothers, and Chicago.



 (home.x-pack.org)

 

 

(licorice-pizza.blogspot.com)

Time Consumed to be Successful in Band

The Wildcat Marching Band has rehearsal three days a week from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.  They only rehearse for six hours per week!  With the time they practice they do a brand new marching show each time they perform.  This year the Wildcat Marching Band performed 7 different shows for the fans at Commonwealth Stadium this football season.

My Wolverine Marching Band practiced for one hour during school hours and on Tuesdays and Thursdays we had a two hour rehearsal after school.  Total we practiced around 9 hours per week.  But with all that rehearsal time, we only performed two shows per football season (which was around 4 to 6 games).  The Wildcat Marching Band was way more efficient with their time than my Western Hills Marching Band ever was.

But there was a similarity between the Wildcat Marching Band and the Wolverine Marching Band. Both bands have a Band Camp, where you have to relearn your instrument all over again.  It was never fun at all.  Below is a picture of my Wolverine Marching Band after my first band camp my freshman year.

Refrence Page

Wildcat marching band faculty. (2010, August 27). Retrieved from http://ukbands.org/WMB/faculty_staff.html  

Uk pep band. (2010, May 7). Retrieved from http://ukbands.org/WMB/pepband.html  

Prospective member information - wildcat marching band. (2010, March 27). Retrieved from http://ukbands.org/WMB/prospectivemembers.html  

Join the 2009 edition of the wildcat marching band!. (2008, October 13). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=27467979154#!/note.php?note_id=36283626245

Amanda adkins.'s photos - we ♥ lainey and kyle!. (2010, October 15). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=1689228429379&set=a.1689222909241.2100545.1197750072&pid=31920044&id=1197750072

Photos of you. (2009, July 27). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=1218658145416&set=t.100001371454647