I am borrowing this post from r/CFB because I think it is relevant to Iowa State. Is music through the PA system in stadiums getting a bit excessive?

[VeloClone]

To me all you have to do is look at crowd/sideline reaction.

How does the crowd/sideline react to the band playing?

How does the crowd/sideline react to Juicy Wiggle, Mr. Brightside, Swag Surfing?

It's no contest really. The band is nice for halftime entertainment but lets leave it to the pumped in music to fuel the in game entertainment.

The louder the better!!!

You gave three examples. I don't think anyone - or next to nobody at least - is arguing for all piped in music to be removed. There are some bangers that clearly the vast majority enjoy. But a good balance would be nice and banishing the band to halftime only isn't balance and would result in even more lame canned content being programmed to fill the void.

People complain about not having traditions but then we actively advocate for destroying every tradition we do have.

 

[nfrine]

It's the "Arena Football" effect. There are so many commercial/media breaks that they think they need to keep us entertained,

 

[VeloClone]

The problem I see is that TV has turned college football games into a long drawn out affair, with too much down time, where the event itself can't hold the attention of many of those attend, so artificial crap has to be introduced to secure attendance, and to give the fans the impression that attendance is worthwhile. It doesn't help that attentions spans are getting shorter. If the game was paced to finish in 2.25-2.5 hours there would likely be enough continuous game action get folk's adrenaline up.

If people can't hear the band, then why not mic the band?

Don't get me started on lengthening media timeouts and then turning around and changing game rules to reduce the amount of game play because "games are getting too long." The game isn't the problem, the media timeouts(greed) are.

 

[2speedy1]

Link to the reddit thread discussion:

I'd like to start and preface that I never was in band nor marched in any high school or college marching band but I'd also consider myself a bit of band nerd anyway.

I know every Iowa State school song and its lyrics, I know all of the stand tunes, whether they're being played in between plays or during timeouts, and much more. I'm an ISUCF'V'MB "fanatic", if you will.

One thing I've noticed and I'm sure others have noticed this year specifically is that our band is not given many opportunities to play in between plays. Our PA system has instead decided to blast mostly rap music between each play and I personally don't care for it. One thing I appreciated about our game against Kansas in Arrowhead was that both bands got to play their school songs/stand tunes in between plays, after scores, etc.

Iowa State's band isn't even allowed to play "For I For S" after successful PAT's anymore....which has been a tradition for YEARS. Maybe I care way more than the average person, but I feel as though it has diluted our environment in that perspective.

Why have a marching band if they're not allowed to play?

What else are they going to do for the 2 hours of commercial breaks every game.

Cant wait until the next rule change.... because the game is getting too long, to shorten the length of the actual game, but nothing about commercials, so in turn they just fill in the shortened game time with more commercials.

It wont be long and the commercial breaks will be longer than the actual game. Its strange there is not more push back on the breaks vs the continued push to shorten games.

Its interesting to me, how the rule changes to shorten the game continue to happen, yet the game broadcast length continues to increase.

The band is fine. But as someone who has a kid at ISU right now, it is said they can barely hear it on that end of the stadium. And for the schools that repeat the same song/tune over and over again its insanely annoying. KSU, FSU etc repeating the same tune over and over is about as annoying as it gets.

 

[CYDJ]

Bells of Iowa State: I’ve dove into the lyrics and story. It’s awesome, and really cool. But I get so freakin angry every time they do this. It could not be worse for the moment and is so out of place. It’s the perfect case of “well we’ve always done it this way” when there’s a perfectly good reason NOT to do it anymore. Whoever is leading the charge in the AD defending this honestly needs a serious talking to because their being really selfish and stupid.

I'm not saying I hate the song or it's bad for mood etc. BUT, I do have a statement and a question.

1) Statement. I attended ISU from 1986-1994, I don't EVER remember hearing that song during that time OR even before that. I knew "....and I don't care" from the time I was 7 and would sing anything slightly related to the Cyclones of Iowa State.

2) Question: Was I asleep, or intoxicated during the ALMOST 200 sporting events I went to during that time? Someone 16 years older AND someone 16 year younger than me who BOTH went to ISU said it was part of their experience. I'm wondering what happened for me? Any one have any explanations or similar siutation?

Thanks,

 

[Jnecker4cy]

The band is more predictable than the PA. You would think whomever the director is, would put a bit more time into learning a few new songs just to break up the monotony.
Can anyone tell me the last song debuted by the band?

Every halftime show has new music. Space Force Song added. Many of you have no clue how many hours the band practices. Kinda sad how little folks think of the band. These kids have to memorize 6 halftime shows, sometimes with only a week to prepare. Your post is really under appreciating what the Band does and how hard the kids work.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

What else are they going to do for the 2 hours of commercial breaks every game.

