Back in highschool I was a Sousaphone player and one of our two best players was a fourin exchange student from japan and man in those winds she kicked ass.
@Sonprier Summer is the Football / Marching Band season; as someone in a marching band myself. We can't learn it in the summer due to people having vacations and other events. At most we do a dedicated 2 weeks where we go in every day for 12 hours for rehearsal and practice. That's once every summer.
I went to a small college in WV and, yes, we had to memorize a new routine each week. It's common in colleges and universities. Our band director listened to the top 40 hits for that week, wrote the parts for each instrument for the songs he liked most, and we memorized them all. Third song always had a drum solo/ dance break.
To give a little insight to into U.S. marching bands, they use things called charts which are images of each movement. Each band member knows exactly where they’re supposed to move on the field and when. It’s super complex. High school marching bands do this too, but it’s generally less complicated. OSU band members practice 20-30 hours a week, on top of their school load and any jobs.
My high school band director was an OSU grad then worked with the band after graduation before taking over the MHS band. I really hated being in marching band, well being in the band period, but I wanted to be like my big sister so I was in marching band. Dang if my our band director didn't apply all the rules and practices like OSU did! Because marching band didn't play outside over the winter (very northern ohio here) so we practiced our music inside for whatever we might be coming up on, concerts you had better know what to play and how because a couple weeks before anything we lost our music but after each concert or whatever, we started practice for summer events but as soon as we could play outside without freezing our butts off, we were there running lines and learning to turn and move as crisp and clean as OSU. We had to audition to be in regular band but to be in marching band was a whole other story. Mr. Price was so loved even with all the craziness he put each band thru and it's been so bad to see how badly the band has sunk under new directors each year.
@Nicky L I don't know how it is with other colleges but I do know how my college (BGSU) and at OSU participation in outside activities are closely monitored and if a student's grades drop - at BGSU they can show daily your grades in individual classes - but if there's a drop in grades/GPA outside things are suspended until grades are back up. It's something my mom would do with my siblings and I so I'm familiar with it. My sister-in-law went to OSU as well as friends that have gone there and I know that they're really firm on this.
@Nicky L Not at all sure what you're basing that on. Also not sure how you're not seeing the learning involved in this, unless you don't think music, group co-ordination and management, etc. are skills applicable to the "wider world". I'm sure we can agree that *sub*-college US education could use a lot more support (as could expanding access to post-secondary programs), but that's not exactly a unique problem, is it?
Not to mention memorizing the music, and making sure you get to your mark on time while playing said music on a 5-20 pound instrument that you have to carry and blow in. I was in high school marching band. I don't know why this appeared on my feed, but it brought back some fond memories!
I've watched so many Europeans reacting to NFL or College (American) Football, but almost nothing gets the same amazed response as watching Ohio State's marching band do this kinda stuff
I was a 4 year member of The Ohio State University Marching Band. A typical schedule for preparing a show in one week: Rehearsals run from 4:10-6:00pm, M-F. Music arrives to you a week ahead of time. Week of: Monday: challenges (last week’s non-marching alternates, 2 per row, challenge a member of his or her row for a spot in this week’s show), then music run-through and then out to the practice field to start blocking the first drill. Tuesday: Music then marching. Wednesday: Music then marching. Thursday: almost all marching Friday: music check (row leaders play the music from memory for the directors . Once cleared, row leaders scrutinize every member of their row to make sure everything is memorized. Then matching and music together for an intense rehearsal. Saturday: warmups, low volume play through of the show, making sure you’re hitting your marks. Then off to the Skull Session where the band plays for a packed house in the basketball arena. Short break follows, then line up to match to the stadium. Then we congregate by the ramp/tunnel to the field. Next up…pregame show!!
I swear up until a couple years ago, I went through life with the belief that every big college in the world had some form of marching band. Wasn't til I saw a reaction from a European on TBDBITL that I realized that this was pretty much an American thing 😅
They do 3 a day practices just like the football team does. And the tryout process both to make the band and then to secure a position on the field is BRUTAL. Military grade dankness.
Their game time routine is difficult too. They report to the band room by 6 am for a 12:10 pm football game. They practice outside for a couple of hours, then get ready for skull session (an hour show for parents and fans at St. John's Arena), then they march to the stadium and spend 3-4 hours performing on and off the field before many marching to their homes on or near campus.
I went to OSU for my masters and saw this in person! It was AMAZING!!! And to answer that question of “how much practice is this?”… it’s every single day practicing. I had friends in the marching band and it was literally their whole life… like their own fraternity!
It definitely is. My son and about 6-7 of his friends from High School all tried out and made the band. One of them played sax in high school and switched instruments before joining them during her junior year (and has been married to another band member for around 15 years). All of my son's friends from that time, plus the ones he made in his 5 years in the band are still tight almost 20 years later.
As a former collegiate band member, I’ll tell you how we do it….Hours & hours & hours & HOURS of practice until your fingers just play the next note & your body just moves to your next spot without really thinking about it. I’ve been out of high school for more than 2 decades & I still feel myself trying to move when I hear one of the songs we played my last year. It becomes ingrained.
Having received my Grad Music degrees MM & PhD) at the University of Michigan, in my mind, without a doubt, Michigan is “better than all the rest,” with one exception, the Ohio State University Marching Band is the Best Damn Band in the Land! There is no denying this truism of life! Go Blue!
Every year, at the University of Illinois, they have every high school band in the state on the field. Five thousand people, in every imaginable color. It is stunning. Then they play songs you can hear for miles.
One of my best friends played the coronet for the OSU marching band for 5 years - and he's 100% completely blind since childhood. He still plays for the alumni band. He said he had to time everything perfectly to stay in sync with everyone - while playing the music!
Go back a few years to their PREVIOUS director. Those routines were more elaborate. And watch the entrance of the drum major. He bends backwards until the plume on his hat touches the ground.
I'm an Ohio State University alum, and as I headed to class I'd walk by the band as they practiced outside Ohio Stadium. They worked harder than the football players.
Was in the marching band in high school. Honestly was so fun. One of the things I miss about school. The idea of learning formations and memorizing music can be intimidating but as you learn you know and associate each direction and spot with a specific measure of the music. We actually would have a game where the director would play a random measure of music and we would run to find our spots the fastest. The instrument section that lost would help pit/percussion bring all their instruments back to the band room.
