The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band is headed to the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! I sat down with my roommate April, a proud UMass tenor saxophonist, to discuss some songs in their repertoire and what makes the UMass band the power and class of New England.
- “Mambo!”, WEST SIDE STORY
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Last played in 1986, the marching band is bringing back beloved classics to celebrate 150 years of Minuteman Marching Band!
- “La Malagueña”, Miguel Aceves MejĂa
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If you ask any band member why the UMass Marching Band is so great, they’ll tell you it’s because the band is for everyone. April, a junior psychology major, said just that: “Anyone can join the band, there’s no auditions,” she said. Never picked up an instrument? No problem! They are happy to teach you.
- “In the Stone”, Earth, Wind, & Fire
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The Minutemen began their 2023 performance with an Earth, Wind, & Fire medley, reminiscent of their 1982 halftime performance.
- “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, Elton John
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Band is an easy way to continue playing an instrument. “It’s not that serious,” April said. “Everyone gets in, you don’t have to be good.” For musicians who aren’t music majors or interested in any UMass orchestras, concerts, or jazz bands, the marching band is a casual means of playing.
- “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”, STEVIE WONDER
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Reaching number three on Billboard’s Pop Singles Chart in 1966, this tune has been a band favorite since its first performance by the Minuteman Marching Band in 2008.
- “Maria”, West Side Story
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Another song from the 1961 beloved classic, this ballad features an astounding solo from senior trumpeter Una Davenport.
- “September”, Earth, Wind, & Fire
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The band changes the tone of the game! They can get a crowd going after a UMass touchdown or amp up a chant at a hockey game. “The Mullins Center feels very full during Hoop and Ice,” April said, “and it feels more interactive with the crowd. We also get to play more popular or recent songs.” Hoop and Ice is the pep band that plays at UMass basketball and hockey games!
- “California Gurls”, Katy Perry
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A song most members and fans recognize, the Minutemen bring it back to 2010 with this hit from Katy Perry’s album Teenage Dream.
- “Levitating”, Dua Lipa
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The band is fun! The marching band provides both a musical and visual performance. “We’re fun to watch,” April said about the halftime performance. Throughout the performance, the musicians will dance around, run, and leap across the field while playing their instruments. With built-in dance breaks called “good time Charlies,” some musicians will stop playing to freestyle dance to the music.
- “Stacy’s Mom”, Fountains of Wayne
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This song is a classic, loved by band members and listeners alike!
As marching band season ends, talks of next fall’s schedule have begun. The Macy’s Day parade is no joke, with 28.5 million viewers tuning in in 2022. “I’m excited, it’s definitely a cool thing I’ll be able to say I did,” April said. As a proud roommate, I’ll be standing by the TV watching, and hopefully, you will too.
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