MARCHING BAND
COURSE EXPECTATIONS & INFORMATION
Attendance is required at all official MMB events. Conflicts must be pre-approved by Dr. Richard Frey.
These events include:
Band Week (summer band camp) in mid-August
August 13-24, 2024
Regular class time rehearsals and weekly sectionals
Recording sessions
Game Day rehearsals and performances
Travel to away games if assigned to the Performance Block. Depending on the year, we travel to Michigan State, Ohio State, or Notre Dame during the regular season.
Travel to Postseason Games (depending on season outcome) if assigned to the Performance Block
Band-O-Rama Performance if assigned to the Band-O-Rama block
Rehearsal Schedule:
The MMB rehearses every day (Monday through Friday) from 4:45 PM - 6:15 PM on Elbel Field. Weekly sectionals will be scheduled outside of class time by the section leader. Weekly sectionals will be scheduled outside of class time by the section leader. All rehearsals are curricular and attendance is graded. Missed rehearsals can be made-up with volunteer work-off time. Absences due to COVID-19 do not have to be covered with work-off time.
Rehearsals are also held on Saturdays before home football games and other performances. All MMB members attend all home football games. The performance block will travel to Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and any bowl games. Click here for typical Game Day rehearsal schedules.
Outdoor rehearsals are open to the public at Elbel Field, located at the corner of East Madison St. and South Fifth Ave. Limited bleacher seating is available. Rehearsals held in Michigan Stadium on the Fridays before home games are not open to the public. Click here for an updated list of rehearsal times.
Enrollment
If you plan to audition for the Michigan Marching Band, we recommend that you register for the course (ENS 348.001) when completing your fall semester registration, even if your registration date occurs before receiving your audition results. It is much easier to adjust your class schedule after receiving your audition results if necessary. If you are accepted into the ensemble, you will be required to register for the course. Enrollment is required for all students in the ensemble.
Ann Arbor Campus students
Please enroll in ENS 348.001 (2 credit class). If enrollment in section .001 will put you over 18 hours, with instructor approval and proof of conflict, you may register for section .002 (1 credit class).
Dearborn and Flint Campus students
If you attend U-M Flint or Dearborn, you will register during the first week of classes. Please contact Kimberly Smith (ksmithz@umich.edu) during band week to obtain the application that must be completed before you can enroll for the MMB course.
Instrumentation
The sound of the Michigan Marching Band depends upon a desired instrumentation. While our numbers fluctuate from year to year, the following is a breakdown of our typical yearly instrumentation:
| Total Band Members | Typical Performance Block | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Drum Major | 1 Drum Major | |
| 36 Flags | 24 Flags | |
| 4 Twirlers | 2 Twirlers | |
| 27 Piccolos | 18 Piccolos | |
| 36 Clarinets | 24 Clarinets | |
| 27 Alto Saxophones | 18 Alto Saxophones | |
| 18 Tenor Saxophones | 12 Tenor Saxophones | |
| 72 Trumpets | 48 Trumpets | |
| 36 Horns | 24 Horns | |
| 49 Trombones | 33 Trombones | |
| 4 Bass Trombones | 3 Bass Trombones | |
| 18 Euphoniums | 12 Euphoniums | |
| 30 Tubas | 24 Tubas | |
| 38 Drumline | 30 Drumline |
GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT GAME DAY
Challenges
During home games, every student in the MMB performs during the game day rehearsal, parade to the stadium, performance in the stands, and postgame performance. 235 students perform during pregame and 276 students perform during halftime.
An audition, or a challenge, is held each week to determine which students in the wind, flag, and twirler sections are in the performance block for pregame and halftime, and which students are in the reserve block. Challenges consist of a pregame and a halftime portion, where students in ranks of eight execute each marching style performed in the MMB while playing an excerpt of the pregame and the previous week’s halftime music. During challenges, every student is evaluated on an individual level by the instructional staff. Please note that the drumline undergoes a different process. Contact the Director of the Michigan Drumline, Chuck Ricotta at cricotta@umich.edu for more information.
