This band does not repeat their halftime performances. Each week it is a completely new show. During football season, they can practice up to 40 hours a week.
@@jws1948ja No pay. They pay to attend Texas A&M a pretty penny. Plus besides their military training and band practice (up to 40 hrs. Weekly they must attend college classes and keep a certain grade point average.
I've seen a couple of these reaction videos. One thing that is missed is the amount and excitement and participation from the stands. Aggie fans love their Texas Aggie Fighting Band. In other stadiums, the crowd disappears during the half time show. Not so at Kyle Field.
This is a military band. Corp of cadets when they graduated are part of the the various branches of the US military. Gig’em. The National Famous Fighting Texas Aggie Band.
I'm not a graduate of Texas A&M University, but my two eldest daughters are. I'm a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and my son is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. There are no institutions of higher education (possibly other than USMA) that have greater traditions than Texas A&M. As an example, Texas A&M NEVER loses...they may be outscored, or may run out of time, but they NEVER lose. That is the mindset and culture of Texas A&M.
I would love to be able to describe to someone, not from A&M, what Silver Taps & Muster is like. That feeling these kids get when they realize they are a part of something much bigger than themselves. It never goes away, and gives them such pride in their school for the rest of their lives. And how about the motto that every Aggie lives by .. Aggies never lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they tolerate those that do. And I’ll bet there is not another school in this country that has Midnight Yell. Try explaining that to a stranger, without them looking at you like you’re maybe a little nuts!
Agree on the rich traditions of A & M. A friend from California married an Aggie and after watching all the traditions at their wedding she told him This is not a college it's a cult! I went to a double Aggie wedding (both bride and groom were Aggies, second generation) and there really are some unique things about an Aggie wedding.
I graduated from Texas A&M University forty-five years ago but still get goosebumps whenever I watch the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. I also enjoyed your reactions and commentary. Gig ‘Em, Aggies!
"From the 'inside' one can not explain 'it' (e.g. Aggie Spirit). From the 'outside' you can not understand 'it'" Boys and Girls enter the Corps of Csdets with impressive high school resumes, and they are developed. They are taught critical thinking ability and time management as a part of their professional development in whatever professional discipline they undertake as their education. They are developed with physical training for strength and endurance. With the understanding that thousands have come before them;and thousands will follow into the military yo defend the State and Nstion. their spirit is shaoed. The rigor of rhe Corps of zcadets develops emotional control. And importantly, they,)are given a set of ethics to live by the rest of their lives. They learn to lead by serving others in war or in peace. The 4,000 or so Cadets are a small but critical part of a large, diverse, conservative University who keep the best of our traditions alive, that set every Aggie apart from the general population. Once an Aggie, ALWAYS an Aggie! Gig 'em DLM Class of 1973
@@BritPopsReact "Texas Becomes Most Pro Gun State In The Country Because of What the Governor Just Did" #ruclips.net/video/BUsWPzzSs64/видео.htmlsi=TjbImkb93obqxh3T
My son was the bugle rank captain for that year...it was incredible watching these young men and women perform knowing what they sacrificed and practiced to make these shows perfection. Whoop and Gig 'Em
So this is my Alma Mater and yes they do this every half time. Texas A&M has one of the best Bands and they don't miss ever! They march "Military" style and are the largest Military marching band in the U.S. As a Military marching band they do not make pictures, they march formations. I was in Marching band from Jr. High, through High School and into the Aggie Band. In High School our Band marched "Corp" style so we made forms and designs. When you're in an Award winning large Marching Band its major work. We got our music on Monday, we had to have it memorized by Wednesday to be played on Friday night, same with the marching routine, we got the design to learn on Monday and had to have it down by Friday night. Pretty much the same routine at A&M except your marching Military so it's a little more complicated because of the precision required, 1 person out of step...and you can knock a whole lot of people down. Marching Band practice for High School and University tends to start about 2 months before Football Season and during season 2-3 hours a day 4 - 5 days a week.
Thanks guys, I've been to so many of these halftimes and it is always exciting. Everyone of these are cadets will be commissioned into different military branches upon graduation. Oh, NFL is national football league which are the professionals like the Dallas Cowboys. College football is under the direction of the NCAA or National Collegiate Athletic Association. The guys in the boots are all seniors. The band has performed everywhere including Disneyland. They also do street parades in Houston, Ft. Worth, before those football games each year. There are dozens of videos of this on youtube. They have also done halftimes at NFL games. You will notice the band is somewhat smaller at the away games, only juniors and seniors perform those. At home games all band members perform. Thank you so much for the recognition and respect!
My husband was in the Aggie band. It is Impressive. Lots of practice. He said it’s basically very complicated follow the leader. The flags and drum majors control the formations.
The new members (fish=freshmen in college) start 5 days before the rest of the band returns for the fall semester, and begin learning basics. This year, they started Aug. 7th. The upperclassmen returned this week, Monday, Aug. 14th. Their first performance at a football game will be on Sept. 2nd. They learn a new show for each game. Most of the members have been marching throughout high school, however, most do not march military style, nor do they march in front of over 100K people, in an extremely LOUD football stadium! They are awesome! The members are awesome individuals. They do this while taking full academic loads (a majority of them are studying a form of engineering) at Texas A&M University, and while being a part of the Corps of Cadets. The Corps of Cadets trains and commissions many members, as 2nd Leiutenants, into the various branches of the U.S. Military.
If you like this, you might want to check out a slightly different marching band, the Ohio State Marching Band. Their movie theme half-time show is pretty entertaining and impressive. Kids who play in these bands typically start playing in Middle School/Junior High and would already have four years experience doing shows like this during their High School years. Not only do they play at half time for every home field football game, but they also travel to competitions where bands compete against each other. The students spend a part of their summer break learning the music and their route on the field so they can ready when football season starts. From I understand this tradition seems to be somewhat unique to America. Glad you all enjoyed this.
