The band is also famous for playing six Super Bowls, and the Saints returned to the Superdome in 2006. Hardest College Majors In addition to performing at Purdue football games, the All-American Marching Band has also performed at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rose Bowl, and the Presidential Inauguration. Fun tidbit: The Blue Band's twirler is called "Blue Sapphire." 3. Tuition Free Online Universities They're not that bad at a pregame either. No extra fluff. into a frenzy. Apparently,Tennessee's pregame is unrivaled in college football. In addition to marching at football home games and major parades, the band has made tours of and performed on an international stage in Canada, Ireland, and Italy. SuperTailgate.com - Built in Chicago by LakeviewLabs. The Human Jukebox plays marching band renditions of pop music, has performed at six Super Bowls, appeared in music videos, and is half of the Battle of the Bands. The Block P, started in 1907, is now a signature move of the band, performed at every football game. Florida A&M University The Marching "100" 2. I know of that probably fit in the top ten are Arizona State and This band has been wowing audiences with its high-energy performances and unique style for over a century. There are 260 people in the Hawkeye Marching Band. Here are ten of the best marching bands in the country! The University of Alabamas football team has more national championships than anybody. John Phillip Sousa also dubbed the Marching Illini as the "Worlds Greatest College Band.". The band also frequently travels to other parts of the country to perform at parades and other events. Boasting over 400 members, the band is the largest student organization at the University of Alabama. The Marching Illini consists of around 350 members, (including the drumline and guard) with a portion of that group playing the pre-game and half-time shows at home football games. Founded in 1892, the Marching 110 has performed at countless sporting events and bowls games. The band was founded in 1900 and has been an integral part of UT tradition ever since. His snarky replyA million-dollar bandquickly stuck as the bands name. Many members of the band go on to successful careers in music and other fields. The Penn State Blue Band is one of the most diversified college marching bands in the country, and its a real treasure. The Aggie Band leads the crowd in spirited chants and songs, getting everyone riled up for the big game. It is said the the Florida State University "MarchingChiefs" have never lost a halftime. Top 10 College Marching Bands. The "Blue Band" puts on traditions such as the pregame "Floating Lions Drill" and the drum major flip. Established in 1867, that band now boasts around 375 members. Texas A&M Aggie Band. Like all the bands who made this list, University of Tennessee band excels in both musicianship and marching. The marching band is a staple of American college life. So glad we got to meet you when we came to TX. In addition to playing impressive halftime shows, the band also boasted Big Bertha, the largest bass drum in the world, for nearly 100 years. In 2005, the Blue Band was awarded the Sudler Trophy as the top band in the country for that year. Whether at a football game or during a parade, these bands always put on a show. The Ohio State University Marching Band earned its name as The Best Damn Band in the Land by developing many famous marching band innovations, including floating and animated formations, script writing, and the fast cadence with a high knee lift. In 2012, the Tiger Band received more national attention and acclaim by being named one of the Top Ten College Marching Bands in the United States byHuffington Post. Joe Robbins/Getty Images . The band has also played at many presidential inauguration parades and performed abroad in Monaco, Ireland, and Greece. Best is an arbitrary term here, but for me, they are it. They have a strong fan base and were recently named one of the top bands in the country by USA Today. But that is not the only place to see and hear the band play. The Spartan Band has appeared in venues throughout the United States, Europe, Asia. Theyve also played on TV several times including the Motown 30th Anniversary and 34th NAACP Image Awards. Today, the Pride of the Southland Band is best known for its elaborate halftime shows, which feature intricate formations and dazzling pyrotechnics. University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, 2. Elements of the bands halftime shows and game-day traditions date back to the 1920s, but the band took its current form in 1952. Ohio State University Marching Band 1. The band the many formations that characterize the Texas ensemble. it feels like a pregame that beckons their former glory days, full of school songs and traditional formations. Florida A&M University The Marching "100" 2. But, some people overlook the halftime action, as the players are in the locker room, but thats when the college marching bands shine the brightest. musketeers hat" is called an Aussie. Recently, the group has appeared at Carnegie Hall, and each year the band makes an international tour. Wager, Liz. In 2008, the band won first place in an ESPN band exhibition. Made up of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and "The Redsteppers" dance line, the band performs at all football home games (IU is a member of the Big Ten Conference), a few away games, and several other special events on and off campus. Why? There were lots of very elaborate and visually impressive pregames out there, but if it looked more like a halftime showdisguisedas a pregame, I gave them a lower ranking. The band has been a staple of Purdue athletics for over a century, and their performances are always a highlight of any game day. The band received the great honor of performing in 2006 at the New Orleans Super Dome after the Saints return following Hurricane Katrina. 