Pep band brings the noise at Bison games
Pep band brings the noise at Bison games
October 30, 2009
By Katie Monigan
Contributing Writer
That haze of orange shirts riling up the crowds every week at Bison football games several rows up in the stands is the University pep band.
Led by faculty director Phil Haynes, the band plays its fairly extensive repertoire of songs throughout the game, providing encouragement to fans and players and accompaniment for the Bison cheerleaders. Come winter, the pep band also plays at every women's and men's basketball game.
There are no tryouts for pep band-any new member is welcome. Since it requires sight-reading, most members have experience with their instruments, but it is not absolutely necessary. Many are also in other musical groups on campus, like the orchestra or jazz band-common targets when the pep band seeks new members.
New member Matt Szymanski '13 said he is truly enjoying his new experience.
"[Haynes] is really cool. He has tons of spirit, and it makes the whole thing fun," he said.
In fact, Haynes calls himself "nuts/crazy/certifiable." And this spirit of fun is not limited to song-playing. Every time the Bison score, the band members run down from the stands and do a pushup for every point.
The pep band also has a strong student influence. Spectators can observe song suggestions from band members while student conductors Katelyn Chiles '10 and Cliff Reilly '11 direct cut-offs and crescendos. Haynes' input is minimal, but valued.
In addition to student musicians, the pep band also includes five faculty and staff who volunteer their time to fulfill their love of music. Members include Steve Guattery, associate professor of computer science; Dee Casteel, associate professor of chemistry and associate dean of natural sciences & math; Margot Vigeant, associate professor of chemical engineering and associate dean of engineering; Professor of Chemical Engineering Jeffrey Csernica and Associate Professor of Biology Steve Jordan.
The amount of fun the pep band has is truly remarkable. Szymanski has only played trombone for two years, but his favorite part of pep band is getting to play.
"I just love music," he said. This passion is visible in all the band members.
Haynes agrees.
"Whether it's faculty or student musicians, they really love playing music together, playing and socializing in that game context. It's all volunteer, so everyone wants to be there and loves what they're doing," he said.
The pep band has not always been this peppy. Five years ago, before Haynes took over, the band was student-run. When the Bison basketball team traveled to Kansas in 2005 for their first ever NCAA victory, the pep band was unavailable because it was spring break, so the University of Northern Iowa's pep band wore Bison t-shirts and played for the Orange and the Blue, Haynes said.
These days the band has more members than ever, largely due to Haynes' leadership. Haynes, the producer of Jazz at Bucknell, gives private lessons, teaches two 100-level jazz history courses and leads Bucknell Improvisation Intensive Ensemble (BIEE), an instrumental and dance ensemble. He still finds time to dedicate to pep band, and he considers it the farthest thing from a chore.
"I am lucky enough to have found my passion, been able to show its value to other people who share it, and never work a day in my life," Haynes said.
Haynes' passion infects the members of pep band with his love of music as they cheer on the University's teams.