Woohoo, another former high school marching band geek! 😁 I have a ton of great memories from my 4 years in marching band, from the seemingly mundane activity of learning the music and choreography routines during band camp (but sadly, with no aberrant American Pie flute activity at our band camp) to the great times we had during our trips to Disney World and Washington DC.
the only time i didnt enjoy it, was when they repaved the parking lot we practiced on. Imagine texas august afternoon heat on BLACK ASFALT. You're wearing sneakers and the band director is checking lines, so you have to stand still, they heat is burning you through your sneakers. and you can't even sit down, because you're in shorts, and then that heat would be directly burn your bare skin.
OSUMB is legendary. This show of theirs is good, but I think their "Hollywood Blockbusters" is the best. You should check it out. (4 of the 5 film pieces move across the field.)
That’s my alma mater! I love seeing these reaction videos from people around the world; it makes my heart warm. So proud of our OSU band ❤ thank you for your video and love 😊
There's a reason they're called "The BEST Damn'd Band In the Land"!! As an Ohioan, we are QUITE proud of this supremely over-the-top band. My HS band director was an OSU alumni and (as a high school) we learned to march "the OSU way": different show every home game (usually every week) and do it with pride. The basics: a) when you start from a yard line and are marching a straight line, every four beats you either hit in between (the 5 yards between the marked lines) or you hit a yard line. Period. Realize that the marks between the yard lines are at 2, 4, 6, and 8, so we have to hit between the 4 and 6 yard marks. We spent HOURS marching on blacktop that was painted with white lines to represent the playing field while our band director was in a tower with a megaphone "4 to 5...4 to 5...aw, COME ON, TRUMPETS! The flutes and clarinets are making you guys look like a bunch of sissies out there!!!" b) lift your legs 45* parallel to the ground! When we'd start training a few weeks before school started, one of the first things we did was learn to "march the boards." The boards was a set of 2"x4" boards wide enough for 8 people (two squads of 4) to march side-by-side and high enough to force you to lift your legs to the proper height. You couldn't just schluff it off; if you did, then you fell on your face! They were placed 22.5" apart, ensuring you learned how to march "4 steps to 5 yards" You couldn't get away with that today, because we had quite a few people fall on their face the first couple days of training. c) MAKE THOSE CAPES SNAP! When you change directions, it's called a flip. Left flip = 90* left turn, reverse flip = 180* turn, and a right flip was a 270* left spin/turn that ended up with you facing right of your previous direction. You NEVER, EVER simply turn to the right!! BUT, you have to "fake before you flip!", meaning you have to turn your upper torso to the opposite side of your flip, before you flip. A left flip is actually a fake to the right, followed by a snapped left turn. A right flip is a fake to the right, then the 270* spin. A reverse flip means you point your horn to the ground and then bring it up and over your head as you do that quick 180* spin. Done right, the physics of gravity will make your cape fly out, almost parallel to the ground. Back in the day, we had heavy wool and silk capes that would shimmer in the lights when done properly. Again, HOURS spent doing fakes and flips during a hot summer day!! d) memorize, memorize, memorize...your music first, and then where you're supposed to be at when the song is at THIS point. If you know your music, it's SO much easier to remember where on the field you're supposed to be. It also allows you to compensate when incidents happen (fallen marcher, dropped instrument, item thrown onto the field, etc.) Since we normally did a new show every week on Friday night, if you didn't know the four songs for this week's show by Tuesday's practice, it was a given that you were to stay over and learn it with your squad leader before you went home that afternoon. Sometimes, we didn't get home until 6pm! I will never forget my first show...so proud of my sharp flips...until a piece of my instrument flew off onto the field. As I started looking around in panic, my squad leader shouted "4 to 5! 4 to 5! Keep going, I got it!!" In one smooth motion, he scooped up the part and never missed a step! When you're on the field, you are completely aware of everything and concentration is total.
in America, this kind of marching bands start in high school (9-12). a lot of the band member go on to college and continue their marching band carrers. it takes commitment and tons and tons of practice !!!!!!!!!!!
I was in Marching band in high school starting in 9th grade. We went to band camp in July for two weeks. That was all we did was memorize our marks, music, and watch our drum major to stay on mark. 40+ years later I still have flashbacks when a detain song comes on because it was so hectic at times and I felt like we were just running around on the field but it actually looked good. So,e times I was just focused on marching and not playing. I played the flute and had to keep my arms up. The ones on the inside of a turn has it easy but the outside was hard because we had to take wider steps to make sure the lines were straight. BEST TIME OF MY LIFE.
Yup, American sports, where the most important thing isn't just the Gabe or the players. Also my favorite part of sports. I am definitely not a Buckeyes fan, but I have to say this is one of the best performances I've ever seen!!! Great tribute!
Best Damn Band in the land with the best damn fans in the land we take our Buckeye seriously even though it's a worthless nut it's Priceless to everyone that knows about Ohio State Buckeyes my children were born at the Horseshoe I went to college there it takes hundreds if not thousands of hours to get to this point these kids are the best in the land I'm telling you there is no one better but I was born in Tampa Florida lived most of my life in Ohio ran away from there in 88 and never went back only for visits peace be with you
This is a very good view. It's far enough away to see the whole band but close enough to see that the band members are playing their instruments and not crashing into each other as they do their formations. Some views are so far away that it takes the reactors awhile to realize that the band members are not just making formations, they are playing their instruments and keeping time and making formation. It takes a lot of mental and physical coordination to accomplish this.
I grew up participating in marching bands, and it is so wonderful to see them being appreciated by people who aren't a part of that culture! Thank you for highlighting the skills involved. Americans tend to take this for granted. I played, and marched, for all of junior high and high school and college. I also participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) on color guard (dancing with big flags for visual effect during the marching shows). So I can speak to some of your questions. HOW MUCH PRACTICE: It varies by school district, but in mine, we start learning to play musical instruments in grade 6 (age 11-12), and in grade 7 we begin learning marching. The marching itself starts in the summer, before the school year starts. We'd take a month off to relax and be on vacation, and then the other two months of summertime were for rehearsals. So in the hottest part of summer, there we were, from 8am till 5pm or 6pm, out in the bright sun on the middle school football field, every weekday. Sometimes there would be extra practice after dinnertime as well. During the school year, you'd spend the hour of class time working on the music, and then one to four hours after school learning the marching and combining it with playing. It had to be that way because every single week we would learn a whole new show. Learn the music during class time, learn the marching after school, all week long, then perform it that Friday night at halftime during the football game. We had new songs, new dances from the dance team and color guard and "majorettes" (baton twirlers), new formations. Everything brand new. Each show had a theme. We did top 40 radio hits, classical music, oldies (music that was popular 20+ years before that time), and of course marches (anything by John Phillip Sousa, and anything of that genre). If you enjoyed this enough to want more, I highly recommend looking up DCI or Drum Corps International competition finales. When you watch, keep in mind that they only allow people to march from the ages of 14-18. They are all *kids*. And they're amazing.