Cant wait until the next rule change.... because the game is getting too long, to shorten the length of the actual game, but nothing about commercials, so in turn they just fill in the shortened game time with more commercials.

It wont be long and the commercial breaks will be longer than the actual game. Its strange there is not more push back on the breaks vs the continued push to shorten games.

Its interesting to me, how the rule changes to shorten the game continue to happen, yet the game broadcast length continues to increase.

The band is fine. But as someone who has a kid at ISU right now, it is said they can barely hear it on that end of the stadium. And for the schools that repeat the same song/tune over and over again its insanely annoying. KSU, FSU etc repeating the same tune over and over is about as annoying as it gets.

You can thank the Big 12 and to lesser extent our AD for separating the Students from the band. The Student/Band relationship is not the same as it was. That is a shame for both Band and Students.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Bands going away and going to the 12 minute NFL halftime is the best thing the college game could do.

I get that it's tradition but that doesn't mean it's good.

My opinion on pep bands in college basketball is the exact opposite.

 

[BCClone]

Every halftime show has new music. Space Force Song added. Many of you have no clue how many hours the band practices. Kinda sad how little folks think of the band. These kids have to memorize 6 halftime shows, sometimes with only a week to prepare. Your post is really under appreciating what the Band does and how hard the kids work.

I think a lot has to do, people are spending thousands just to see the football game. Look at band participation in high schools, getting smaller from what I’ve seen. At least in smaller and medium sized schools. So interest in the band is dropping, was waning when I went to HS eons ago. I’m there strictly to see the game and don’t care about the rest.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

I'm not saying I hate the song or it's bad for mood etc. BUT, I do have a statement and a question.

1) Statement. I attended ISU from 1986-1994, I don't EVER remember hearing that song during that time OR even before that. I knew "....and I don't care" from the time I was 7 and would sing anything slightly related to the Cyclones of Iowa State.

2) Question: Was I asleep, or intoxicated during the ALMOST 200 sporting events I went to during that time? Someone 16 years older AND someone 16 year younger than me who BOTH went to ISU said it was part of their experience. I'm wondering what happened for me? Any one have any explanations or similar siutation?

Thanks,

Great question I was there from 1991 to 1996, I know it but I can't really tell you why or how. I do know the play if pre game, play and sing it post-game with the football team and then play it after each basketball game. Not sure what that was like in the early 90's though.

 

[everyyard]

Link to the reddit thread discussion:

I'd like to start and preface that I never was in band nor marched in any high school or college marching band but I'd also consider myself a bit of band nerd anyway.

I know every Iowa State school song and its lyrics, I know all of the stand tunes, whether they're being played in between plays or during timeouts, and much more. I'm an ISUCF'V'MB "fanatic", if you will.

One thing I've noticed and I'm sure others have noticed this year specifically is that our band is not given many opportunities to play in between plays. Our PA system has instead decided to blast mostly rap music between each play and I personally don't care for it. One thing I appreciated about our game against Kansas in Arrowhead was that both bands got to play their school songs/stand tunes in between plays, after scores, etc.

Iowa State's band isn't even allowed to play "For I For S" after successful PAT's anymore....which has been a tradition for YEARS. Maybe I care way more than the average person, but I feel as though it has diluted our environment in that perspective.

Why have a marching band if they're not allowed to play?

More band

 

[Jnecker4cy]

I think a lot has to do, people are spending thousands just to see the football game. Look at band participation in high schools, getting smaller from what I’ve seen. At least in smaller and medium sized schools. So interest in the band is dropping, was waning when I went to HS eons ago. I’m there strictly to see the game and don’t care about

I think a lot has to do, people are spending thousands just to see the football game. Look at band participation in high schools, getting smaller from what I’ve seen. At least in smaller and medium sized schools. So interest in the band is dropping, was waning when I went to HS eons ago. I’m there strictly to see the game and don’t care about the rest.

Not sure where you get that info, might be that way in smaller schools, but Metro Des Moines Schools have large Marching Bands. Schools like Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial have over 200 kids in marching band and if you extend that to show choir, choir and Jazz Bands they have more kids in those programs than kids in Athletcs. The arts are doing just fine at medium and large high schools.

 

[dafarmer]

I'm not saying I hate the song or it's bad for mood etc. BUT, I do have a statement and a question.

1) Statement. I attended ISU from 1986-1994, I don't EVER remember hearing that song during that time OR even before that. I knew "....and I don't care" from the time I was 7 and would sing anything slightly related to the Cyclones of Iowa State.

2) Question: Was I asleep, or intoxicated during the ALMOST 200 sporting events I went to during that time? Someone 16 years older AND someone 16 year younger than me who BOTH went to ISU said it was part of their experience. I'm wondering what happened for me? Any one have any explanations or similar siutation?

