UCMB Show Style
- David Mills
UCMB Show Style and Musical Innovation
The most exciting facet of the UCMB over the past 20 years has been the evolution of its unique show style.
Understanding the inherent challenges of band/football culture in CT and throughout New England, our product needs to be multi-dimensional, economical, innovative, and extraordinary and excites 1) The current member, 2) The future member, and 3) The Division I college football audience.
The methodical approach to repertoire selection, representing a wide and varied sonic palette, in conjunction with our innovative and nuanced approach to show design, proves to be an important metric in our high retention rates over the past 20 years. UCMB members are proud of their product and even refer to specific “shows” as the highlight of their college careers.
Our primary recruiting base resides in the competitive corps-style marching arena, with some of the most important recruiting opportunities hinging on our exhibition performances at band competitions. To attract the attention of the competitive band member our product needs to align with their own band experience, while also impressing them with a uniquely impactful musical and visual experience. Over the years, many new band members reference a specific UCMB show that sealed their commitment to joining the UConn band.
We find that breaking up the exhibition show into three substantial parts of about 4+ minutes gives us the ability to perform one part of the exhibition show to fill most of a football halftime show. Combined with a stand-alone piece – which can directly connect to the full show, or a selection that celebrates/honors/highlights a special occasion or group – makes for an entertainingly relevant halftime performance.
In our approach to show development, the music determines the drill design while utilizing every visual effect imaginable that implements drill moves from all marching styles, pictures, words, and various forms of choreography.
Each 4+/- minute segment of the exhibition show can stand alone as a single production. Two to four musical selections are united in unique and surprising ways. The music selection has to be immediately recognizable and entertaining, but the UCMB treatment generates the effect. The approach of “fusing” disparate musical ideas in creative and innovative ways became the signature mark of a UCMB performance. When you engage in a UCMB show, you will experience the drive of a musical and visual statement that leads to an electrifying impact point. The show will then move quickly to another innovative idea highlighting fresh textures and generating anticipation for what is yet to come. Then the UCMB will hit you with something unexpected like a male rapper on the field, a female rapper on the field, a drum-major rapper on the field, a dubstep sequence complete with flaming fire sticks, something spectacular or memorable.
One of the shows that best exemplifies The UCMB approach to show style and musical innovation is the 2017 show entitled “Fusion Symphony.” This production fuses music from the Western classical tradition with current hits from the pop chart rendering a completely new sound.
Part 1 of this production brings the music of Beethoven, Bach, Kanye West, and Imagine Dragons together, generating an impactful Opener that moved both our football and band audiences to express their approval.
Part 2 of “Fusion Symphony” remixes the music of Kanye West, Edvard Grieg, with Kendrick Lamar to provide an engaging and innovative soundscape to feature the UCMB drumline and a kaleidoscopic visual presentation.
Part 3 of “Fusion Symphony” concludes the exhibition show with the blending of Clean Bandits’ “Symphony,” sung by a UCMB band member, Luis Fonsi’s summer hit, “Despacito,” and the finale to Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Ballet.”
The UCMB’s unique approach has inspired some of the most creative and impactful musical ‘fusions,’ generating far more energy and effect than a single tune might be able to generate. Our systematic approach to maximizing our impact on current band members, future members, and audience members has developed into an iconic sound and style that defines the UCMB.
Other great examples of UCMB Exhibition Shows exhibiting great innovation