They probably had a week maybe two, to get this routine down. I know for high school all routines are learned within 1 week. As some one mentioned below these are learned using a grid chart that marks out each position for each member. And since everyone HAS to be in step with the other, there is little chance of bumping into someone. But minor adjustments are made to make sure accidents don't happen. But I'm more impressed with the diagonals. Those are the hardest to pull off.
Band mom here, from my experience with high school marching bands so much of the success come from the relationship between the director and the students.
Hey Matthew, marching bands are very prevalent in American high schools and colleges and some of them really impressive world-class organizations in terms of music, production and choreography. Ohio State definitely has one of the elite bands. I was in the rhythm section of the high school marching band in my hometown of Danvers, Massachusetts for all 4 years and I have a lot of great memories from that time. My high school has a tradition of having a great marching band, with a history of consistent community support and dedicated, talented band directors. The size of the band has fluctuated over the years, but during my time there were about 140 kids involved, including musicians and the girls in the rifle/baton/flag "color guard". We not only had one of the largest high school marching bands north of Boston, but the whole band also did very intricate choreography similar to what you just watched, but not as crazy complicated. We had a week long band camp every summer during which we would learn the choreography and music, along with integrating those two things into a performance. It was somewhat similar to the band camp shown in the American Pie comedy movies, but we didn't stay overnight and as far as I remember, there were no stories of horny redheads doing questionable carnal activities with their flutes! (although, there were a couple cute girls that I wish had similar experiences...) 😆 If you liked the Ohio State performance, I would recommend checking out a video of one of the DCI (Drum Corps International) competitions. Some of drum and bugle corps bands in the competition are impressive pro-level organizations with incredible musicianship and intricate productions and choreography.
The only thing better is being there in person. I've been lucky to have been at games and see them perform live. It's a thrill like no other and the crowd cheers as loud for the band as they do the football team. Every week a new routine every week an outstanding performance. You should check out the video of Tom Cruise reaching out to them after they performed a Top Gun tribute It's awesome. Sorry one more thing have to watch them perform Script Ohio, will blow your mind.
I agree that hearing them live, especially from the lower deck near the 50 yard line is mind blowing. These recordings don’t capture the true power of this all brass marching band. Nothing against woodwinds, but on a football field, brass instruments rock.
Thank you for recognizing the exceptional performances and preparation by the Best Damn Band in the Land!! I am an OSU Buckeye and you just earned a subscribe Matthew!! Thank you! We were all equally impressed by this performance but nothing shocks us anymore. They are on another level! Our Director is a perfectionist and it is EXTREMELY difficult to get the honor of playing in this band. Thank you.
This really takes me back. I grew up in Ohio, and they always had one of the best marching band shows in the country. They are always coming up with more shows.
I grew up watching Grambling College halftime shows when they played on the TV (and they used to actually televise the halftime shows) and some of those were incredible! I have to say that this was pretty impressive too. One of my favorite big choreographed music videos from the modern era is OK Go's "I Won't Let You Down". Just amazing. 😀
It is pretty crazy what they can do. Americans take their football (American Football) serious and half time performances are huge. Ohio State is AMAZING!!! I'm from Wisconsin and I gotta say that these guys are just yeah Wow! Check out the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and their performances. UW Madison isn't known for its band. We are known for Jump Around. I think that is amazing and fun. So yeah props to Ohio State for their AMAZING band!!!
The High School I went to was one where Ohio State recruited marching bands from. My late marching band director had a float in the Tournament of Roses parade, he was so badass. I miss marching in my Marching Band
It's not just the band members. It is the vision of the person who plotted the moves. I remember marching like this in high school. Never saw the vision, but hit my marks. Turning corners for parades was fun too.
It's so great to see someone appreciate marching band performances because they're not easy. It's a lot of time and practicing even on your own personal time, not just in school. You're having to memorize the music as well as know how many steps it'll take to the next formation and where you need to be while playing the same time. You have to be clean and precise otherwise it screws the whole line. And that was just what I did in high school. College is on a whole other level. Even more is the armed forces marching bands. It's fun though and working with your fellow bandmates, it's a great experience and I'm a proud band geek. 😎👍
My friend has had season tickets to OSU's game since the '80s. The fans here are dedicated to their football team and marching band. Thanks for spotlighting them!
my oldest son was in marching band for about 3-4 years during middle and half of his high school years. he played the trombone and said it would have been more fun if it wasn't so difficult to keep the posture. i was also in marching band in high school, but we never went anywhere and only dressed up in uniform for a concert or for a homecoming parade, never any games.
my son had to also get up an hour earlier every morning in order to practice before school, which in the winter sucked because they don't let you wear warm clothes. he said if it wasn't for that and the posture, he'd have kept going because he enjoyed it.
At the time that I attend OSU, the band was a scholarship organization and the members lived in a dorm in the stadium. We had football seats at ground level near where the band entered and you could see the intensity and maybe fear on their faces as they marched in.
I was in band throughout High School and college. When I was in college Marching Band we rehearsed about 20-25 hours per week. Prior to he semester a full week of Band Camp. We'd do four to six hours per day in band camp, two-a-day sessions. Your legs and feet would cramp up between sessions.
My daughter was in her high school marching band and also did routines. None as good as Ohio State University, though. I do believe they are the best. My daughter and I have watched so many of their videos. My all time favorite one was when they did a tribute to video games. You should check it out when you get a chance, reaction or not. ❤
I was a member of the "Pride of the Gold Coast from the Gem of the Gold Coast, the Pompano Beach Golden Tornados Marching Band." We loved our director, God Bless his soul! Bernie Schwitzer was the best! Being in marching band took a certain mind set! If you didn't have it you didn't need to be there!