The Ohio state band is largest all brass band in world but they are performance marchers rather than military marching like this one. So it’s very different. My family alma matter is A&M ❤️
I marched in a DCI style band (like Ohio State) in high school and then went to TAMU. I appreciate both Core and Military style. But if you want to see the best of the best look at DCI Champions, like 90s ones especially before it got really highly artistic (which I still love).
My daughter goes to this University. Find the videos with the big bass drums when they turn - unique. the tubas also turn uniquely, and the students do a chant when they do. The 4 way cross is their signature move, they were once told they couldn't do it and they proceeded to show them differently. They are quite a band.
I was waiting for you to do the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. The song that they play at the beginning and end of their routine is known as the Aggie War Hymn. It's their fight song, and the entire crowd sings along with it. This was actually one of their simpler routines. You should do one of their games where they do their famous Four-Way Cross. The computer physics of this routine says it's impossible to do because it requires two people to be standing in the same place at the same time. The Four-Way Cross is performed traditionally at the last home game of the season. You've never seen anything like it before. Search for one from around 2017 or 2018 because those videos are the best, and it includes a lot of up close shots of the band members moving in and out of the cross. If you think this was amazing, you must see that routine!
I agree. I read somewhere that there are computer generated programs that are used to choreograph marching routines and according to the computer the 4 way cross is impossible to do. Guess Texas A&M proved the computer wrong
"Come on son, keep up!" hilarious. A lot of times the students were yelling at the tubas to run faster at the end back when I was a student over a decade ago. Crowd stays during halftime and stands the entire time during the band performance.
The student body of Texas A&M stands during the Whole game! We are the 12 Man! It signifies our willingness to enter the game if needed. Seattle tried to steal our 12 the Man tradition. We took them to court!! They have to pay Texas A&M to use that. It belongs to A&M!!! NOT the seahawks!!!
I lLOVE the way they collapse their squares, it’s just spectacular. One of my favorite things to watch is the way the sousas turn when they whip around with those huge horns, it’s so impressive. The trombones too, dang!! So impressive!! ❤🙌🏻
There are two major styles of marching bands. Most traditional bands play popular tunes and mostly March at a 22 1/2” gait. That works out to 8 steps for every five yards traveled. Texas A&M marches military style with a 30” gait which works out to six steps for every five yards. Texas A&M is the best at the military style and their precision drills are phenomenal. Ohio State is the best at the more popular traditional style where they make pictures, sometimes animated as well as spelling out words and creating symbols.
The Texas Aggie Band is one of the Oldest Military Bands - with many traditional school yells, chants and student body participation to carry for many years to come. If ever in Texas - visit College Station - in Bryan Texas - and visit this beautiful campus that has so many very nice history to learn on campus. It is no wonder that George W Bush loved this school and had his Presidential Library built there.
Students in marching band start in most school districts in America in 6th grade. Those students that stick with it have been marching for 6 years before they go to college.
It’s an Amazing experience to be at Kyle Field in the stands ….its like WOW ‼️‼️‼️ The Spirit of the place is Incredible ‼️‼️‼️ Oh, the cadets in the awesome riding boots are Seniors …. Very sharp ‼️
Proud Aggie Mom here! The cadets in the tall boots are Seniors. The have to earn the right to buy their boots. It’s a BIG deal! The others just wear the regular uniform shoes.
I was in the marching band in high school. It's all about counting steps...and the size of that step for that moment in time..along with direction..land marks. It's so so precise. Was great .
The band is comprised solely from the corps of cadets. A&M puts more officers into the military except for West Point. They come to Ft Worth every September and march thru the downtown with the entire corp before their annual game at Cowboy's stadium with Arkansas. Free parking and free to attend. You can see these downtown marches on a bunch of RUclips channels.
Hi both, this is amazing, not only are they the best of the best musicians, playing in front of a hundred thousand fans, but have to learn complicated choreography on the pitch. An amazing feat a very uplifting upload ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Texas A&M also has Midnight Yell Practice at the football field the night before the each home game. The Yell Leaders teach hand and arm movements for each yell. The crowd practices doing the yell in unison. When you have up to 100,000+ in the stadium doing the yell in precise unison, it’s amazing. They’re so loud they often cause the opposing team to make a mistake because they can’t hear their quarterback.
I can assure you that the kids in this band have likely all been marching for their 4 years of high school as well as playing in concert band after marching season so they are quite ready to learn these routines as well as the music. While my kids didn't end up in college bands they did march during high school. After spending 2 weeks before school starts for the year going to daily practice, they spend three nights a week at practice, have a football game on Friday night, and then often times either a practice or go to a marching competition on Saturday. They get to substitute their time in marching band for physical education class credits.
I live in Texas and love watching the Aggie Band. OSU and A & M represent the range of styles in the marching band world. Now you need to go back to the Aggie files and dig up the "Aggie Cross" maneuver. It will blow you away.
As someone who has to walk on the road in my street to avoid falling over (the pavements slant towards the road due to all the driveways) this impresses the crap out of me. I'd be the one tripping up in the first 5 seconds 🤣 😂
Yeah, as an Aggie, I can say the training, drill, practice, rehearsing is very intense. As you mentioned, you do have everyone from new Freshmen to Seniors. Seniors wear the traditional horse riding boots and are usually around the outside of the formation. Just to join the Aggie Band, you have to have been in a high school marching band 4 years. But it’s a completely different style with it being a military band and as a member of the Corps of Cadets, you live a military life 24/7, constant training, drill, marching, etc. in addition to your studies. You should check out the Aggie Band’s 4-way cross-through. It’s the most highly anticipated and most complex show reserved for the final home football game each year. That will blow your mind.
Each band member is one armed length from the person to the left and right of each other. The person in front and behind each other is a certain distance from each other. They keep their distance throughout the halftime show so that they do not run into each other.