1 2. Dental Hygienist Schools Purdue University "All-American" Marching Band Purdue Marching Band Lists about the greatest years of your lifewhether you remember them or not. Comprised of over 300 students, the band performs at all home football games, as well as selected away games and bowl appearances. Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band 4. Summing Up Our List Of The Greatest College Marching Bands, 13 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Thrash Metal Bands, 11 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Jam Bands, 10 Of The Most Famous Musicians From New Mexico, 21 Of The Best Songs About Rivers And Streams. Best College Marching Bands 2021 | GreatValueColleges Colleges today have completely revolutionized the idea of a "band geek" into entertainment machines that are competing to be great college marching bands. The band has also performed for U.S. presidents and first ladies. Southern University and A&M College have a band that may be the most famous thing about the Louisiana school. That year, the band split with the ROTC and became part of the college of music. Founded in 1892, the band now includes 320 members and performs at the University of Minnesota football games as well as some away games, bowl games, pep fests, and other exhibitions. When OU went on a years-long winning streak in the 1950s, the bands stock rose alongside that of the football team because they got so much exposure just by being associated with such a successful program. Purdue is known for its singular twirling line-up: the Silver Twins, the Girl in Black, and the Golden Girl. These twirlers are highly-sought after positions and are often considered the bands ambassadors. Dating back to 1904, the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band fields upwards of 300 band and auxiliary members for halftime shows, and like most other college bands, smaller contingents play at other sporting events like basketball games. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker Marching Band was founded in 1879 and is known as one of the oldest and best-known collegiate marching bands in the U.S. Because of the successful Husker college football program, this band is one of the more traveled bands in the country, having performed at all of the For over one hundred years thePride of Oklahoma marching band has rallied Sooner fans and Sooner pride in their team and their state. The band's Script Ohio is considered by many to be the most memorable tradition in college band history. have to audition every week to be able to play in the game. With his and other coaches success, the Million Dollar Band has appeared in the halftime show of more than 50 postseason bowl games. University of Iowa -Hawkeye Marching Band. think that band would be among the 10 largest College and Dr. Timmey T. Zachery is the director of the historically-renowned marching band that was founded during World War II. The Pride of Bethune-Cookman University, The Marching Wildcats, was top-ranked in two of this season's four polls, as was Miles College's Purple Marching Machine. The Ohio State University Marching Band performs at all home football games and also travels to bowl games and other events. In the same year, the band received the honor of being one of six collegiate bands to selected to participate in ESPNs Battle of the Bands. But not the University of Iowa. The band, now comprising over three hundred members, in addition to playing and marching at MSU home games, has maintained a tradition of taking its show on the road. One of the most cherished traditions is the Midnight Yell, a rousing pep rally held the night before every home football game. Purdue University All-American Marching Band, 10. Famous for their Script Ohio routine, the Ohio State Marching Band provides must see game day entertainment. And the feather on top is called a plume. Now, with over 370 members, the band includes woodwinds, brass, percussion (drumline), color guard, and twirlers. To be fair, the Texas Longhorn Marching Band does refer to themselves the "Show-band of the Southwest," though. Several marching bands also use flags, rifles, or some other kind of prop in their routines. TheAll-American Marching Bandat Purdue University has a storied tradition of band excellence through its long history. Would you like to join a marching band one day? members sit out each week because they werent good enough that This is one of my favorite pregames because everything is geared towards school pride and the football game itself. 