Marching band was so much fun in high school. We were state champions as often as rules would allow us. My college didn't have much of a band so I skipped out on it at that time. I really do miss it. hard work but I gave up football so I could have the field at the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the Hollywood Christmas parade, and the Honolulu Christmas parade. Hawaii was a good senior trip.
I live about a 2 hr drive from Ohio State University. These kids work really hard to accomplish these half time shows. They're the best! Keep showing more, plz!
The music is memorized too. They do not carry charts. And as someone else said, they do another show each week. You should check out their pregame called the Ramp Entrance and then Script Ohio (Their trademark) if you want to see precision marching,
Just came across this video. I had a daughter in the band in 1998. Now she is a teacher in upstate Michigan. (go figure ) and a step daughter that went there as well now a music teacher in the Toledo school system. Learning those routines took a very long time and many, many hours of practice. Starting in the summer before the season.
I don't know what I miss more the proud feeling of nailing a marching performance in front of massive crowds or the girls from the tigerettes dance squad lol
We (I was born and raised on main campus and forever will be a Buckeye) are considered TBDBITL! And for those that don't know, that is The Best Da mn Band In The Land! Go Buckeyes!
I played in Marching band at Illinois State University. It was hours and hours of practice, and a new show each home game, and sometimes an away game for a major rival. It was hard work, but a lot of fun as well.
I was in marching band in high school. We practiced early mornings before school, after school, and on Saturday mornings from about 6/7am to noon. Of course our movements and designs weren’t as intricate, but it was a lot of work. We had to memorize the music first so that we wouldn’t have to worry about that when learning the marching part. We had maps and we would place poker chips in the spots we were supposed to hit. We’d practice 3-5 steps over and over until we no longer needed the maps and poker chips, then we’d learn 3-5 more steps and add it to the previous steps. Kept doing this over and over until we knew all the steps and designs. Then we’d practice on the field during halftime shows. Loved it!
In US schools kids begin selecting instruments typically by age 10. Age 11 they enter Junior High band and begin learning both instrument and marching. Age 15 they begin performing at HS game halftimes. Practice involves a daily class, often after school, Saturday practice or competitions, and at least a couple of weeks to a full month of practice in the summer holidays. The summer practice sessions can be 3 to 6 hrs in a day depending on how many days per week the band camp is. So by age 18 when they reach college they are already prepared to just show up and immediately begin to learn formations and songs. - A US secondary public school teacher
I lived in Florida when i was in highschool marching band and practicing in that heat was no joke. Practice was a serious cardio workout. Went from 3rd chair to 1st chair in a year.
This reminds me of high school marching band competitions... fond memories. I didn't realize this was just an American thing, though. A shame - as someone who was never into sports, marching band performances are still my favorite part of a game.
I used to do this in high school and would travel to competitions with our band where all it would be is marching bands doing drills to the songs we would perform. That’s what the routines are called: drills, so we would not only have to learn the song, but each squad (usually 4-5 people) would have to learn their own routines to create a these formations. It’s a combination of marking time (marching in place), forward marching, flanks, and stack-ups. It obviously takes every squad nailing their parts as well as making sure to coordinate with the other squads to make it a cohesive routine that is tight and entertains the crowd. It’s some of the most challenging performing I’ve ever done, but so much fun. Our drills were created by members of the staff of the University of Illinois Marching Illini. Big Ten marching bands (including the Ohio State University band and the Marching Illini of the University of Illinois) are the BEST in the nation! No doubt about that!
Not only do college bands provide this entertainment during halftime at football games but so do high school bands!
And then there’s DCI…
I was in a high school marching band but this made anything we did look so rudimentary.
A previous OSU band conductor coached our band. He retired from OSU and went to WGH high school in Warren Ohio.
I live in Ohio and the marching band is indeed excellent
Back in highschool I was a Sousaphone player and one of our two best players was a fourin exchange student from japan and man in those winds she kicked ass.
The craziest part of it all is that OSU does a completely different halftime show every week so they learn all their music and drill in one week
Maybe they learn them in the summer or something
@Sonprier Summer is the Football / Marching Band season; as someone in a marching band myself. We can't learn it in the summer due to people having vacations and other events. At most we do a dedicated 2 weeks where we go in every day for 12 hours for rehearsal and practice. That's once every summer.
And Ohio State never uses the printed music during their performance . Each show is memorized in one week
I went to a small college in WV and, yes, we had to memorize a new routine each week. It's common in colleges and universities. Our band director listened to the top 40 hits for that week, wrote the parts for each instrument for the songs he liked most, and we memorized them all. Third song always had a drum solo/ dance break.
But when do they actually, you know, go to classes and stuff? Wouldn't all this insane drilling hurt their academic performance?
To give a little insight to into U.S. marching bands, they use things called charts which are images of each movement. Each band member knows exactly where they’re supposed to move on the field and when. It’s super complex. High school marching bands do this too, but it’s generally less complicated.
OSU band members practice 20-30 hours a week, on top of their school load and any jobs.
My high school band director was an OSU grad then worked with the band after graduation before taking over the MHS band. I really hated being in marching band, well being in the band period, but I wanted to be like my big sister so I was in marching band. Dang if my our band director didn't apply all the rules and practices like OSU did! Because marching band didn't play outside over the winter (very northern ohio here) so we practiced our music inside for whatever we might be coming up on, concerts you had better know what to play and how because a couple weeks before anything we lost our music but after each concert or whatever, we started practice for summer events but as soon as we could play outside without freezing our butts off, we were there running lines and learning to turn and move as crisp and clean as OSU. We had to audition to be in regular band but to be in marching band was a whole other story. Mr. Price was so loved even with all the craziness he put each band thru and it's been so bad to see how badly the band has sunk under new directors each year.
@Nicky L I don't know how it is with other colleges but I do know how my college (BGSU) and at OSU participation in outside activities are closely monitored and if a student's grades drop - at BGSU they can show daily your grades in individual classes - but if there's a drop in grades/GPA outside things are suspended until grades are back up. It's something my mom would do with my siblings and I so I'm familiar with it. My sister-in-law went to OSU as well as friends that have gone there and I know that they're really firm on this.