Texas...what ye gonna say? My brother was Captain of the marching band in juior high and high school. He was also the captain of the football team in jr high & high school. In junior high at half time, he would take off his helmet and march with the band in his football uniform, then put his helmet back on and play out the second half. He was also Catain of his college football team. The Owls. Dad was an Aggie. We have UT, Ol Miss, Texas Tech, Rice, Baylor & Texas A&M....as our collegiate history. Wish I had gone to A&M.
The director of one of these college marching bands can transform any song into a march to be featured in a halftime show. It keeps the shows contemporary, and even if imposing a march rhythm on the song destroys it, it is a happy sort of destruction while puts a smile on your face. I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972. I could go to a game next Saturday and hear three or four songs that were played in 1972 and every year, at every game, since then. It's tremendously traditional and nostalgic for alumni. I'm pretty sure it's the same at every school and a big part of the college football experience. The members of the band are all wonderful musicians, but, alas, marching around in a massive football stadium is not really conducive to fine sound quality. The ranks are organized by instrument, for the most part, and if, for example, all the tuba players are facing in the other direction, their contribution to the song is missing. The sound doesn't really reflect off of human beings very well, and even when it does, the distances are sufficient to create an echo effect. Same thing with every other instrument. If they are not facing your seat in the stands, their sound is faint and the overall mix suffers. When I graduated and had the chance to attend several Detroit Lions pro games, the experience was less than ideal. The players were amazing, but the lack of the "college atmosphere" and things such as marching bands performing at halftime, led to what seemed like a very sterile atmosphere. That is why the college game is so beloved by fans.
One interesting fact. The band always runs on the field and they always run off the field. If you look closely at the very beginning you will see them run on the field from the end zone.
Great reaction! As a season ticket holder, I get to witness these performances at every half-time. Everything the Aggie band does is amazing. However, as others have mentioned, probably the most impressive thing they do is the four way cross. It is mind blowing how they do that!
Thanks Abel.. We have a good one coming out tonight and I ask a few questions which I think you will have good answers to, it's American Football Fans and European Fans and we have some questions for the Americans :)
Another form of marching band to check out is DCI (Drum Corps International). TAMU is a military style marching band, but the bands in DCI are show bands…amazing showmanship and musicality.
This wonderful quote about marching bands says it all. "Miles considered Barrayaran marching bands. It wasn't enough that humans did something so difficult as learning to play a musical instrument. Then they had to do it in groups. While walking around. In complicated patterns. And then they competed with one another to do it even better. Excellence, this kind of excellence, could never have any sane economic justification. It had to be done for the honor of one's country, or one's people, or the glory of God. For the joy of being human. Lois McMaster Bujold. Diplomatic Immunity
The band members with the tall leather boots are the senior class members who will graduate at the end of the spring term. The boots are a special privilege for the seniors (boots custom made for each). Many, but certainly not all, will join the U.S. Military after leaving school with their degree.
Be Careful. This is not "Texas University". This is "Texas A&M University". They are two completely different universities . ...Also, for a very different and wonderful reaction to college bands, you must watch a halftime show of one of the "historically black colleges" (HBCUs). They dance while marching and playing wonderful music. Jackson State University and Florida A&M University are great HBCU bands.
My daughter is a sophomore in the Cadet Corps band at A&M. I love going, but I still go back to Tuscaloosa every year for the Iron Bowl. As an alum, I can’t miss the rivalry game!
I went to the University of Michigan in the late 1960, and Graduated in 1971! I loved the halftime band performances and continued to watch on TV. Now the ads and sport commentators annoy the heck out of me because they do their thing during the half time performances ! Now I go to the band websites to watch them and they are all so perfectly synchronized.
@Rusty Davis Now then Rusty, if that is totally true and your npt pulling our chains, that is even more impressive, counting, moving, playing and staying in formation. Brilliant!! Cheers
Many of these college musicians major in different areas like the sciences, engineering, the arts... with the band being an elective. I majored in physics and math back when most bands did military marching. I attended a different "AGGIES."
When I was looking for "Strategic Air Command," I saw on a comment there that during a routine like this, the band never takes more than 108 steps per minute! ... Until they run toward the north end zone, of course!
GIG EM' AGGIES!!!!! WHOOOOOOP 94' It is a Marching Band that performs using military drill- Those kids stay up all night and wake up earlier than we did as Marine Corps Cadets- we called them BQ's or Band Queers as disrespect- but even then I knew they were the keepers of the spirit and I am so proud of what they represent. So many went on to serve and die in wars, so many of us live and get to remember....... H-1 Raiders USMC
Check out Southern University marching band ( the human jukebox ) it is a HBCU, a historically black college and university band. It is a very different American band culture than the norm.!!!!
Gig 'em Aggies!! Although hometown TCU got walloped. All college bands do every half time home & away game. There are some tiny schools without a band. But most do. A&M marching band is a precision marching band. There are other types like conceptual where they form pictures on the field. I prefer the precision bands but telling a story on the field is fun too. Some of A&M formations are so close they have to drop instruments or knock someone down. The crossing X for example. 7:38 they have been known to crash into each other. Many of the band members come from big high school programs so they are not new to marching bands. But you do have to qualify or you are out. Other bands to watch (really any major university) Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Michigan & on & on.
@Hardtack & Beans Cheers H&B, that was very impressive and we were blown away by the sheer scale of it. Back with more from some of the other bands soon
My daughter is in the Cadet Cops band there. Her high school band won 2nd at Nationals. My son plays High school football here in S Texas. His high school stadium is so large, the Olympic training center uses their athletic complexes on the campus. ❤
I just found your channel. I love to see the Texas Aggie Marching Band. Your commentary is great. I am pleased to subscribe. Best wishes from a grandmother in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York State.
I was watching some other reactions, and yours popped up again from a year ago. My High School band instructor was ex military, and we did this style of marching, even played some of the same music. At each line you start off on your left foot, then 8 steps, landing on the next line with your right foot. Then at the pivot point to weave through, it's one step left foot, pivot right, one step left foot, pivot right, that turns you around and starts you up between the rows. Step and repeat at each pivot point. I always just carried my instrument as if I was playing, shhhh, that was too much for me. Good thing enough other members could to produce the sound.
