FOCUS ON: Marching Band

View video (Windows Media Player)
View video (QuickTime)

Marching Band home page http://www.csus.edu/music/mband/

Sacramento State Music Department http://www.csus.edu/music/

Sacramento State’s marching band is about to celebrate its golden anniversary. The band, which was formed in 1958, has performed continuously since then, entertaining audiences at sporting events and activities on campus and off. Times have changed since the band’s inception, but the basic elements -- marching and playing music -- have not.

Video: (Narrator:) This is “Focus” from the campus of Sacramento State.

(Jim Finnerty reporting:) To some it’s just music. For others, the Sacramento State Marching Band is part of the public face a university puts before the community.

(Clay Redfield:) “They work very hard. They put in a lot of hours during the course of a semester.”

(Finnerty:) Dr. Clay Redfield directs the band-celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A history that includes performances on national television and regular shows for university, regional and NFL football games.

(Four whistle blows and music)

(Voice off camera) “We want them to get on their feet, jump and shout and say hooray band.”

(Finnerty:) David Schultz is one of two drum majors. Besides games and pep rallies you’ll find him, along with 65 others, on the practice field.

(David Schultz, marching band drum major:) “We’re the field conductors. We direct, we keep tempo, we cue parts. In addition to that we’re also the leaders of the band.”

(Nick Giroux, marching band trumpet player:) “When the guy marching trumpet next to you is depending on you to be committed to excellence, that’s going to carry through.”

(Jim Finnerty, reporting:) Trumpet player Nick Giroux says game days can sometimes be 10 hours long. That’s only part of the commitment.

(Stephanie Gosney, marching band saxophone player:) “We come out here three days a week plus game days. But it goes by pretty quickly which usually means we’re having a good time.”

(Clay Redfield, DMA, marching band director:) “There are a lot of components to a marching band performance musically and visually. So, they have to do their homework and be prepared for us.”

(Finerty) Dr. Redfield says the band often extends its reach beyond the university to functions which include the community, a path that band members often follow in their personal lives.

(Redfeid:) “This gives them a chance to continue through the university level and hopefully they’ll bridge on that and find community groups that they can perform with after they leave us.”

(Finnerty:) This is Jim Finnerty reporting.

(Narrator:) For more information on this and other news from Sacramento State, visit our website.