tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post8691357256149447893..comments2023-12-21T10:20:43.344-05:00Comments on The Hoover Street Rag: The Hoover Street Rag Presents: A Guide For Incoming Freshmen (Band Week Edition)Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461267960136260783noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-73158841772102026292008-08-21T11:10:00.000-04:002008-08-21T11:10:00.000-04:00I'd add one more important piece of advice to the ...I'd add one more important piece of advice to the list, one that will last for the entire year, most likely - depending on the competitiveness and seize of your section, you may spend years in the reserves before getting onto the field. Whether through the natural sifting of talent or the politics of the organization, everyone does time on the reserve field. Don't get discouraged if you're always challenged or reserves. You can still have a great career and memories.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087173245411550769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-20593006876798619422007-08-15T22:08:00.000-04:002007-08-15T22:08:00.000-04:00The reserves is a good place to perfect the bone t...The reserves is a good place to perfect the bone toss. Picture the drum stick toss but with a trombone. A good way to remember your time spent in reserves is to put a notch in your bell for every week you spend there. I'd recommend doing this with your MMB horn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-32981828546755776012007-08-15T16:40:00.000-04:002007-08-15T16:40:00.000-04:00Band week will be one of the most physically chall...Band week will be one of the most physically challenging and rewarding experiences of your life. And when it ends, there will be a short relief until school starts, at which point you will have to attempt to balance challenging classes, mounds of homework, MMB, and sleep. Work hard, but don't stress too much about any one thing. Just take it all in, and do your best - it will get easier. Remember, the people you will meet on Elbel will be your family for the next 4 years. These people will change your life - you will laugh with them and cry with them, and define yourself with them by your side. They will be your college roommates, your dearest lifelong friends, and if you're lucky you might even find your future spouse. Cherish every minute of your time with one of the greatest organizations on campus - the Michigan Marching Band. Welcome to the University of Michigan, Go Blue!Austin Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831541101231983209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-1385754417615657802007-08-15T15:59:00.000-04:002007-08-15T15:59:00.000-04:00Corey's points are all pretty spot on, especially ...Corey's points are all pretty spot on, especially number 2. <BR/><BR/>I would also like to add that while it may be cheaper to go eat alone in your dorm room, some of the best early bonding comes from going out to lunch with your section mates. This is especially good if you're shy.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827864532227057534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-97216588453228652007-08-15T15:54:00.000-04:002007-08-15T15:54:00.000-04:00Basically just hope you get put in the reserves. ...Basically just hope you get put in the reserves. That way you can grab ass all day and play pick-up games of football.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-41463903330438625022007-08-15T10:55:00.000-04:002007-08-15T10:55:00.000-04:00If only the "internets" and "blogging" had been av...If only the "internets" and "blogging" had been available back in the summer of 1994 when I shyly stepped into Revelli Hall for the first time to play the tuba... perhaps I'd have had the benefit of this all-too-accurate info. Brings back memories. Other tips: bring your advil or other pain killer of choice. And enjoy ... as you sit in your office 15 years from now, you will think of the shape you were in after a season of marching and sigh ... and email the many friends you still have from those very first days of band week. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-72896311211416993642007-08-15T01:41:00.000-04:002007-08-15T01:41:00.000-04:00Great article! I'll forward it on to this year's ...Great article! I'll forward it on to this year's section and see what they think.<BR/><BR/>Suggestions for addition, though:<BR/><BR/>1) Unless you're really good at your instrument and make pregame off of that alone or you are just THAT good at marching, you won't have to play the national anthem until a few games in. That can probably go lower on the priority list, I think. "Varsity" is similar in that regard.<BR/><BR/>2) Forget about high school for a while. You were drum major and the section leader of everything at your school... and so was half of the rest of the band. You might remember your high school marching style, but unless it's identical to the Michigan styles you can probably throw most of what you know out the window (except the 8-to-5 step size). They build you from the ground up.<BR/><BR/>3) First look isn't voted on by the whole band anymore, unless it has changed again. It's just like every other challenge, and it is far less intimidating now than it used to be. Unfortunately this limits the creativity some folks will go through to pass the time on the sidelines.<BR/><BR/>4) You will probably spend a little or even a lot of time on the reserve field. The harder you work, the more likely you are to get off the field, but even then seniority might keep you away for longer than you'd like. Don't get discouraged! Nearly everyone has done time on the reserve field (you'll hear this a lot and probably still won't believe it), and it's a great time to get to know and work with other people in the band.<BR/><BR/>5) Bo Schembechler said it best: "You are about to experience the best four years of your life" (something to that effect anyway)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16632376085166655302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-32928601485151235882007-08-14T23:09:00.000-04:002007-08-14T23:09:00.000-04:00Yes, and the rehearsal afterward was the worst of ...Yes, and the rehearsal afterward was the worst of my life. It hurts to think about.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117896432653125563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35971090.post-9165133673186544422007-08-14T23:04:00.000-04:002007-08-14T23:04:00.000-04:00Wait a minute Jeremy, weren't you the one who went...Wait a minute Jeremy, weren't you the one who went to Mongolian BBQ during band week our freshman year? I don't know if you're the right person to be giving advice on how to survive the week of hell.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298216758450825066noreply@blogger.com