All the marching bands for the University's are super competitive on these formations. They do compete against each other. I like it when I they do movie theme songs the most.
Thanks for the Shout Out!! Cheers Mates! Just think 400 people who cannot make a mistake...plus they are playing music on top of walking!! I have a problem walking UP stairs! Great fun reaction! You need to check Ohio State Marching band MOON WALKING!! Have a great weekend!
@Michael Whelan Hi Michael, you are more than welcome for the shout out and we appreciate all your support. We will be back with more soon. Have a great weekend too and catch up soon!!
Virtually all of the kids that go to A&M and join the Corps and band have played in their High School bands and in Texas, and when I was in my High School band in Austin, all the exercises the Aggies are doing (Obliques, sequenced counter marches, sequenced step offs, etc) we did but on smaller scale. Consequently, the maneuvers are not new to the kids, only the scale and the versatility that affords.
Gentlemen, at 12:00, BP#1 uses the word *"randomly."* Please believe me: there is nothing random about the formations of the Texas Aggies Marching Band, or a number of other marching bands. But I've never seen better than this one, nor yet so good. You hit the nail on the head when you said, "This is perfection, isn't it."
You should find one of their videos where they do this 4 way cross. The Ohio State marching band is another really good band to check out. All most all Universities have their own marching band that performs before the game and at half time.
Others may have pointed it out by now but here in the US the marching band thing starts in high school (4 years) so by the time they get to college/university they should be fairly good. In the 80's I played trombone in marching band. We had over 300 members in our band. We contracted choreographers to design shows for us to use in national competitions. The best players (of which I was not) would often aspire to be in professional groups that are part of the Drum Corps International which is still around today, currently with 21 teams. I played trombone so besides struggling to not whack someone in the head with the trombone slide during the march it was also a challenge to maintain your embouchure which is why the first thing they teach is how to march smoothly. Fun times.
I was in Marching Band in High School and we had to learn a new field show for each home game, so you didn’t get a lot of practice time before the next home football game but in marching band you are always on the move learning new things so wasn’t stressful but exciting to see what the new diagrams, instructions were for the next field show. The music for all the field shows we practiced during the summer months on the field and also we had plenty of practice marching in straight lines because we marched in every parade in the county during the summer plus we did competitions. So we had all the music for the summer and fall memorized by early summer, our matching was down because most of us had been in band since 5th grade and had did matching band all through Jr. High so we really only needed to practice on the football field to know our hash marks and other positions on the field, our speed on turns and keeping our lines straight or curved or whatever was needed for each design. So it was pretty easy to do a new field show each time since our music was already memorized and our straight marching was in the bag, just needed to learn the new designs so we would each know where to be at what time and what speed we needed to each match at to get there and still look like one unit moving across the field. Of course these college bands are doing very intricate designs compared to what we were doing and they are amazing to watch. When I’m at fireball games and it’s going into half time and everyone starts getting up to go to the bathroom and get a drink, I’m staying in my seat because to me the Marching Band half time show is the best entertainment and always impressive!!!❤
At the university level (like this one) the creme de la creme of musicians and marching excellence are chosen via a try-out situation each summer. Like others have said, by the time they get to this level they all have 4-8 years of experience. These things are usually extra-curricular - this is like being part of a club or on a sports team (at a general level) - so it is all done in their "free" time. The bands play at all home/away games. So much fun to watch. My daughter and I often attend "the big game" (big rivalry) between the University of California, Berkeley (we are TOTALLY team Cal) and Stanford. It's the only game we attend in person.
My daughter was in marching band middle thru high school. They were state Champs 🏆 multiple years. Practices every day for a minimum of 3 hrs. competitions every Saturday rain, snow, or whatever the temp was. Each year it was a different theme, music and steps 🚶♀️. I would think major had done this in high-school
A little sidenote, Teas A&M and the University of Texas are the only universities whose fight songs start off talking about each other.
they run off the field in Homage to the soldiers running off the airfields on pearl harbor
Have you seen them performing the four way cross? That’s even more impressive.
I’m class if ‘90 and have been watching this band for a long time.
This band does not repeat their halftime performances. Each week it is a completely new show. During football season, they can practice up to 40 hours a week.
I hope they are paid appropriately.
@@jws1948ja No pay. They pay to attend Texas A&M a pretty penny. Plus besides their military training and band practice (up to 40 hrs. Weekly they must attend college classes and keep a certain grade point average.
I've seen a couple of these reaction videos. One thing that is missed is the amount and excitement and participation from the stands. Aggie fans love their Texas Aggie Fighting Band. In other stadiums, the crowd disappears during the half time show. Not so at Kyle Field.
This is a military band. Corp of cadets when they graduated are part of the the various branches of the US military. Gig’em. The National Famous Fighting Texas Aggie Band.
I'm not a graduate of Texas A&M University, but my two eldest daughters are. I'm a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and my son is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. There are no institutions of higher education (possibly other than USMA) that have greater traditions than Texas A&M. As an example, Texas A&M NEVER loses...they may be outscored, or may run out of time, but they NEVER lose. That is the mindset and culture of Texas A&M.
I would love to be able to describe to someone, not from A&M, what Silver Taps & Muster is like. That feeling these kids get when they realize they are a part of something much bigger than themselves. It never goes away, and gives them such pride in their school for the rest of their lives. And how about the motto that every Aggie lives by .. Aggies never lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they tolerate those that do. And I’ll bet there is not another school in this country that has Midnight Yell. Try explaining that to a stranger, without them looking at you like you’re maybe a little nuts!
Agree on the rich traditions of A & M. A friend from California married an Aggie and after watching all the traditions at their wedding she told him This is not a college it's a cult! I went to a double Aggie wedding (both bride and groom were Aggies, second generation) and there really are some unique things about an Aggie wedding.
