August 18, 2009

Band camp: Fun and fear bundled into seven intense days

In August the waves of sound rumbling through Purdue's campus aren't thunder but the sound of drums, tubas, horns and trumpets as marching band practice shatters summer's calm.

More than 400 musicians, dancers and twirlers, pumped by expectations and nerves, descended on the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band's annual seven-day camp on Sunday (Aug. 16) to create the thunder that officially ushers in fall on campus.

No. 1 on list of things most freshmen dread about band camp are auditions that determine whether they'll make the band.  Upperclassmen can dread them too because every student has to audition for their spot in the 340-member band each fall.

Long days are filled with marching fundamental rehearsals and music rehearsals and social events at day's end. Visits from President France A. Córdova, football head coach Danny Hope and volleyball head coach Dave Shondell are also on the schedule.

The official membership of the 2009 band will be announced on Friday (Aug. 21), and newly-selected band members spend the remaining two days learning the basics of the stadium pre-game show including such traditions as the "Block P."