General Information

One of the most exciting and highly visible organizations on campus, the Minnesota Marching Band provides enthusiastic support to the University's athletic programs, and represents the University with pride at home and away.

Marching Band members make a significant and vital contribution to the University of Minnesota. The band performs at all Gopher home football games and at the annual Indoor Concert. In addition the band performs an off-campus concert or special event each year.

Membership

Membership in the Marching Band is open to all interested students, no audition is necessary except for the 30-member drumline. Like all other band ensembles, Marching Band must be taken for credit. Students register for the class along with their other academic classes.

Currently over 20 different majors are represented by members of the Marching Band, with 50% currently representing the College of Liberal Arts, 25% from the Institute of Technology, and 10% from both the Carlson School of Business and the College of Biological Sciences.

Auditions for Drumline will be held on Friday, August 15 beginning at 10am. (Students that do not make the drumline often stay with the band playing, and sometimes learning, a different instrument.) Optional rehearsals for students interested in drumline are held on Wednesday evenings in August from 7–10pm in Northrop Auditorium, Room 4.

Auditions held during Spat Camp determine the first pregame performance block. All members march every halftime. The band program can provide rental instruments for all sections.

Time Commitment

The Marching Band season officially begins with Spat Camp, the ten-day training period that starts in late August and ends on Labor Day weekend. When fall semester classes begin, the band meets Monday through Thursday from 4:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additional rehearsals are held on Friday nights and Saturday mornings before all home football games. The rehearsals avoid conflicts with most classes and allow residence hall students ample time to attend evening meals.

Spat Camp

Spat Camp, the intensive, in-residence preparation camp where students learn music and marching fundamentals, marks the official start of the Marching Band season.

For the 2008 season, flags, students leadership, percussion and new incoming students report on Tuesday, August 19; all other members begin Thursday, August 21.

Students reside in one of the East Bank Campus residence halls during Spat Camp. Registration materials are mailed in July to prospective members. A nominal fee covers the cost of housing, meals, and social activities during camp. Please write or call the Ensemble Office at 612-624-6873 if you need registration materials or have questions. Send e-mail inquiries to ubands@umn.edu. [See the preliminary 2008 Season Schedule]

Marching Band students with residence hall contracts may move into their own rooms on Sunday, August 24. The Ensemble Office staff will assist residence hall students with arrangements for early move-in.

Registration and Freshman Orientation

New students must attend University orientation before Spat Camp begins. Students who are assigned orientation dates during the Spat Camp period should contact their college representative and ask to have their orientation rescheduled.

You should register for Music 3480 which carries two academic credits. Part-time students can register through the College of Continuing Education and Extension. Please call 612-625-3333 for more information.

Spat Camp registration materials will be mailed to all interested students in early July. For more information or to receive registration materials, call the Ensemble Office at 612-624-6873 or fill out the online form.

Athletics Bands

The pep bands for men's hockey and basketball are offshoots of the Marching Band. The women's athletics pep band is open to any interested University student. Auditions for all pep bands will be held in September. The bands rehearse once per week. See the Athletic Pep Bands page for more information.

Special Events

Homecoming weekend festivities include a bonfire, coronation, and pepfest on Friday, and rehearsal, parade, and game on Saturday. The Annual Indoor Concerts at Northrop Memorial Auditorium offer Marching Band fans the opportunity to enjoy the band's lively and spirited performances up close. Each year the band also performs at least once special concert off campus. Various events such as Band Parents' Day and the annual Marching Band Banquet bring marching band members together.