We just run out of time! WHOOP!
It's definitely one of the most "tradition rich" Universities in the U.S.
Congratulations on you and your outstanding family. I am delighted you are citizens of our country.
I live in Columbus (Ohio State) and the Texas A&M band is seriously impressive.
I graduated from Texas A&M University forty-five years ago but still get goosebumps whenever I watch the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. I also enjoyed your reactions and commentary. Gig ‘Em, Aggies!
My mom is class of 92 and I’m class of 17-we both get the chills still too!
“A spirit can ne’er be told”
"From the 'inside' one can not explain 'it' (e.g. Aggie Spirit). From the 'outside' you can not understand 'it'"
Boys and Girls enter the Corps of Csdets with impressive high school resumes, and they are developed. They are taught critical thinking ability and time management as a part of their professional development in whatever professional discipline they undertake as their education. They are developed with physical training for strength and endurance. With the understanding that thousands have come before them;and thousands will follow into the military yo defend the State and Nstion. their spirit is shaoed. The rigor of rhe Corps of zcadets develops emotional control. And importantly, they,)are given a set of ethics to live by the rest of their lives. They learn to lead by serving others in war or in peace. The 4,000 or so Cadets are a small but critical part of a large, diverse, conservative University who keep the best of our traditions alive, that set every Aggie apart from the general population. Once an Aggie, ALWAYS an Aggie! Gig 'em
DLM Class of 1973
Brother called cadence about the time you were there! And yes, it still gets me in the feels. Gig 'Em!
I am so proud of our Aggie Band. I've been watching them since the early 50s...
You got me by 20 years. They still can bring a tear to my eye.
Most of these students learned marching band in high school, where there are weekly halftime shows and yearly major competitions.
I started in the marching band when I was in the 9th grade.
I started band in 7th grade, but didn't march until 8th.
Ohio State is considered a show band & they are very good. Fighting Aggies is, of course, a military band. Gig'em Aggies.
It's coming Delia, we just recorded it! :)
Being a dyed-in-the-wool LONGHORN fan I can't argue that the Ag's have the best band in the land, bar none!!!!!
@@BritPopsReact
"Texas Becomes Most Pro Gun State In The Country Because of What the Governor Just Did"
#ruclips.net/video/BUsWPzzSs64/видео.htmlsi=TjbImkb93obqxh3T
Another Aggie here (2 degrees from Texas A&M University). You’ve just made my day/weekend-so much more than you’ll ever know! Thank you, friends 👍🏈🥰!
My son was the bugle rank captain for that year...it was incredible watching these young men and women perform knowing what they sacrificed and practiced to make these shows perfection. Whoop and Gig 'Em
A lot to be proud of there, congrats to your son and your family, gig em!
the only thing you guys need to enjoy this even more, some Texas smoked brisket!!!
So this is my Alma Mater and yes they do this every half time. Texas A&M has one of the best Bands and they don't miss ever! They march "Military" style and are the largest Military marching band in the U.S. As a Military marching band they do not make pictures, they march formations. I was in Marching band from Jr. High, through High School and into the Aggie Band. In High School our Band marched "Corp" style so we made forms and designs. When you're in an Award winning large Marching Band its major work. We got our music on Monday, we had to have it memorized by Wednesday to be played on Friday night, same with the marching routine, we got the design to learn on Monday and had to have it down by Friday night. Pretty much the same routine at A&M except your marching Military so it's a little more complicated because of the precision required, 1 person out of step...and you can knock a whole lot of people down. Marching Band practice for High School and University tends to start about 2 months before Football Season and during season 2-3 hours a day 4 - 5 days a week.
@katmit69
Hi and thanks for the interesting information.
Come back soon
Class of '77. Gig'em Aggies.
Thank you for explaining this to them. Thank you for years of halftime entertainment. Gig 'em
@jzach1221 It was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun. It's definitely an unforgettable experience!! Gig'em
Thanks guys, I've been to so many of these halftimes and it is always exciting. Everyone of these are cadets will be commissioned into different military branches upon graduation. Oh, NFL is national football league which are the professionals like the Dallas Cowboys. College football is under the direction of the NCAA or National Collegiate Athletic Association. The guys in the boots are all seniors. The band has performed everywhere including Disneyland. They also do street parades in Houston, Ft. Worth, before those football games each year. There are dozens of videos of this on youtube. They have also done halftimes at NFL games. You will notice the band is somewhat smaller at the away games, only juniors and seniors perform those. At home games all band members perform. Thank you so much for the recognition and respect!
My husband was in the Aggie band. It is Impressive. Lots of practice. He said it’s basically very complicated follow the leader. The flags and drum majors control the formations.
The Fighting Aggie band is the absolute best!! My brother is an aggie..Texas A&M is very, very serious about their school spirit!!
The new members (fish=freshmen in college) start 5 days before the rest of the band returns for the fall semester, and begin learning basics. This year, they started Aug. 7th. The upperclassmen returned this week, Monday, Aug. 14th. Their first performance at a football game will be on Sept. 2nd. They learn a new show for each game. Most of the members have been marching throughout high school, however, most do not march military style, nor do they march in front of over 100K people, in an extremely LOUD football stadium! They are awesome! The members are awesome individuals. They do this while taking full academic loads (a majority of them are studying a form of engineering) at Texas A&M University, and while being a part of the Corps of Cadets. The Corps of Cadets trains and commissions many members, as 2nd Leiutenants, into the various branches of the U.S. Military.
Each week a new program. They do not repeat. Remarkable.
Love being an Aggie.
When i played football in high school ,the band would practice on the next field to us and they practiced just as long as we did .
If you like this, you might want to check out a slightly different marching band, the Ohio State Marching Band. Their movie theme half-time show is pretty entertaining and impressive.
Kids who play in these bands typically start playing in Middle School/Junior High and would already have four years experience doing shows like this during their High School years. Not only do they play at half time for every home field football game, but they also travel to competitions where bands compete against each other.
