The 1999 KU Marching Jayhawks
First of all, I'll admit that I am most likely not going to be in marching band next year. Serving my time was a good experience though, and I am glad to have lived through it. So here is a brief pictorial guide of the life of a KU band member. Perhaps by the end you will see why I have no plans to continue my marching career.
We practiced for two hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Also we were required to be at a sort of band camp the week before classes started. We had six home games, one marching festival, and two required away trips. It also doesn't help that the KU football team sucks, but the Mizzou and Nebraska games were awesome to be a part of. There are approximately 235 members of the band, and 30-some in my clarinet section. Our director, Dr. Robert Foster, is a nice Texan who really knows what he's doing. And so, on with the photos.
Part of the band prepares to take the field for our circus-themed halftime show presented at the Baylor game on Nov. 6. Stands filled to the capacity huh? The next two pictures show off the band in the stands trying our best to support the team.
The traditional march down the hill into the stadium before a home game. My but aren't the stands populated. On the left are the brand new scholarship suites.
Here I am dressed in full Marching Jayhawk regalia, well except that I'm wearing the baseball cap instead of the marching helmet (who would voluntarily wear one of those more than one has to? If I look worn out, well this was taken after a game when I didn't really feel like having my picture taken. Behind me stands our new multimillion dollar video board, and behind that is the Hill and the Campanile bell tower. Below are pictures of the 1999 clarinet section, 30-some of us, in front of the Campanile, and the formal band picture, including every main section, the herald trumpets, color guard, drum majors, graduate assistants, and Dr. Foster in the suit in the top left. I'm sorry that they aren't oriented the right way but it's the only way I could scan them and I can't seem to be able to rotate them, well from here at least...I'll fix it someday. Just turn your head or monitor.