Thanks,

you were drunk

 

[2speedy1]

You can thank the Big 12 and to lesser extent our AD for separating the Students from the band. The Student/Band relationship is not the same as it was. That is a shame for both Band and Students.

I agree. But that would not change the fact that anyone sitting in that area wont get a lot of enjoyment out of the band, if it really is the case they cant hear it.

Still dont like bands that seem to be on repeat, or on a broken record, skipping away.

 

[BCClone]

Not sure where you get that info, might be that way in smaller schools, but Metro Des Moines Schools have large Marching Bands. Schools like Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial have over 200 kids in marching band and if you extend that to show choir, choir and Jazz Bands they have more kids in those programs than kids in Athletcs. The arts are doing just fine at medium and large high schools.

I'm calling medium sized schools like forest city and charles city, their marching band sizes are a shell of themselves. Go to algona band festival or the mason city band fetival and you see few bands now and the ones you do are the size of a small pep band.

 

[SayMyName]

The band is more predictable than the PA. You would think whomever the director is, would put a bit more time into learning a few new songs just to break up the monotony.
Can anyone tell me the last song debuted by the band?

GTFO

They debut new stuff *all the time* - you're just not paying attention

 

[isufbcurt]

I’m not talking about those moments specifically….I am referencing the piped in music that is played between plays.

The band historically has played a variety of stand tunes, whether it be when we’re on offense or defense and now they never get to play outside a couple of “eat em up eat em up ISU” or the first down cheers….and of course the fight song after a TD, but that’s pretty much it.

I’m all for Juicy Wiggle and Mr Brightside at those really electric moments but I’m talking about the rap music in between plays.

Whatever makes it harder to for opposing offense to get their calls I am all for thus louder pumped in music.

 

[2speedy1]

I'm calling medium sized schools like forest city and charles city, their marching band sizes are a shell of themselves. Go to algona band festival or the mason city band fetival and you see few bands now and the ones you do are the size of a small pep band.

I think the trend in smaller schools is the entire music department is dying.

When I was in school I would guess at least 75% of kids were involved in at least one part of the music department, if not more. When my oldest went through it was probably less than only 25%, now its even less.

In many small schools, eliminating the entire music department would barely be noticed.

You look at a school with 100-150 kids in the high school you will often see less than 20 kids in band, and similarly in Choir, many times the same kids in both (although many small schools are making that hard because of the scheduling and class requirements.

When you look at the large schools 4A-5A having 200+/- in band it really is still less than 20% of the student population. As most if not all of those schools have well over 1000 kids in high school. (smallest 4A has about 600, largest 5As have 2000 plus) The Ankeny schools mentioned have about 2000 students, so a 200 person band is only about 10% participation.

If you go with a 10% participation rate that really shows how schools at the 1A level and below, have tiny bands, that are barely hanging on.

When I was in school my school had about 180 in high school. The band averaged in the 50-75 range, choir was around 100. Last I knew, the same school now is about 120, and the band at times is in the single digits, same with choir, but usually below 20 each, they add in the middle school kids to get enough to actually be functional. I think the average is about 5 kids in band per class, I believe similar or less for chorus. Although I dont live there anymore so only going on knowledge from social media posts they put out etc.

 

[ClubCy]

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the year they put helmet mics in helmets nearly every single college stadium is playing piped in music on blast in between plays.

 

[BCClone]

I think the trend in smaller schools is the entire music department is dying.

When I was in school I would guess at least 75% of kids were involved in at least one part of the music department, if not more. When my oldest went through it was probably less than only 25%, now its even less.

In many small schools, eliminating the entire music department would barely be noticed.

You look at a school with 100-150 kids in the high school you will often see less than 20 kids in band, and similarly in Choir, many times the same kids in both (although many small schools are making that hard because of the scheduling and class requirements.

When you look at the large schools 4A-5A having 200+/- in band it really is still less than 20% of the student population. As most if not all of those schools have well over 1000 kids in high school. (smallest 4A has about 600, largest 5As have 2000 plus) The Ankeny schools mentioned have about 2000 students, so a 200 person band is only about 10% participation.

If you go with a 10% participation rate that really shows how schools at the 1A level and below, have tiny bands, that are barely hanging on.

When I was in school my school had about 180 in high school. The band averaged in the 50-75 range, choir was around 100. Last I knew, the same school now is about 120, and the band at times is in the single digits, same with choir, but usually below 20 each, they add in the middle school kids to get enough to actually be functional. I think the average is about 5 kids in band per class, I believe similar or less for chorus. Although I dont live there anymore so only going on knowledge from social media posts they put out etc.

Yeah, the HS my kids go to has 40ish and the band has maybe 25-30 in it. Choir is about 2 dozen.