The students spend a part of their summer break learning the music and their route on the field so they can ready when football season starts. From I understand this tradition seems to be somewhat unique to America. Glad you all enjoyed this.
@Nathan Boyle
Cheers Nathan, we certainly enjoyed that and were very impressed by the skill levels
The Ohio state band is largest all brass band in world but they are performance marchers rather than military marching like this one. So it’s very different. My family alma matter is A&M ❤️
The Michael Jackson tribute is pretty great too!
@@IFroggy112 Also the Marching Band Reunion Weekend performance featuring band alumni. Imaging 4 Script Ohio going on at the same time!
I marched in a DCI style band (like Ohio State) in high school and then went to TAMU. I appreciate both Core and Military style. But if you want to see the best of the best look at DCI Champions, like 90s ones especially before it got really highly artistic (which I still love).
My daughter goes to this University. Find the videos with the big bass drums when they turn - unique. the tubas also turn uniquely, and the students do a chant when they do. The 4 way cross is their signature move, they were once told they couldn't do it and they proceeded to show them differently. They are quite a band.
I was waiting for you to do the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. The song that they play at the beginning and end of their routine is known as the Aggie War Hymn. It's their fight song, and the entire crowd sings along with it. This was actually one of their simpler routines. You should do one of their games where they do their famous Four-Way Cross.
The computer physics of this routine says it's impossible to do because it requires two people to be standing in the same place at the same time. The Four-Way Cross is performed traditionally at the last home game of the season. You've never seen anything like it before. Search for one from around 2017 or 2018 because those videos are the best, and it includes a lot of up close shots of the band members moving in and out of the cross. If you think this was amazing, you must see that routine!
@Suzanne Young
Hi Suzanne, thanks for the comment and we really enjoyed that.
We will check out more soon.
Cheers
I agree. I read somewhere that there are computer generated programs that are used to choreograph marching routines and according to the computer the 4 way cross is impossible to do. Guess Texas A&M proved the computer wrong
Those wearing high boots are Seniors. Those are an honor and hard earned
They prepare an entirely different show each week for each game
"Come on son, keep up!" hilarious. A lot of times the students were yelling at the tubas to run faster at the end back when I was a student over a decade ago. Crowd stays during halftime and stands the entire time during the band performance.
The student body of Texas A&M stands during the Whole game! We are the 12 Man! It signifies our willingness to enter the game if needed. Seattle tried to steal our 12 the Man tradition. We took them to court!! They have to pay Texas A&M to use that. It belongs to A&M!!! NOT the seahawks!!!
I lLOVE the way they collapse their squares, it’s just spectacular. One of my favorite things to watch is the way the sousas turn when they whip around with those huge horns, it’s so impressive. The trombones too, dang!! So impressive!! ❤🙌🏻
Aggies never lose a halftime. (TAMU Class of '96)
There are two major styles of marching bands. Most traditional bands play popular tunes and mostly March at a 22 1/2” gait. That works out to 8 steps for every five yards traveled. Texas A&M marches military style with a 30” gait which works out to six steps for every five yards.
Texas A&M is the best at the military style and their precision drills are phenomenal. Ohio State is the best at the more popular traditional style where they make pictures, sometimes animated as well as spelling out words and creating symbols.
I beg to differ with you on show bands. Isn't UT that has the best?
The Texas Aggie Band is one of the Oldest Military Bands - with many traditional school yells, chants and student body participation to carry for many years to come. If ever in Texas - visit College Station - in Bryan Texas - and visit this beautiful campus that has so many very nice history to learn on campus. It is no wonder that George W Bush loved this school and had his Presidential Library built there.
Students in marching band start in most school districts in America in 6th grade. Those students that stick with it have been marching for 6 years before they go to college.
Fighting Texas Aggie band is the best damn band in all the land!
I’m a native Texans and this band is amazing ❤️🤗
It’s an Amazing experience to be at Kyle Field in the stands ….its like WOW ‼️‼️‼️
The Spirit of the place is Incredible ‼️‼️‼️
Oh, the cadets in the awesome riding boots are Seniors …. Very sharp ‼️
Proud Aggie Mom here! The cadets in the tall boots are Seniors. The have to earn the right to buy their boots. It’s a BIG deal! The others just wear the regular uniform shoes.
I’m a native Texan and this band is amazing ❤️🤗 so much fun to watch
The Band always wins!
I was in the marching band in high school. It's all about counting steps...and the size of that step for that moment in time..along with direction..land marks. It's so so precise. Was great .
The band is comprised solely from the corps of cadets. A&M puts more officers into the military except for West Point. They come to Ft Worth every September and march thru the downtown with the entire corp before their annual game at Cowboy's stadium with Arkansas. Free parking and free to attend. You can see these downtown marches on a bunch of RUclips channels.
Hi both, this is amazing, not only are they the best of the best musicians, playing in front of a hundred thousand fans, but have to learn complicated choreography on the pitch. An amazing feat a very uplifting upload ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@Elaine Howard
Hi Elaine, how impressive was that and what a spectacle.
The Texas A&M band's "Four Way Cross" is beyond impressive.
Texas A&M also has Midnight Yell Practice at the football field the night before the each home game. The Yell Leaders teach hand and arm movements for each yell. The crowd practices doing the yell in unison. When you have up to 100,000+ in the stadium doing the yell in precise unison, it’s amazing. They’re so loud they often cause the opposing team to make a mistake because they can’t hear their quarterback.
Class of '60- loved my 4 years as a member of the Aggie band. It was a tough and enjoyable experience. There is no other like it!
I can assure you that the kids in this band have likely all been marching for their 4 years of high school as well as playing in concert band after marching season so they are quite ready to learn these routines as well as the music. While my kids didn't end up in college bands they did march during high school. After spending 2 weeks before school starts for the year going to daily practice, they spend three nights a week at practice, have a football game on Friday night, and then often times either a practice or go to a marching competition on Saturday. They get to substitute their time in marching band for physical education class credits.