We believe that every student should have the best possible experience when they perform on the field. It is important that students feel completely prepared before they perform on the field, and this challenge process is put into place to prepare students for those performances.
The challenge process helps our students to always have the skills to be successful and ensures that students have the necessary training to develop the physical skills to properly execute the MMB’s marching styles. Additionally, it allows our students to work in a collaborative environment with their peers to come together and work towards a common goal.
Learn all about challenges by watching this video!
FAQ
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Visit our audition page for more information!
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No! All incoming and current students at all U-M campuses can audition for the MMB.
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Absolutely! Students from or applying to all U-M campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint) are welcome to audition for and join the MMB.
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No! Students with and without marching experience are welcome and encouraged to audition.
We teach our marching styles and technique to all students at the beginning of each season during Band Week. Many students with limited or no prior marching band experience have eventually earned leadership positions within our ensemble!
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The MMB rehearses every day (Monday through Thursday) from 4:45 PM - 6:15 PM on Elbel Field. Elbel Field rehearsals are open to the public for viewing, bleacher seating is available. Friday rehearsals are held in Michigan Stadium and are closed to the public unless otherwise stated.
Weekly sectionals will be scheduled outside of class time by your section leader.
Rehearsals are also held on Saturdays before home football games and other performances.
All MMB members attend all home football games. The performance block will travel to Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and any bowl or championship games.
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Absolutely! The MMB is composed of the leaders and best, with students from nearly every academic discipline and major. Being a member of the MMB helps you to meet many of your classmates before the semester begins and to participate in study groups with other members of the ensemble.
MMB members also average a higher GPA in the fall semester during marching season due to the diligent time management skills you learn! The average GPA of Band #126 was 3.59 in the Fall 2023 semester.
The MMB also counts toward the requirements of a Music Minor, which many of our students pursue! You can find out more about the music minor here: https://smtd.umich.edu/degree/minor-in-music/
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Yes, all MMB members attend all home football games, even if they are not in that week‘s performance block. The performance block will travel to Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and any bowl or championship games.
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Yes! We travel to away football games at Michigan State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, depending on the football schedule. We also travel with the football team for any postseason games (championships, bowl games, playoffs).
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Drum Major
Twirlers
Flags
Piccolos
Clarinets
Alto Saxophones
Tenor Saxophones
Trumpets
Horns
Trombones
Bass Trombones
Euphoniums
Tubas
Snare Drums
Tenor Drums
Bass Drums
Cymbals
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No! Thanks to the support of our generous donors, when you arrive in Ann Arbor for Band Week, we will provide you with an instrument that you will use for the season. We have matching sets of each instrument to ensure that each section looks and sounds the same.
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All students are required to enroll in Marching Band (ENS 348.001) for two credits.
Marching Band is a course offered through the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, but students from all schools/colleges at Michigan are eligible to enroll.
The MMB also counts toward the requirements of a Music Minor, which many of our students pursue! You can find out more about the music minor here: https://smtd.umich.edu/degree/minor-in-music/
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All members of the Marching Band are assessed a $125.00 lab fee which is charged to their student account. This fee covers items that are required for members: including white gloves, spats, Michigan Band t-shirts and shorts, and uniform dry cleanings.
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There is a limited amount of financial aid available for students who have been a member of the Marching Band for at least one year. Students need to apply and be able to demonstrate financial need.
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That’s great, we hope you do join us after graduation! You can sign up as a prospective member now to receive information about the MMB to help you plan for the future: https://myumi.ch/ZD6nb
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MMB students are not able to move into the dorms until TBD, August 2024. Band Week starts TBD, August 2024. Students who aren’t local to Ann Arbor will have hotel accommodations until the dorms open for move-in. Please bring all of your dorm items with you on August 16; they will be kept in a secure location and distributed to your residence hall on move-in day.
Admitted students will receive this information in more detail during a Zoom meeting in July after auditions close.
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The name Band Week has persisted over the years, despite our pre-season rehearsal schedule lasting longer than a week! “Band Fortnight” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