@Nicky L Not at all sure what you're basing that on. Also not sure how you're not seeing the learning involved in this, unless you don't think music, group co-ordination and management, etc. are skills applicable to the "wider world".
I'm sure we can agree that *sub*-college US education could use a lot more support (as could expanding access to post-secondary programs), but that's not exactly a unique problem, is it?
Not to mention memorizing the music, and making sure you get to your mark on time while playing said music on a 5-20 pound instrument that you have to carry and blow in. I was in high school marching band. I don't know why this appeared on my feed, but it brought back some fond memories!
true we never even tried anything this complex
The Ohio State marching band absolutely ROCKS. They never fail to deliver.
I'm from Ohio been to plenty of Ohio State Games the Buckeyes are 👏 OSU go BuCKs!!!
@@candy-gn9mf O-H!
@@fiercetaurian7318 I-0
I've watched so many Europeans reacting to NFL or College (American) Football, but almost nothing gets the same amazed response as watching Ohio State's marching band do this kinda stuff
With the possible exception of the apparently impossible precision drills from Texas A&M University (the Fighting Aggies).
Former Ohio State Head Football Coach Woody Hays called them "The Best Damn Band in the Land".
And he wasn’t wrong!
He sure tf wasn't lol O-H-I-O
And he'd punch anyone who disagreed.
@@mitchyoung93 I’d hold their arms!
Us Buckeyes still call them that 💓💓 O-H...!
I was a 4 year member of The Ohio State University Marching Band. A typical schedule for preparing a show in one week:
Rehearsals run from 4:10-6:00pm, M-F.
Music arrives to you a week ahead of time.
Week of:
Monday: challenges (last week’s non-marching alternates, 2 per row, challenge a member of his or her row for a spot in this week’s show), then music run-through and then out to the practice field to start blocking the first drill.
Tuesday: Music then marching.
Wednesday: Music then marching.
Thursday: almost all marching
Friday: music check (row leaders play the music from memory for the directors . Once cleared, row leaders scrutinize every member of their row to make sure everything is memorized. Then matching and music together for an intense rehearsal.
Saturday: warmups, low volume play through of the show, making sure you’re hitting your marks. Then off to the Skull Session where the band plays for a packed house in the basketball arena. Short break follows, then line up to match to the stadium. Then we congregate by the ramp/tunnel to the field. Next up…pregame show!!
Have to say, it never occurred to me that anyone outside the US has never seen a marching band before. Great reaction video!
I swear up until a couple years ago, I went through life with the belief that every big college in the world had some form of marching band. Wasn't til I saw a reaction from a European on TBDBITL that I realized that this was pretty much an American thing 😅
It's nice that you recognized the Drum Major -the guy doing tricks with the baton twirling.
I feel like Ohio State's marching band requires as much if not more practice than any sports team. You should check out their Disney tribute
Agreed their Disney tribute is even better.
They do 3 a day practices just like the football team does. And the tryout process both to make the band and then to secure a position on the field is BRUTAL. Military grade dankness.
They practice their butts off.
Easily if not more
Their game time routine is difficult too. They report to the band room by 6 am for a 12:10 pm football game. They practice outside for a couple of hours, then get ready for skull session (an hour show for parents and fans at St. John's Arena), then they march to the stadium and spend 3-4 hours performing on and off the field before many marching to their homes on or near campus.
I went to OSU for my masters and saw this in person! It was AMAZING!!!
And to answer that question of “how much practice is this?”… it’s every single day practicing. I had friends in the marching band and it was literally their whole life… like their own fraternity!
It definitely is. My son and about 6-7 of his friends from High School all tried out and made the band. One of them played sax in high school and switched instruments before joining them during her junior year (and has been married to another band member for around 15 years). All of my son's friends from that time, plus the ones he made in his 5 years in the band are still tight almost 20 years later.
Yes sir. Ohio state is a BEAST on the field. They always have mind blowing field shows.
I am from Ohio, and yes, the Ohio State Marching Band is amazing!!!!
Love our Ohio
O H !
This video just came up in my recommended. Your excitement, pure joy and admiration for this marching band is so sweet and wholesome.
I love how we blow sports fans from around the world away with our bands. OSU rocks❤
Mad respect to your band. My alum is a PAC-12 school and none of the bands are anywhere close to this phenomenal.
As a former collegiate band member, I’ll tell you how we do it….Hours & hours & hours & HOURS of practice until your fingers just play the next note & your body just moves to your next spot without really thinking about it. I’ve been out of high school for more than 2 decades & I still feel myself trying to move when I hear one of the songs we played my last year. It becomes ingrained.
It’s been 15 years and I still think I could at least march my Freshman year show.
Having received my Grad Music degrees MM & PhD) at the University of Michigan, in my mind, without a doubt, Michigan is “better than all the rest,” with one exception, the Ohio State University Marching Band is the Best Damn Band in the Land! There is no denying this truism of life! Go Blue!
Go green go white!!! Hahaha.
As an OSU Buckeye, I appreciate that comment. Respect to you, sir.
This marching band is well known for these very complicated routines.
They are also known as "The Best Damn Band in the Land".
Every year, at the University of Illinois, they have every high school band in the state on the field. Five thousand people, in every imaginable color. It is stunning. Then they play songs you can hear for miles.
One of my best friends played the coronet for the OSU marching band for 5 years - and he's 100% completely blind since childhood. He still plays for the alumni band. He said he had to time everything perfectly to stay in sync with everyone - while playing the music!
I was a marching band kid in high school. Best days of my life! Intense practice makes your band mates your family. It's wonderful.
Being there and seeing it live is amazing. So proud to be from Columbus and go to OSU. I love when someone see it for the first time
Go back a few years to their PREVIOUS director. Those routines were more elaborate. And watch the entrance of the drum major. He bends backwards until the plume on his hat touches the ground.
I'm an Ohio State University alum, and as I headed to class I'd walk by the band as they practiced outside Ohio Stadium. They worked harder than the football players.
Was in the marching band in high school.
Honestly was so fun. One of the things I miss about school.
The idea of learning formations and memorizing music can be intimidating but as you learn you know and associate each direction and spot with a specific measure of the music.
We actually would have a game where the director would play a random measure of music and we would run to find our spots the fastest. The instrument section that lost would help pit/percussion bring all their instruments back to the band room.