10 Mind-Blowing College Marching Band Cover Songs. This woodwind, brass, and percussion band is the largest military marching band in the country. #1 James Madison University with around 475 members. Founded just after the Civil War, the now 350-memberPride of the Southland Band is regarded throughout the world as one of the countrys most outstanding collegiate marching. However, the quality of musical sounds and the outstanding drill precision the band employs along with its long and hallowed tradition makes the Marching Illini an exceptional college marching band. I was on the fence between Baylor or Texas Tech for a spot on this list, and the tie-breaker came down to how many more videos Tech had over Baylor on Youtube. The Ohio State University Marching Band is one of the most iconic and beloved college marching bands in the country. And their passion for music and proud tradition is evident in every performance. The Trojan Marching Band is best known for its unique style of low brass playing and its signature Trojan fanfare. Quite a scene! Among numerous honors,the band has received over the past century, and it was in 2001 awarded the Sudler Trophy as the nations outstanding collegiate marching band. Editorial Score. This step involves bringing the heel to the ground with the toe . Now in its second century of performing, the 320 member Pride marching band, marches into the future with an evolving program that brings tradition into the present. And if the team isn't ready to come out yet, they stand at attention and wait, rather than addunnecessarysongs to pass the time. 1 year online doctoral programs Outside of the Big Ten and SEC, USC, UCLA, Ohio, and Texas A&M stand out as great bands, and Southern and Florida A&M are my personal favorite HBCU bands to watch videos of. I like the simplicity of their pregame, but not much for the crowd to participate with. With the long-standing success of Sooner football, the Pride has been center stage to the nation dozens of times. And though not everyone appreciates the marching bandspartly because they get far less exposure to national audiences than the football playersthese musicians bring something special to every game. Fight Songs: "On Iowa," "Iowa Fight Song," and "Roll Along Iowa". University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band. And their passion for music and proud tradition is evident in every performance. Ohio State University Marching Band. The Auburn University Marching Band promotes the Auburn University spirit by performing in more than thirty events each year, beginning in the fall. Most importantly, all the bands listed here balance band practice with studying--your education always comes first. Texas Techliterallyoffers a course in "Marching Band.". Some have just a few dozen members. The Marching Blue Band has played at every major bowl game and had their photo appear in Vogue and W magazines in 2005. Known as the Human Jukebox, this college marching band is highly regarded, and has won several awards for its playing and marching performances. Great Movies That Capture Dating in College. 33 band Sometimes I had to watch two or three from the same school to get a sense of the entire pregame. Top Ten High School Marching Bands. James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes 5. The band has performed for presidents and was ranked by the NCAA as the number 2 band in the country. . The Cal Band's pregame is "Game Time" from start to finish. . They are important to every marching band, although the wood blocks are more of an experimental instrument than the glockenspiel. The band also has international acclaim, having performed at athletic events in Australia, Japan, and Brazilsomething not all marching bands on this list can boast. The 380 member band won the 2004 Sudler Trophy and was one of six bands to compete in ESPNs Battle of the Bands. The band has also performed at a number of high-profile events. Since the state of Texas is renowned for its high school music programs, A&M began getting an influx of intensely talented players in the 1970s and on. Some notable characteristics of the band are its T formation, Rocky Top and Circle Drills. Top 10 College Marching Bands in the United States The Top Ten 1 Western Carolina Pride of the Mountains Mind boggling production. Dpt Programs With a program that incorporates a dance troupe with outstanding musical and choreographic execution, the band has performed at numerous NFL games, including six Super Bowls, and exhibitions, in addition to rallying school spirit at Southern football games. The order of this list changes dyanimcally based on who likes what -- so make your voice heard by voting for your favorite . I've always said there are a million ways to describe someone from West Virginia, but they sure can put classical art on the fieldin a "Game Time" fashion too. Band members keep track of how many times they play Boomer Sooner, the schools fight song, each football season, and the number is often in the 900s. But The band uses a traditional marching style called corps style, which involves intricate patterns and formations. I almost shrugged off this pregame as "Show Time" until the end when they formed the Minnesota "M" and what little crowd was in the stands began to cheer loud and chant. The bands performance of Michael Jacksons Bad during halftime of the Buckeyes 2013 game against Iowa has received over 12 million views on Youtube. "The Pride of Oklahoma," Oklahoma Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images In 2008 the band traveled to Ireland to march and perform in the Dublin St. Patricks Day Parade. 4 Pride of Bixby, Bixby HS - Bixby, OK. 5 Jenison HS Marching Band - Jenison, Michigan. The band has toured Ireland and Continental Europe and was the recipient of the Sudler Trophy in 1996. ThoughtCo. She previously worked as a faculty copy editor at Southern Connecticut State University. Ohio University Marching 110. The Michigan Marching Band is composed of woodwind, brass, and percussion, with a full color guard. And, the band has been performing at university events, especially football and other sports, for over 100 years old and has become one of the most highly respected university marchingbands in the United States. Starting as a military band in 1881, the Hawkeye Marching Band has grown to excel in many marching band styles, including the precision military marching techniques to the more modern glide step.