Marching Band moved down on depth chart?

[adam@section118]

I have to admit this is a very interesting topic, and one I had never thought of before.

Not sure anyone from the Redskins will read this thread, but would be great to get an official response from the team.


Frankly I see no reason why the band can’t be on the field if not in the lower level (hell, do away with the dream seats and put the band there)

[pez]

Do they play the intro part and I just can't hear them, or do they go right into the lyrical portion like I was assuming?

As for watching for the horns..I'm in 110 so they are above and behind me. :|

Not sure I understand your meaning, but they go directly into the the first verse...

[Teller]

Actually most bigtime college bands have several hundred members. 300-400 sometimes. Believe it or not, a 100-member band doesn't look all that big on the field. I don't think we need a band that size, nor do I think we could get one that size on a volunteer basis.

One thing we could do for power, is switch to bugles. Unfortunately, it would chase off some long-time members, because bugles are completely different from brass instruments, let alone woodwinds, but the sound is much more powerful.

But I will be SEVERELY disappointed if we ever find ourselves without a band. When you have rich traditions and history, you nurture them; not abandon them.

[Stugein]

Not sure I understand your meaning, but they go directly into the the first verse...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1zJeGf-gpc
For the first 10 seconds or so (00:03-00:13) there is an intro before the lyrics start up. The video in the stadium plays this intro. That's what I'm talking about. Heck even when the band plays it on the field pre-game they play a drum intro before launching into the lyrical section (You can hear it at 3:21 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOFzsunJIc). They just seem to drop the intro for the post-score playing of the song.

I'm just saying that if they played a quick intro it might get more people in sync. I don't think the video gets more people singing along because it's louder...I think the video just gives more people the "Hey, get ready" cue with the intro.

[pez]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1zJeGf-gpc
For the first 10 seconds or so (00:03-00:13) there is an intro before the lyrics start up. The video in the stadium plays this intro. That's what I'm talking about. Heck even when the band plays it on the field pre-game they play a drum intro before launching into the lyrical section (You can hear it at 3:21 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOFzsunJIc). They just seem to drop the intro for the post-score playing of the song.

I'm just saying that if they played a quick intro it might get more people in sync. I don't think the video gets more people singing along because it's louder...I think the intro gives more people the "Hey, get ready" cue with the intro.

Gotcha... no they go directly into lyrics...

[grhqofb5]

I was in the band from 2001-2006 and can hopefully provide a little insight. First off, the band does indeed use microphones. During the pregame ceremony on the field, select members are chosen to wear clip-on microphones that are intended to capture the sound of the full ensemble. And while sitting in the stands, there are either 2 or 4 microphones positioned at the front of the group, which are mixed and pushed through the stadium speakers. Unless things have changed since I left, but I can't imagine anyone would hear the band without the mics.

Secondly, being in the band is a major time committment. They rehearse once a week (used to be Wednesday nights) in the parking lot of the stadium. Getting there in DC rush hour is a nightmare, and you're lucky to be out of there by 10:00pm. And obviously game days are an all-day affair. Much like for the fans, except the band members have to report inside 2 hours before kickoff.

I can't imagine a scenario or a valid reason to play a recording of Hail to the Redskins. I'm not sure I believe that. The band ALWAYS wants to play more by the way. Unfortunately between commercials and the popular garbage that gets pumped through the stadium speakers, there just isn't much time left.

Finally, I've always believed that if the collective musicianship of the group is ever going to improve, the powers that be would need to hold auditions each year to determine which part the members are going to play (i.e., who is playing 1st Trombone, 2nd Trombone, etc.) The strongest players need to be on the 1st parts, but that is NOT the case by any stretch. There are guys in that band that have been in the group for 40 years who have no business playing the lead parts, but because of their seniority, they aren't challenged by any of the younger members, many of which are much stronger players.

I graduated from JMU, which has one of the strongest marching bands in the country. Everything is determined by auditions in that group, as in most college bands. That's the major reason you hear such a difference when you hear the Redskins band compared to a college band. Granted the Skins band is only about 120 members, but with microphones, it should sound much bigger and brighter than it does.

Thanks for the informative post. What is the general feeling amongst the band as to its future? I don't think there's a single redskin fan that would be "alright" with the idea that the band might not be around forever. BTW- No one expects the band to be perfect, it's actually sort of "folksy" to know that its a bunch of people who are out there for fun, and want to do it. I hope that interest remains high among the members, and that there's some sort of recruitment process too.

[Luca Brasi]

One thing we could do for power, is switch to bugles. Unfortunately, it would chase off some long-time members, because bugles are completely different from brass instruments, let alone woodwinds, but the sound is much more powerful.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Bugles are made of brass, the only difference is a traditional bugle doesn't have any valves and therefore has an extremely limited functionality, because most of the "notes" aren't available (think Revelry and Taps).

If you are refering to the horns played in a drum corp, which have valves, the sound may be a bit brigher. But I can assure you that the lack of 'powerfulness' of the Redskins Band trumpets has much more to do with the players than the instruments. The majority of these guys play their horns 4 months out of the year, twice a week (practice and games).

[Crazy Levi]

Thanks for the informative post. What is the general feeling amongst the band as to its future? I don't think there's a single redskin fan that would be "alright" with the idea that the band might not be around forever. BTW- No one expects the band to be perfect, it's actually sort of "folksy" to know that its a bunch of people who are out there for fun, and want to do it. I hope that interest remains high among the members, and that there's some sort of recruitment process too.

