[jimflamesfan]

I like the music. I think Liberty has a good mix. Sometimes the band plays the anthem...sometimes someone sings it...I like the combined thing they did last year with VMI...and I like the pumped in music...and the band playing the fight song after Liberty scores. I like the mix.

Look, I was in the band and love The Spirit of Mountain...I even like DCI music...but even I don't want the band playing the entire time...have you ever been to a MEAC game like that...the band never stops playing...even when they "stop" there's this cadence with low brass that continues...it's cool at first...but after hearing that same thing for over an hour, again and again...it starts to get annoying.

I like mixing the band with the pa music and the videos and the differt ways we begin games and the fireworks and the flamethrowers and the Tshirt gun in the fourth quarter and the students singing the songs...

Why would you want to get rid of all the cool stuff?

[jbock13]

I like what we have now. That's all I've got.

[BiggAl57]

I do get kinda tired of hearing the same halftime show each week. My wife was i a band and they did a new show every week.

[BJWilliams]

I think it was suggested a few years ago in the end of season meeting. I forget how Dr Kerr explained it but I think it was something to the effect of not having as much precision in the drill having to write and teach brand new sets each and every week. Im sure if you emailed him he could give you a better explanation

[blwall1416]

My wife was i a band and they did a new show every week.

It can be done. Just got to figure out how. I believe there's enough talent in the music department to have several different halftime options each season.

[michaeleyou]

My wife was i a band and they did a new show every week.

It can be done. Just got to figure out how. I believe there's enough talent in the music department to have several different halftime options each season.

Maybe they could all drop out of their classes and become full time band members. That way they could learn a new show every week instead of preparring for their career.

Come on guys. Nobody learns a different show each week. Bands learn a full show and then perform different parts of the show for each game. Thats why the LU Band always does the entire show at the end of the final home game each year for those who choose to stay and watch. If you just want different music, the band could just march straight out across the field and play and then march straight back off. But to learn the types of routines the LU Band does takes MANY hours of preparation. And they do one heck of a job too!!

[jbock13]

Okay I understand that. But maybe 2 shows a season at least? Is it really that hard to do? It is kinda repetitive.

[BJWilliams]

The band does do something different for Military Appreciation Day. Maybe not a full 12 minute halftime show but definitely departs from the theme show for that game. As for completely rewriting the show (or writing a brand new show), I dont think that the band schedule (which has been essentially the same since I was a new member in the band) wont allow enough time (especially with the class schedules of the officers and section leaders who are responsible for setting that drill for the different sections) to learn a brand new show in the middle of the semester (and for the color guard to learn a brand new routine). Unless you can think of a way around that (or want to see less precise looking and less visually appealing moves on the field), youre not going to see more than one show in a season. If you dont like that...well you can go find something else to fill your halftime

[From the class of 09]

The band does do something different for Military Appreciation Day. Maybe not a full 12 minute halftime show but definitely departs from the theme show for that game. As for completely rewriting the show (or writing a brand new show), I dont think that the band schedule (which has been essentially the same since I was a new member in the band) wont allow enough time (especially with the class schedules of the officers and section leaders who are responsible for setting that drill for the different sections) to learn a brand new show in the middle of the semester (and for the color guard to learn a brand new routine). Unless you can think of a way around that (or want to see less precise looking and less visually appealing moves on the field), youre not going to see more than one show in a season. If you dont like that...well you can go find something else to fill your halftime

Settling for mediocre

[NotAJerry]

How about 2 smaller routines? Do parts of each during the various halftimes and then play both in full at the end of the year. Try to have a striking difference between them and it may show the band in a better light while spicing things up. Hopefully that would fit in the same kind of schedule.

[SuperJon]

Unless you can think of a way around that (or want to see less precise looking and less visually appealing moves on the field), youre not going to see more than one show in a season. If you dont like that...well you can go find something else to fill your halftime

Of the 19,000 people in the stadium, maybe 1000 at most care about the precise looking and more integral moves. The other 18,000 just want to hear entertaining music and see a few cool looking things. This isn't about the pageantry of the band. It's about looking cool and sounding big.

Many schools with as much or less practice time as Liberty do different shows throughout the year.

[BJWilliams]

As I explained to 09, I was coming from my own experience in the band here...you can email Dr Kerr about it and he'd probably be able to explain it in even more detail

[michaeleyou]

Unless you can think of a way around that (or want to see less precise looking and less visually appealing moves on the field), youre not going to see more than one show in a season. If you dont like that...well you can go find something else to fill your halftime

Of the 19,000 people in the stadium, maybe 1000 at most care about the precise looking and more integral moves. The other 18,000 just want to hear entertaining music and see a few cool looking things. This isn't about the pageantry of the band. It's about looking cool and sounding big.