Woohoo, another former high school marching band geek! 😁 I have a ton of great memories from my 4 years in marching band, from the seemingly mundane activity of learning the music and choreography routines during band camp (but sadly, with no aberrant American Pie flute activity at our band camp) to the great times we had during our trips to Disney World and Washington DC.
the only time i didnt enjoy it, was when they repaved the parking lot we practiced on. Imagine texas august afternoon heat on BLACK ASFALT. You're wearing sneakers and the band director is checking lines, so you have to stand still, they heat is burning you through your sneakers. and you can't even sit down, because you're in shorts, and then that heat would be directly burn your bare skin.
They are 1 of the best bands you will see.
OSUMB is legendary.
This show of theirs is good, but I think their "Hollywood Blockbusters" is the best.
You should check it out.
(4 of the 5 film pieces move across the field.)
That’s my alma mater! I love seeing these reaction videos from people around the world; it makes my heart warm. So proud of our OSU band ❤ thank you for your video and love 😊
I was in the marching band in high school. We had trouble just walking in a single straight line.
lol
There's a reason they're called "The BEST Damn'd Band In the Land"!! As an Ohioan, we are QUITE proud of this supremely over-the-top band. My HS band director was an OSU alumni and (as a high school) we learned to march "the OSU way": different show every home game (usually every week) and do it with pride.
The basics:
a) when you start from a yard line and are marching a straight line, every four beats you either hit in between (the 5 yards between the marked lines) or you hit a yard line. Period. Realize that the marks between the yard lines are at 2, 4, 6, and 8, so we have to hit between the 4 and 6 yard marks. We spent HOURS marching on blacktop that was painted with white lines to represent the playing field while our band director was in a tower with a megaphone "4 to 5...4 to 5...aw, COME ON, TRUMPETS! The flutes and clarinets are making you guys look like a bunch of sissies out there!!!"
b) lift your legs 45* parallel to the ground! When we'd start training a few weeks before school started, one of the first things we did was learn to "march the boards." The boards was a set of 2"x4" boards wide enough for 8 people (two squads of 4) to march side-by-side and high enough to force you to lift your legs to the proper height. You couldn't just schluff it off; if you did, then you fell on your face! They were placed 22.5" apart, ensuring you learned how to march "4 steps to 5 yards" You couldn't get away with that today, because we had quite a few people fall on their face the first couple days of training.
c) MAKE THOSE CAPES SNAP! When you change directions, it's called a flip. Left flip = 90* left turn, reverse flip = 180* turn, and a right flip was a 270* left spin/turn that ended up with you facing right of your previous direction. You NEVER, EVER simply turn to the right!! BUT, you have to "fake before you flip!", meaning you have to turn your upper torso to the opposite side of your flip, before you flip. A left flip is actually a fake to the right, followed by a snapped left turn. A right flip is a fake to the right, then the 270* spin. A reverse flip means you point your horn to the ground and then bring it up and over your head as you do that quick 180* spin. Done right, the physics of gravity will make your cape fly out, almost parallel to the ground. Back in the day, we had heavy wool and silk capes that would shimmer in the lights when done properly. Again, HOURS spent doing fakes and flips during a hot summer day!!
d) memorize, memorize, memorize...your music first, and then where you're supposed to be at when the song is at THIS point. If you know your music, it's SO much easier to remember where on the field you're supposed to be. It also allows you to compensate when incidents happen (fallen marcher, dropped instrument, item thrown onto the field, etc.) Since we normally did a new show every week on Friday night, if you didn't know the four songs for this week's show by Tuesday's practice, it was a given that you were to stay over and learn it with your squad leader before you went home that afternoon. Sometimes, we didn't get home until 6pm!
I will never forget my first show...so proud of my sharp flips...until a piece of my instrument flew off onto the field. As I started looking around in panic, my squad leader shouted "4 to 5! 4 to 5! Keep going, I got it!!" In one smooth motion, he scooped up the part and never missed a step! When you're on the field, you are completely aware of everything and concentration is total.
And this is why they are known as The Best Damn Band In The Land!
in America, this kind of marching bands start in high school (9-12). a lot of the band member go on to college and continue their marching band carrers. it takes commitment and tons and tons of practice !!!!!!!!!!!
I was in Marching band in high school starting in 9th grade. We went to band camp in July for two weeks. That was all we did was memorize our marks, music, and watch our drum major to stay on mark. 40+ years later I still have flashbacks when a detain song comes on because it was so hectic at times and I felt like we were just running around on the field but it actually looked good. So,e times I was just focused on marching and not playing. I played the flute and had to keep my arms up. The ones on the inside of a turn has it easy but the outside was hard because we had to take wider steps to make sure the lines were straight. BEST TIME OF MY LIFE.
It looks like you're still focused on marching and not on typing😋😋im just being goofy
Yup, American sports, where the most important thing isn't just the Gabe or the players. Also my favorite part of sports. I am definitely not a Buckeyes fan, but I have to say this is one of the best performances I've ever seen!!! Great tribute!
As an Ohioan, we are very proud of OSU Band..
This is why they are the worlds best!
Best Damn Band in the land with the best damn fans in the land we take our Buckeye seriously even though it's a worthless nut it's Priceless to everyone that knows about Ohio State Buckeyes my children were born at the Horseshoe I went to college there it takes hundreds if not thousands of hours to get to this point these kids are the best in the land I'm telling you there is no one better but I was born in Tampa Florida lived most of my life in Ohio ran away from there in 88 and never went back only for visits peace be with you
I sincerely hope they were not born in the stadium.
Born and bred Ohioan, full band scholarship is one of the hardest! ❤
This is a very good view. It's far enough away to see the whole band but close enough to see that the band members are playing their instruments and not crashing into each other as they do their formations. Some views are so far away that it takes the reactors awhile to realize that the band members are not just making formations, they are playing their instruments and keeping time and making formation. It takes a lot of mental and physical coordination to accomplish this.
I grew up participating in marching bands, and it is so wonderful to see them being appreciated by people who aren't a part of that culture! Thank you for highlighting the skills involved. Americans tend to take this for granted.
I played, and marched, for all of junior high and high school and college. I also participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) on color guard (dancing with big flags for visual effect during the marching shows). So I can speak to some of your questions.