I live in Texas and love watching the Aggie Band. OSU and A & M represent the range of styles in the marching band world. Now you need to go back to the Aggie files and dig up the "Aggie Cross" maneuver. It will blow you away.
Yes, every half-time show, although they change it up regularly. As you can tell, the crowd LOVES this band!
the figure at the end is always the TEXAS state flag
As someone who has to walk on the road in my street to avoid falling over (the pavements slant towards the road due to all the driveways) this impresses the crap out of me. I'd be the one tripping up in the first 5 seconds 🤣 😂
Yeah, as an Aggie, I can say the training, drill, practice, rehearsing is very intense. As you mentioned, you do have everyone from new Freshmen to Seniors. Seniors wear the traditional horse riding boots and are usually around the outside of the formation. Just to join the Aggie Band, you have to have been in a high school marching band 4 years. But it’s a completely different style with it being a military band and as a member of the Corps of Cadets, you live a military life 24/7, constant training, drill, marching, etc. in addition to your studies. You should check out the Aggie Band’s 4-way cross-through. It’s the most highly anticipated and most complex show reserved for the final home football game each year. That will blow your mind.
Each band member is one armed length from the person to the left and right of each other. The person in front and behind each other is a certain distance from each other. They keep their distance throughout the halftime show so that they do not run into each other.
Texas A&M never loses a half-time show.
Texas...what ye gonna say?
My brother was Captain of the marching band in juior high and high school. He was also the captain of the football team in jr high & high school.
In junior high at half time, he would take off his helmet and march with the band in his football uniform, then put his helmet back on and play out the second half.
He was also Catain of his college football team. The Owls.
Dad was an Aggie.
We have UT, Ol Miss, Texas Tech, Rice, Baylor & Texas A&M....as our collegiate history.
Wish I had gone to A&M.
Dude I first heard the Aggie band and as a Sooners fan it caught my ear cause it made me think that their war hymn was catchy as hell😀
Watched them once. It was amazing to see the steps. The front prints down the field were all in the same steps
The director of one of these college marching bands can transform any song into a march to be featured in a halftime show. It keeps the shows contemporary, and even if imposing a march rhythm on the song destroys it, it is a happy sort of destruction while puts a smile on your face.
I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972. I could go to a game next Saturday and hear three or four songs that were played in 1972 and every year, at every game, since then. It's tremendously traditional and nostalgic for alumni. I'm pretty sure it's the same at every school and a big part of the college football experience.
The members of the band are all wonderful musicians, but, alas, marching around in a massive football stadium is not really conducive to fine sound quality. The ranks are organized by instrument, for the most part, and if, for example, all the tuba players are facing in the other direction, their contribution to the song is missing. The sound doesn't really reflect off of human beings very well, and even when it does, the distances are sufficient to create an echo effect. Same thing with every other instrument. If they are not facing your seat in the stands, their sound is faint and the overall mix suffers.
When I graduated and had the chance to attend several Detroit Lions pro games, the experience was less than ideal. The players were amazing, but the lack of the "college atmosphere" and things such as marching bands performing at halftime, led to what seemed like a very sterile atmosphere. That is why the college game is so beloved by fans.
What kills me is the HOURS of marching in the Texas heat!
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TALENTED AWESOME AGGIES
GIG EM!!!!
This video makes me so very proud to hail from Texas.
Y’all should check out the Marine Corps silent drill platoon!
One interesting fact. The band always runs on the field and they always run off the field. If you look closely at the very beginning you will see them run on the field from the end zone.
Great reaction! As a season ticket holder, I get to witness these performances at every half-time. Everything the Aggie band does is amazing. However, as others have mentioned, probably the most impressive thing they do is the four way cross. It is mind blowing how they do that!
Thanks Abel.. We have a good one coming out tonight and I ask a few questions which I think you will have good answers to, it's American Football Fans and European Fans and we have some questions for the Americans :)
@@BritPopsReact I'm looking forward to watching it and answering your questions if I can.
Another form of marching band to check out is DCI (Drum Corps International).
TAMU is a military style marching band, but the bands in DCI are show bands…amazing showmanship and musicality.
This wonderful quote about marching bands says it all. "Miles considered Barrayaran marching bands. It wasn't enough that humans did something so difficult as learning to play a musical instrument. Then they had to do it in groups. While walking around. In complicated patterns. And then they competed with one another to do it even better. Excellence, this kind of excellence, could never have any sane economic justification. It had to be done for the honor of one's country, or one's people, or the glory of God. For the joy of being human.
Lois McMaster Bujold. Diplomatic Immunity
The band members with the tall leather boots are the senior class members who will graduate at the end of the spring term. The boots are a special privilege for the seniors (boots custom made for each). Many, but certainly not all, will join the U.S. Military after leaving school with their degree.
TEXAS AGGIE Band...THE Best! Gig "Em Aggies!!! Hurray for the Noblemen of Kyle!!!
Be Careful. This is not "Texas University". This is "Texas A&M University". They are two completely different universities .
...Also, for a very different and wonderful reaction to college bands, you must watch a halftime show of one of the "historically black colleges" (HBCUs). They dance while marching and playing wonderful music. Jackson State University and Florida A&M University are great HBCU bands.
As is Texas Southern University "the Ocean of Soul"
Gig "em Aggies -- "89
Yes, definitely do more... kinda like watching a fire or something. Entrancing.
LOL your video filter with the sparkly mist tricked me into thing someone from the band was puffing out smoke. 🤣
@Troy Ross
🤣🤣Ay yes, that has caught us a few time too.
My daughter is a sophomore in the Cadet Corps band at A&M. I love going, but I still go back to Tuscaloosa every year for the Iron Bowl. As an alum, I can’t miss the rivalry game!
