Picture Day: On the Sunday at the end of Pre-season, formal pictures of the band are taken in full uniform. A picture of the full band, sections, and individuals are made. On alternate years the picture is taken in Rentschler Field or on the UConn Campus.
1stFootball Game: It’s SHOWTIME! The first football game is almost always Thursday night during the first week of classes! While this presents great challenges to the band to get the entire performance package together (Pregame, Halftime, Postgame and in-stands spirit pieces), it is a night of great excitement. Perhaps the greater challenges are the logistical ones of getting everyone in uniform and getting everyone to the bus and to the field in time! Students who have a late Thursday class may even have to arrange to miss that class, but everyone takes this in stride and the brand new UCMB takes the field with 22 min on the pre-game clock. The pre-game show begins with the Superman Fanfare from the top row in front of the scoreboard, Drum Line feature, and Fight On Connecticut down the field in the big block C.
UCMB Annual Preview Show: On the Saturday before Labor Day the UCMB puts in a full day’s work and then take the field at UConn’s Sherman Complex (field hockey and track field) for a show for parents, alumni, and friends. The audience of around 2000 people watch the UCMB execute an impressive open-rehearsal. At 8:00 PM the “Show” starts with a performance of the Pregame routine. The introduction of Staff and Leaders is interspersed with musical favorites. As a finale, the band performs the parts of this year’s “Exhibition Show” followed by, of course, singing the Alma Mater (Old Connecticut). It is a great tradition to introduce the new version of the UCMB.
September-October November
Summer
UCMB Mini-Camps:Each Summer, three one-day mini-camps are held for the drumline/front ensemble, color guard, and wind section leaders. Percussionists are given an opportunity to work in their area of choice and prepare for an audition for a spot in the drumline. Having a chance to work on the audition materials with the other members of the line gives a player a chance to prepare well, see how their skills line up, and find their niche in the band. Brass and Woodwind players are invited to join their section leaders for training on basic pedagogy and section training procedures.
July
New Member Open House: Incoming band members (and parents!) are encouraged to spend a day seeing exactly how the UCMB operates, find out exactly what being in the band entails, meet their leaders and other members of their incoming class, and know exactly what will be happening from the first day on! The first day of UCMB Pre-season will be like “coming back” to the band and friends rather than that scary leap into “college”.
Membership and Housing Deadline: Usually by the third week of July, members need to return a housing/participation agreement to secure their dorm room (if on-campus) and to secure their place in the band.
August
New Member/drumline/front ensemble /color guard weekend: New Members, percussion and guard move in on Saturday. Drumline and “pit” get right to work on show materials while new members get two days of training in marching and music that makes them ready to work with all the returning members and feel comfortable. New members check-in and move into their own dorm rooms on Saturday morning and at 1:30 parents and students meet for a welcome and intro session. Then, goodbyes are said and the fun begins!
UCMB Pre-season: The rest of the band moves in and the entire band is brought together. Sections are formed, players meet, music begins—before dinner, much music has already been rehearsed. After dinner more rehearsal and a parade across campus to Jorgensen Auditorium.
UCMB Convocation: THE OFFICIAL start of the UCMB year is Convocation. New members parade in while returning members play the fight song. Leaders and Officers are formally dressed to fit the importance of the occasion. Welcoming speeches from leaders, alumni, special guests, and the directors along with “slideshows” and video presentations get the year started right!
New Member “Circle Ceremony:” On Thursday of Pre-season, our new members have had six days of hard work and have bonded with our band. It is time to retire the pink new member tag and trade it for the white tag of the returning members. A simple but touching ceremony is held following the evening rehearsal. New members move out to the parking lot and hear from our historian about the heritage they are now a part of. Returning Members form a circle around the center of the field with one opening, all become quiet and the opening is marked with a light. Neww members in alphabetical order file onto the field and around the circle until all are just behind the circle. Words about significance of membership are said and the new members are invited to take the “Big Step” of coming into the circle of what is now “their band”. As their name is called they step into the circle. They shake the hand of the drum majors and the directors of the band; they are met by their “Big Buddy” with their official UCMB t-shirt and cap and a symbolic glow stick (“light is symbolic of leadership”). The Big Buddy places them in front of the Big Buddy’s spot in the circle. When are in place, more words of significance are spoken and the circle enlarges to allow space for all new members in one circle. The simple ceremony concludes with the singing of the alma mater, Old Connecticut, and a huge cheer welcomes all members of the UCMB.
...
Summer
UCMB Mini-Camps:Each Summer, three one-day mini-camps are held for the drumline/front ensemble, color guard, and wind section leaders. Percussionists are given an opportunity to work in their area of choice and prepare for an audition for a spot in the drumline. Having a chance to work on the audition materials with the other members of the line gives a player a chance to prepare well, see how their skills line up, and find their niche in the band. Brass and Woodwind players are invited to join their section leaders for training on basic pedagogy and section training procedures.
July
New Member Open House: Incoming band members (and parents!) are encouraged to spend a day seeing exactly how the UCMB operates, find out exactly what being in the band entails, meet their leaders and other members of their incoming class, and know exactly what will be happening from the first day on! The first day of UCMB Pre-season will be like “coming back” to the band and friends rather than that scary leap into “college”.
Membership and Housing Deadline: Usually by the third week of July, members need to return a housing/participation agreement to secure their dorm room (if on-campus) and to secure their place in the band.