HOW MUCH PRACTICE: It varies by school district, but in mine, we start learning to play musical instruments in grade 6 (age 11-12), and in grade 7 we begin learning marching. The marching itself starts in the summer, before the school year starts. We'd take a month off to relax and be on vacation, and then the other two months of summertime were for rehearsals. So in the hottest part of summer, there we were, from 8am till 5pm or 6pm, out in the bright sun on the middle school football field, every weekday. Sometimes there would be extra practice after dinnertime as well. During the school year, you'd spend the hour of class time working on the music, and then one to four hours after school learning the marching and combining it with playing.
It had to be that way because every single week we would learn a whole new show. Learn the music during class time, learn the marching after school, all week long, then perform it that Friday night at halftime during the football game. We had new songs, new dances from the dance team and color guard and "majorettes" (baton twirlers), new formations. Everything brand new. Each show had a theme. We did top 40 radio hits, classical music, oldies (music that was popular 20+ years before that time), and of course marches (anything by John Phillip Sousa, and anything of that genre).
If you enjoyed this enough to want more, I highly recommend looking up DCI or Drum Corps International competition finales. When you watch, keep in mind that they only allow people to march from the ages of 14-18. They are all *kids*. And they're amazing.
Hello from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA!! Can't wait to see what you think of OSU's marching band!!
They probably had a week maybe two, to get this routine down. I know for high school all routines are learned within 1 week. As some one mentioned below these are learned using a grid chart that marks out each position for each member. And since everyone HAS to be in step with the other, there is little chance of bumping into someone. But minor adjustments are made to make sure accidents don't happen. But I'm more impressed with the diagonals. Those are the hardest to pull off.
Ohio St. is probably one of the best bands in the land. Try their Hollywood blockbuster halftime show…it’s wonderful.
That's why they're called TBDBITL
Band mom here, from my experience with high school marching bands so much of the success come from the relationship between the director and the students.
Hey Matthew, marching bands are very prevalent in American high schools and colleges and some of them really impressive world-class organizations in terms of music, production and choreography. Ohio State definitely has one of the elite bands. I was in the rhythm section of the high school marching band in my hometown of Danvers, Massachusetts for all 4 years and I have a lot of great memories from that time. My high school has a tradition of having a great marching band, with a history of consistent community support and dedicated, talented band directors. The size of the band has fluctuated over the years, but during my time there were about 140 kids involved, including musicians and the girls in the rifle/baton/flag "color guard". We not only had one of the largest high school marching bands north of Boston, but the whole band also did very intricate choreography similar to what you just watched, but not as crazy complicated. We had a week long band camp every summer during which we would learn the choreography and music, along with integrating those two things into a performance. It was somewhat similar to the band camp shown in the American Pie comedy movies, but we didn't stay overnight and as far as I remember, there were no stories of horny redheads doing questionable carnal activities with their flutes! (although, there were a couple cute girls that I wish had similar experiences...) 😆 If you liked the Ohio State performance, I would recommend checking out a video of one of the DCI (Drum Corps International) competitions. Some of drum and bugle corps bands in the competition are impressive pro-level organizations with incredible musicianship and intricate productions and choreography.
This had me jumping up and cheering in my front room !!!!!! FANTASTIC !!!!!
Awww. Love that they are getting love across the pond. They don’t get nearly the credit they deserve.
The only thing better is being there in person. I've been lucky to have been at games and see them perform live. It's a thrill like no other and the crowd cheers as loud for the band as they do the football team. Every week a new routine every week an outstanding performance. You should check out the video of Tom Cruise reaching out to them after they performed a Top Gun tribute It's awesome. Sorry one more thing have to watch them perform Script Ohio, will blow your mind.
Their Rush tribute last year ROCKED!
I agree that hearing them live, especially from the lower deck near the 50 yard line is mind blowing. These recordings don’t capture the true power of this all brass marching band. Nothing against woodwinds, but on a football field, brass instruments rock.
This made me cry so hard I used to be in band when I was in high school and Junior High School.
Thank you for recognizing the exceptional performances and preparation by the Best Damn Band in the Land!! I am an OSU Buckeye and you just earned a subscribe Matthew!! Thank you! We were all equally impressed by this performance but nothing shocks us anymore. They are on another level! Our Director is a perfectionist and it is EXTREMELY difficult to get the honor of playing in this band. Thank you.
This really takes me back. I grew up in Ohio, and they always had one of the best marching band shows in the country. They are always coming up with more shows.
I grew up watching Grambling College halftime shows when they played on the TV (and they used to actually televise the halftime shows) and some of those were incredible! I have to say that this was pretty impressive too.
One of my favorite big choreographed music videos from the modern era is OK Go's "I Won't Let You Down". Just amazing. 😀
30 hours a week practice..dedication to perfection
I am not an Ohio fan, however I think thier band is one of the best out there.
It is pretty crazy what they can do. Americans take their football (American Football) serious and half time performances are huge. Ohio State is AMAZING!!! I'm from Wisconsin and I gotta say that these guys are just yeah Wow! Check out the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and their performances. UW Madison isn't known for its band. We are known for Jump Around. I think that is amazing and fun. So yeah props to Ohio State for their AMAZING band!!!
Da picked up der ball wit der hands.
The High School I went to was one where Ohio State recruited marching bands from. My late marching band director had a float in the Tournament of Roses parade, he was so badass. I miss marching in my Marching Band
It's not just the band members. It is the vision of the person who plotted the moves. I remember marching like this in high school. Never saw the vision, but hit my marks. Turning corners for parades was fun too.
this was beautiful… i enjoyed your reaction so much.
just imagine being Michael and feeling all that love, for all that he was, he was great.
Also known as The Best Damn Band In The Land! With Script Ohio.. no one else does this!!!
It's so great to see someone appreciate marching band performances because they're not easy. It's a lot of time and practicing even on your own personal time, not just in school. You're having to memorize the music as well as know how many steps it'll take to the next formation and where you need to be while playing the same time. You have to be clean and precise otherwise it screws the whole line. And that was just what I did in high school. College is on a whole other level. Even more is the armed forces marching bands. It's fun though and working with your fellow bandmates, it's a great experience and I'm a proud band geek. 😎👍
Thank you. We love our Ohio State
Dude, the highschool near me has a great marching band and they start practice at 6am every morning before school!!!! The dedication is unbelievable!