Part of the problem is the same problem with Fed Ex that the Skins are having all around these days.

When the Skins were at RFK and winning, tickets were at a premium. It was actually a big deal to go the games, get free tickets, etc. Now, the band get in to games for free, but big deal, so do a good chunk of everybody attending the games. And they have to deal with all the hassles everbody else does.

It's all part of the same thing...improve the gameday experience for everybody, and it'll keep interest high for the band members.

[LadderCrew17]

That intro is unique to that recording. I bought a cassette tape in 1992 at the old Stadium Store in Wheaton. On one side it was that version, and the other side was an instrumental version. They both had two different intros. I've heard a number of different recordings of HTTR and they all seem to have different intros.

When the current marching band plays HTTR and not following a Redskins score they have the drummers and large cymbal start it, as seen here...

[YOUTUBE]ypi8qaEUkeQ[/YOUTUBE]
Go to 4:26 on the time line in the video above or go to the videos YouTube page here and automatically jump to that point.

Conversely, when they play after a Redskins score, they go right into it on the command of the band leader (at 0:39 mark on the timeline)...
[YOUTUBE]5P08Mkj_KoQ[/YOUTUBE]


Here's some other verisons...

1930's recording played on record player
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP-gl_pDiBY

End credits from NFL Films 1987 Redskins (includes Ronnie asking "Where's Ricky Sanders?")
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6g8E2Mmn8w

[Luca Brasi]

Thanks for the informative post. What is the general feeling amongst the band as to its future? I don't think there's a single redskin fan that would be "alright" with the idea that the band might not be around forever. BTW- No one expects the band to be perfect, it's actually sort of "folksy" to know that its a bunch of people who are out there for fun, and want to do it. I hope that interest remains high among the members, and that there's some sort of recruitment process too.

I can't really give you an educated response because I've been out of the band since 2006. But while I was there, we never felt we were being phased out. And with the recent investment in uniforms, I can't imagine they are going anywhere any time soon.

[RFKFedEx]

Luca Brasi, thanks for sharing your experience. Its always nice to hear from the true participants.

[LadderCrew17]

I received a reply from the Washington Redskins a few minutes ago. My e-mail to them was basically what I mentioned in this thread's original post.

Thanks very much for your email in regards to the in-game entertainment at FedExField. I completely understand and appreciate your comments. We are very proud of our Marching Band and love featuring them throughout the game. At the same time we are always looking to further engage the crowd and run new creative features when we can. This was a new feature we tried out on Opening Day here and ultimately are planning to involve the band in this should we continue to go forward with this new feature. It is by no means meant to phase out the band, only to further amp up the crowd.

Signe Hilton
Manager, Entertainment & Game Production

I kind of agree with what they were trying to accomplish. I actually like the video and I think it helps to get everyone on the same page, which is one of their goals. I hope they are able to make it work with the live band and video.

[SonnyandSam]

I do not think the Redskins are phasing out the band. Last year, they took a number of steps to give the band more visibility. Moving the band to the club level was thought to give them more visibility for the entire stadium. The Skins built a bigger and better locker room with space to store instruments, purchased new uniforms, provided padded seats and provided more time during the game to play other music besides just HTTR. The club level was supposed to give them more room to spread out, escpecially for the drum corp. And I was told personally by Dave Donovan that they wanted to highlight the band more last year as part of the makeover of the game day experience. And last year they played more often and were on the field more often.

The Skins have admitted they are having sound issues at the stadium in the upper decks and are trying to work on that. Many fans in the 400 level have complained about not being able to hear the announcer, music, etc. The weak sound from the band may be part of the overall sound issues they need to work on.

I agree with everyone that the band sound is too low and needs to be louder so that fans can hear the beginning of the music.

However, a BIG problem is not with the band or the Skins management. It's the fans! Too many Skins fans simply do not know the words to the song, especially the second verse. I think part of the video board song is to get the fans to learn the words to the fight song. Hell, half the fans think it's "Fight, Fight, Fight" when it is "Rah, Rah, Rah!"

And as much as I love the band, the singing by the fans is MUCH louder to the video board rendition because everyone can karoaky to the song which just rubs it in on the visiting team that we just scored on their ass.

So I have mixed emotions about eliminating the video version of the song. HTTR has never been sung as loud by the fans in any game at FedEx like it was last Sunday.

[Coach Janky Spanky]

But I will be SEVERELY disappointed if we ever find ourselves without a band. When you have rich traditions and history, you nurture them; not abandon them.

Me too. I don't see why they would change this tradition at all. What's the point of messing with something that's not broken and is so important to the fan base?

Relatedly, I hated a few years ago (I think 2009) when a sponsor (I forget which one) had created a Hail to the Redskins video with old clips, and they would play it at a random time during the game....and it was often when we were getting destroyed and there was not a happy vibe in the stadium. Luckily those stopped after that one season. HTTR is to be played before the game, after the game, and after a score. That's all. It's not that difficult.

[pjfootballer]

I was at the game. The piped in version seemed to get the crowd more pumped because you can actually hear it. Think about it. In 55,000 seat RFK with overhangs, you could hear the band. Fed Ex had 92,000 and now 85,000 with no overhangs, and now the sound goes out both endzones of the stadium. They REALLY are hard to hear and I'm in section 449 on the other side. The piped in music seemed to get more people singing. And for the record, I don't want the band to go away, but I see why they (Redskins FO) are doing what they are doing.