Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band

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Sun Devil Marching Band

School	Arizona State University
Location	Tempe, AZ
Conference	{{{conference}}}
Founded	1915
Director	Mr. James Hudson
Members	200+
Uniform	Maroon and white jackets with a mirror in the center of a sun on the front, black pants, maroon shakos with 14" white plumes, and white capes with the letters "ASU" in gold.

The Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band (or ASUSDMB) is the Athletic Band of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The 200+ member ensemble was awarded the Sudler Trophy in 1991 and marched in the 1987 and 1997 Rose Bowl Parades. The band is currently under the direction of Director of Athletic Bands James Hudson, who took over the program in 2006. They perform for each ASU football game at Sun Devil Stadium.

1 Trips
2 Uniforms
3 Practice
4 Instrumentation
5 Pep Band
6 External links

[edit] Trips

The band has traveled all over the PAC-10. It makes an annual trip to Los Angeles, California for either the USC or UCLA games, and it travels bi-annually to Tucson, Arizona to play against rival University of Arizona.

[edit] Uniforms

In 2007, an anonymous donor funded the purchase of a new set of uniforms for the Sun Devil Marching Band. These new uniforms consist of white jackets fading into gold with a sunburst at the clip. In the middle of the sunburst is a mirror which represents the illumination of not only the sun, but also the bright personality a Sun Devil reflects. The arms of the jacket are black, with white gauntlets fastened with suns, and white gloves using Velcro. A cape with the ASU lettering will be added to the ensemble as a throwback to capes worn by the band in years past. The pants are purely black, rising to about chest level with the aid of suspenders. Black Viper marching shoes will be used paired with equally black socks.

[edit] Practice

The Sun Devil Marching Band begins its practice schedule before the school semester begins and a 3 to 5 day long program called band camp. During band camp members practice in up to 118 degree heat for 6 hours of the day with an additional 2 hour indoor rehearsal in Gammage Auditorium. Band camp serves as a time to learn the basic fundamentals and skills necessary for both normal and high step styles. Members also use this time to learn the coming year's show music and drill.

During the school year the band meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-6 p.m and in the morning on game day. The Sun Devil Marching Band performs 4 to 5 halftime shows and a pre-game pep show every year. Practices are used to learn, perfect and improve the many shows the band member will have to learn.

[edit] Instrumentation

The marching band uses many different instruments of varying range and sound in its ranks. The hornline is divided into two major groups: woodwinds and brass. The brass section consists of Trumpets, Mellophones, Trombones, Baritones, and Tubas while the wood wind section consists of Piccolos, Clarinets, Alto Saxophones, and Tenor Saxophones. In addition to the hornline the band also uses a percussion section that is divided into a marching battery of drums and a stationary pit. The battery consists of snares, tenors, bass drums, and cymbals. The pit uses keyboard percussion instruments such as marimbas, vibraphones, and a xylophone. Timpani, miscellaneous percussion instruments, and occasionally a bass guitar and synth. Outside of the music producing sections of the band are the Dance Team, Featured Twirlers and the Colorguard, both charged with providing a visually stimulating color and movement to the band in addition to the bands show forms and design. The band also has three Drum Majors who provide a central point to tempo and beat by conducting on the sideline.

[edit] Pep Band

Members of the Marching Band are allowed to participate in the ASU Pep Band, which plays at all home Men's and Women's Basketball games and travels annually to San Jose, California for the Women's PAC-10 tournament and to Los Angeles, California for the Men's PAC-10 tournament. They also follow the teams to any NCAA and NIT tournaments they qualify for.