August
New Member/drumline/front ensemble /color guard weekend: New Members, percussion and guard move in on Saturday. Drumline and “pit” get right to work on show materials while new members get two days of training in marching and music that makes them ready to work with all the returning members and feel comfortable. New members check-in and move into their own dorm rooms on Saturday morning and at 1:30 parents and students meet for a welcome and intro session. Then, goodbyes are said and the fun begins!
UCMB Pre-season: The rest of the band moves in and the entire band is brought together. Sections are formed, players meet, music begins—before dinner, much music has already been rehearsed. After dinner more rehearsal and a parade across campus to Jorgensen Auditorium.
UCMB Convocation: THE OFFICIAL start of the UCMB year is Convocation. New members parade in while returning members play the fight song. Leaders and Officers are formally dressed to fit the importance of the occasion. Welcoming speeches from leaders, alumni, special guests, and the directors along with “slideshows” and video presentations get the year started right!
New Member “Circle Ceremony:” On Thursday of Pre-season, our new members have had six days of hard work and have bonded with our band. It is time to retire the pink new member tag and trade it for the white tag of the returning members. A simple but touching ceremony is held following the evening rehearsal. New members move out to the parking lot and hear from our historian about the heritage they are now a part of. Returning Members form a circle around the center of the field with one opening, all become quiet and the opening is marked with a light. Neww members in alphabetical order file onto the field and around the circle until all are just behind the circle. Words about significance of membership are said and the new members are invited to take the “Big Step” of coming into the circle of what is now “their band”. As their name is called they step into the circle. They shake the hand of the drum majors and the directors of the band; they are met by their “Big Buddy” with their official UCMB t-shirt and cap and a symbolic glow stick (“light is symbolic of leadership”). The Big Buddy places them in front of the Big Buddy’s spot in the circle. When are in place, more words of significance are spoken and the circle enlarges to allow space for all new members in one circle. The simple ceremony concludes with the singing of the alma mater, Old Connecticut, and a huge cheer welcomes all members of the UCMB.
Pre-Season Concert-by-the-Lake: On Friday of Preseason, the first public performance of the UCMB takes place beside Mirror Lake. Parents, alumni, and friends are invited to bring a blanket or chairs and lounge by the lake as the band reveals new show music and old popular and patriotic favorites.
Picture Day: On the Sunday at the end of Pre-season, formal pictures of the band are taken in full uniform. A picture of the full band, sections, and individuals are made. On alternate years the picture is taken in Rentschler Field or on the UConn Campus.
1stFootball Game: It’s SHOWTIME! The first football game is almost always Thursday night during the first week of classes! While this presents great challenges to the band to get the entire performance package together (Pregame, Halftime, Postgame and in-stands spirit pieces), it is a night of great excitement. Perhaps the greater challenges are the logistical ones of getting everyone in uniform and getting everyone to the bus and to the field in time! Students who have a late Thursday class may even have to arrange to miss that class, but everyone takes this in stride and the brand new UCMB takes the field with 22 min on the pre-game clock. The pre-game show begins with the Superman Fanfare from the top row in front of the scoreboard, Drum Line feature, and Fight On Connecticut down the field in the big block C.
UCMB Annual Preview Show: On the Saturday before Labor Day the UCMB puts in a full day’s work and then take the field at UConn’s Sherman Complex (field hockey and track field) for a show for parents, alumni, and friends. The audience of around 2000 people watch the UCMB execute an impressive open-rehearsal. At 8:00 PM the “Show” starts with a performance of the Pregame routine. The introduction of Staff and Leaders is interspersed with musical favorites. As a finale, the band performs the parts of this year’s “Exhibition Show” followed by, of course, singing the Alma Mater (Old Connecticut). It is a great tradition to introduce the new version of the UCMB.
September-October November
Football Games: Our home football games are played at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The day starts with a “take-with” breakfast and a bus ride to “the Rent”. The band heads down into the stadium and on the field for a quick warm-up and run through of the pregame and halftime show for the day. A portion of the band welcomes the team at the Husky Walk and everyone heads back to the bus area for lunch. There is a little down time for eating and relaxing in our preparation area while some small groups bring spirit to the parking lots. Then, the uniforms come on, a concert formation fills the prep area for an impromptu concert for gathered fans, then into the Stadium for Pregame.
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Section Leader Training: Selected leaders are brought together several times to augment what the leadership class has begun. Specific strategies for building and running their sections are covered and prepare the leaders for their important roles.
April/May
Senior Reception: Good things unfortunately do come to an end. The end of Spring Semester means graduation and our brilliant seniors moving onto the next stage of life. One last meeting of their great friends for 4 or 5 years—pizza and cake—videos and recordings, hugs and pictures, and maybe a tear before a busy graduation week.
Brass Bath BashCleaning Day: Our annual brass instrument cleaning day. We always have to get ready for the next year, and a huge need is served with a work party on the first exam day. Members who have no exams are invited to come to the director’s house for a work/play day where over 120 brass instruments are bathed, cleaned out, lubricated, and made ready for the next season. Light repairs are done on the spot and instruments with more complicated repairs are set aside to be taken to the shop. Woodwind, brass, percussion, and even some guard members show up to take part, learn how to service the instruments and have fun doing it. The grill runs constantly with as many hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers, hard working college students can eat. This day saves countless thousands of dollars and means that the instrument maintenance procedure takes about 6 not 3 months!