Many schools with as much or less practice time as Liberty do different shows throughout the year.

Believe me, the band at Liberty is what it is today because of the precission. The ones who participate are there because of that fact. And they are proud of what they do. YOU may not care about it, but I have no doubt that the numbers you suggest above are WAY off.
And tell me, who are these schools who do different shows each week with so little practice time.

[jimflamesfan]

We've had this debate before. I like the fact that we do a precision show...many of those 1000 that care are high school seniors that have come to a game simply to see the band because they want to come to Liberty and be in the music program. I almost always run around the stadium so I can be on the side the band performs to...and I try and get right in the center...almost without execption there are highschool band kids there watching the band and thinking about comming to LU. The band is used to highlight the music program. The 90 percent that want to see entertaining pop music aren't going to stay in the stands anyway...they go to use the restroom and get their nachos - they might catch 10 percent of the show, so why play to that crowd. Playing R E S P E C T isn't going to make people think more about our music program. And we're not in the MEAC or SWAC, so let's not try and be something we're not.

[Purple Haize]

Unless you can think of a way around that (or want to see less precise looking and less visually appealing moves on the field), youre not going to see more than one show in a season. If you dont like that...well you can go find something else to fill your halftime

Of the 19,000 people in the stadium, maybe 1000 at most care about the precise looking and more integral moves. The other 18,000 just want to hear entertaining music and see a few cool looking things. This isn't about the pageantry of the band. It's about looking cool and sounding big.

Many schools with as much or less practice time as Liberty do different shows throughout the year.

I agree with this post
That is not to take away anything from the work and dedication of the marching band. What they do takes a lot of effort and practice skill and talent. I just feel that Phantom of the Opera isn't really a good mix with football halftime. LU marching band does pageantry very well. I'm just not sure how much enthusiasm it adds to a football halftime.

[jimflamesfan]

It's about making potential music majors want to come to LU...Most of the people that want pop wouldnt watch anyway...they're going to use the facilities and get their nachos.

[jbock13]

The only ones who care about precision are band geeks and women over 50. There I said it.

[SuperJon]

What other bands do multiple shows?

In addition to the Pre-Game Show, the Band learns a 9-10 minute exhibition show that is broken into three parts. Football half-time shows consist of one of the three parts and another tune intended to entertain and "pump up" the crowd! CCU's traditional Armed Forces Day also features the CCU Marching Band performing music for each of the US Armed Forces as we honor them at half-time. All pre-game & exhibition music is memorized.

Yes, it's part of one show, but it's different every week. They practice three days a week.

App State does multiple shows and they practice twice a week.

And, for the record, I'm was a section and squad leader in marching band in high school. I love the band and thing they can be a very important part of the gameday experience. I just think our band takes themselves too seriously.

[thepostman]

I see the band is still taking themselves way too seriously...things won't change because that is the way their fearless leader sees things.

[BJWilliams]

well there's two ways that can be changed...either have somebody talk to him (Dr Kerr) about it, or if you dont like him or the job he is doing (or has done the last 12 seasons)...start a campaign to get rid of him or something. Im biased a bit but I not only enjoyed being under Dr Kerr on the field, but have enjoyed getting to know him off the field as well.

[thepostman]

to be honest I don't care enough about the band to start any kind of petition

[BJWilliams]

Thats fair...I was just saying that is what itd probably take for anybody who doesnt like the band and has the time or interest to see things changed.

[michaeleyou]

I see the band is still taking themselves way too seriously...things won't change because that is the way their fearless leader sees things.

Yeah, maybe we should hope the powers that be will get rid of a band director that instills pride and precission and hires one who is mediocre.

And by the way...I'm not in the band!

[Kolzilla41]

I see the band is still taking themselves way too seriously...things won't change because that is the way their fearless leader sees things.

Yeah, maybe we should hope the powers that be will get rid of a band director that instills pride and precission and hires one who is mediocre.

And by the way...I'm not in the band!

No one thinks the band is bad. They are light years better than when I first came to Liberty 5 years ago. I feel like they are 4 years behind in music. It reminds me of Drumline when the director refuses to play more modern music. No one is asking them to lead in innovation, just to be a little more updated. At least they do not play when we're on offense anymore

[SuperJon]

Our band sounds and look great. In the areas that they concentrate in, they are great.

The bad part is most of those areas don't translate to helping create a great gameday experience.