Check out the Ohio State Band's tribute to Hollywood Blockbusters!
It's no accident they call themselves "The Best Damn Band in the Land".
My friend has had season tickets to OSU's game since the '80s. The fans here are dedicated to their football team and marching band. Thanks for spotlighting them!
my oldest son was in marching band for about 3-4 years during middle and half of his high school years. he played the trombone and said it would have been more fun if it wasn't so difficult to keep the posture. i was also in marching band in high school, but we never went anywhere and only dressed up in uniform for a concert or for a homecoming parade, never any games.
my son had to also get up an hour earlier every morning in order to practice before school, which in the winter sucked because they don't let you wear warm clothes. he said if it wasn't for that and the posture, he'd have kept going because he enjoyed it.
If you haven't, check out their Script Ohio. It is truly something to see.
You will never be disappointed watching The OSU Marching Band perform! Keep watching!
I love watching people who have never seen this type of thing freaking out over it. It's refreshing.
I was Born at OSU Hospital.1957.Legend say Woody Hayes would stop by the Maternity ward to look over the New Born's..
TBDBITL and Script Ohio FTW.
TBDBITL puts together a performance each week during football season. Their Script Ohio is also amazing.
They're a machine... Each part has it's job and only it's job and works cohesively with the rest. You focus only on YOUR playing and YOUR steps.
At the time that I attend OSU, the band was a scholarship organization and the members lived in a dorm in the stadium. We had football seats at ground level near where the band entered and you could see the intensity and maybe fear on their faces as they marched in.
Really? That is odd, but an impressive commitment to the band.
That's why we call them
THE BEST DAMN BAND IN THE LAND
TBDBITL
GO BUCKS !!
I was in band throughout High School and college. When I was in college Marching Band we rehearsed about 20-25 hours per week. Prior to he semester a full week of Band Camp. We'd do four to six hours per day in band camp, two-a-day sessions. Your legs and feet would cramp up between sessions.
My daughter was in her high school marching band and also did routines. None as good as Ohio State University, though. I do believe they are the best. My daughter and I have watched so many of their videos. My all time favorite one was when they did a tribute to video games. You should check it out when you get a chance, reaction or not. ❤
I was a member of the "Pride of the Gold Coast from the Gem of the Gold Coast, the Pompano Beach Golden Tornados Marching Band." We loved our director, God Bless his soul! Bernie Schwitzer was the best! Being in marching band took a certain mind set! If you didn't have it you didn't need to be there!
I was a college cheerleader. Looking at what the bands and cheerleaders do, now, is INSANE!!! Nothing like it!!!
Marching band was so much fun in high school. We were state champions as often as rules would allow us. My college didn't have much of a band so I skipped out on it at that time. I really do miss it. hard work but I gave up football so I could have the field at the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the Hollywood Christmas parade, and the Honolulu Christmas parade. Hawaii was a good senior trip.
I live about a 2 hr drive from Ohio State University. These kids work really hard to accomplish these half time shows. They're the best! Keep showing more, plz!
And its a different set of routines every week. Truly amazing.
The music is memorized too. They do not carry charts. And as someone else said, they do another show each week. You should check out their pregame called the Ramp Entrance and then Script Ohio (Their trademark) if you want to see precision marching,
This why they are the best dam band in the land......
Just came across this video. I had a daughter in the band in 1998. Now she is a teacher in upstate Michigan. (go figure ) and a step daughter that went there as well now a music teacher in the Toledo school system. Learning those routines took a very long time and many, many hours of practice. Starting in the summer before the season.
I don't know what I miss more the proud feeling of nailing a marching performance in front of massive crowds or the girls from the tigerettes dance squad lol
We (I was born and raised on main campus and forever will be a Buckeye) are considered TBDBITL! And for those that don't know, that is The Best Da mn Band In The Land! Go Buckeyes!
I played in Marching band at Illinois State University. It was hours and hours of practice, and a new show each home game, and sometimes an away game for a major rival. It was hard work, but a lot of fun as well.
I live in Ohio and they are called the "best damn band in the land"
I was in marching band in high school. We practiced early mornings before school, after school, and on Saturday mornings from about 6/7am to noon. Of course our movements and designs weren’t as intricate, but it was a lot of work. We had to memorize the music first so that we wouldn’t have to worry about that when learning the marching part. We had maps and we would place poker chips in the spots we were supposed to hit. We’d practice 3-5 steps over and over until we no longer needed the maps and poker chips, then we’d learn 3-5 more steps and add it to the previous steps. Kept doing this over and over until we knew all the steps and designs. Then we’d practice on the field during halftime shows. Loved it!
In US schools kids begin selecting instruments typically by age 10. Age 11 they enter Junior High band and begin learning both instrument and marching. Age 15 they begin performing at HS game halftimes. Practice involves a daily class, often after school, Saturday practice or competitions, and at least a couple of weeks to a full month of practice in the summer holidays. The summer practice sessions can be 3 to 6 hrs in a day depending on how many days per week the band camp is. So by age 18 when they reach college they are already prepared to just show up and immediately begin to learn formations and songs. - A US secondary public school teacher
I lived in Florida when i was in highschool marching band and practicing in that heat was no joke. Practice was a serious cardio workout. Went from 3rd chair to 1st chair in a year.
This reminds me of high school marching band competitions... fond memories.
I didn't realize this was just an American thing, though. A shame - as someone who was never into sports, marching band performances are still my favorite part of a game.
Ohio state the best dam band in the land!
To really appreciate the formation, fast forward & you can see the the moon walk & splits! Awesome!
I used to do this in high school and would travel to competitions with our band where all it would be is marching bands doing drills to the songs we would perform.
That’s what the routines are called: drills, so we would not only have to learn the song, but each squad (usually 4-5 people) would have to learn their own routines to create a these formations. It’s a combination of marking time (marching in place), forward marching, flanks, and stack-ups. It obviously takes every squad nailing their parts as well as making sure to coordinate with the other squads to make it a cohesive routine that is tight and entertains the crowd.
It’s some of the most challenging performing I’ve ever done, but so much fun.
Our drills were created by members of the staff of the University of Illinois Marching Illini.
Big Ten marching bands (including the Ohio State University band and the Marching Illini of the University of Illinois) are the BEST in the nation! No doubt about that!