I went to the University of Michigan in the late 1960, and Graduated in 1971! I loved the halftime band performances and continued to watch on TV. Now the ads and sport commentators annoy the heck out of me because they do their thing during the half time performances ! Now I go to the band websites to watch them and they are all so perfectly synchronized.
Kyle Field, the home of the Aggies, sits 106,300 people. I am one of the very proud barbers of the Corps of Cadets.
The seniors all have the riding boots. And positioned along the outside.
They Are Actually COUNTING Their Steps To When They Change Directions .......
@Rusty Davis
Now then Rusty, if that is totally true and your npt pulling our chains, that is even more impressive, counting, moving, playing and staying in formation. Brilliant!!
Cheers
Many of these college musicians major in different areas like the sciences, engineering, the arts... with the band being an elective. I majored in physics and math back when most bands did military marching. I attended a different "AGGIES."
When I was looking for "Strategic Air Command," I saw on a comment there that during a routine like this, the band never takes more than 108 steps per minute! ... Until they run toward the north end zone, of course!
GIG EM' AGGIES!!!!! WHOOOOOOP 94' It is a Marching Band that performs using military drill- Those kids stay up all night and wake up earlier than we did as Marine Corps Cadets- we called them BQ's or Band Queers as disrespect- but even then I knew they were the keepers of the spirit and I am so proud of what they represent. So many went on to serve and die in wars, so many of us live and get to remember.......
H-1 Raiders USMC
Check out Southern University marching band ( the human jukebox ) it is a HBCU, a historically black college and university band. It is a very different American band culture than the norm.!!!!
@Grant Milliken
Cheers Grant, we will check those out soon
Gig 'em Aggies!! Although hometown TCU got walloped. All college bands do every half time home & away game. There are some tiny schools without a band. But most do. A&M marching band is a precision marching band. There are other types like conceptual where they form pictures on the field. I prefer the precision bands but telling a story on the field is fun too. Some of A&M formations are so close they have to drop instruments or knock someone down. The crossing X for example. 7:38 they have been known to crash into each other. Many of the band members come from big high school programs so they are not new to marching bands. But you do have to qualify or you are out. Other bands to watch (really any major university) Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Michigan & on & on.
@Hardtack & Beans
Cheers H&B, that was very impressive and we were blown away by the sheer scale of it.
Back with more from some of the other bands soon
@@BritPopsReact Some high school bands are even larger. 😁They aren't as good as the military academies though.
My daughter is in the Cadet Cops band there. Her high school band won 2nd at Nationals. My son plays High school football here in S Texas. His high school stadium is so large, the Olympic training center uses their athletic complexes on the campus. ❤
I just found your channel. I love to see the Texas Aggie Marching Band. Your commentary is great. I am pleased to subscribe. Best wishes from a grandmother in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York State.
I was watching some other reactions, and yours popped up again from a year ago. My High School band instructor was ex military, and we did this style of marching, even played some of the same music. At each line you start off on your left foot, then 8 steps, landing on the next line with your right foot. Then at the pivot point to weave through, it's one step left foot, pivot right, one step left foot, pivot right, that turns you around and starts you up between the rows. Step and repeat at each pivot point. I always just carried my instrument as if I was playing, shhhh, that was too much for me. Good thing enough other members could to produce the sound.
Very impressive, looks great from afar, like the old red arrows on the ground well done to them very clever!
@Lord Lockdowns Jukebox
Hi LLJ, how impressive was that!!
All the marching bands for the University's are super competitive on these formations. They do compete against each other. I like it when I they do movie theme songs the most.
it's a performance band..... and it is amazing!
GO AGGIES !!
Love BP 1 and BP2
@Heidi Barons
Thank you for the comment and the support
Thanks for the Shout Out!! Cheers Mates! Just think 400 people who cannot make a mistake...plus they are playing music on top of walking!! I have a problem walking UP stairs! Great fun reaction! You need to check Ohio State Marching band MOON WALKING!! Have a great weekend!
@Michael Whelan
Hi Michael, you are more than welcome for the shout out and we appreciate all your support.
We will be back with more soon.
Have a great weekend too and catch up soon!!
Yes, all of them.
Virtually all of the kids that go to A&M and join the Corps and band have played in their High School bands and in Texas, and when I was in my High School band in Austin, all the exercises the Aggies are doing (Obliques, sequenced counter marches, sequenced step offs, etc) we did but on smaller scale. Consequently, the maneuvers are not new to the kids, only the scale and the versatility that affords.
You Brits have no idea. Many of the band will soldiers for the U.SA. And they will kick ass all over the world.
Gentlemen, at 12:00, BP#1 uses the word *"randomly."* Please believe me: there is nothing random about the formations of the Texas Aggies Marching Band, or a number of other marching bands.
But I've never seen better than this one, nor yet so good. You hit the nail on the head when you said, "This is perfection, isn't it."
he also said they' "hoped for the best" when they turned up at the game --- hope is not involved at that point!! haha
@@Marcel_Audubon Oh, I dunno: I reckon their opponents are hoping plenty!
@@bhalliwell2191 oh, yeah!
You should find one of their videos where they do this 4 way cross. The Ohio State marching band is another really good band to check out. All most all Universities have their own marching band that performs before the game and at half time.
You can walk and talk at the same time?! Amazing! Hello from the U S of A.
@Patrice Betts
Hello to you, yup but only just and no way could we play an instrument as well as walk and talk.
@@BritPopsReact yes I understand, the band members are fascinating to watch!! The timing and talent is impressive!,
Others may have pointed it out by now but here in the US the marching band thing starts in high school (4 years) so by the time they get to college/university they should be fairly good. In the 80's I played trombone in marching band. We had over 300 members in our band. We contracted choreographers to design shows for us to use in national competitions. The best players (of which I was not) would often aspire to be in professional groups that are part of the Drum Corps International which is still around today, currently with 21 teams. I played trombone so besides struggling to not whack someone in the head with the trombone slide during the march it was also a challenge to maintain your embouchure which is why the first thing they teach is how to march smoothly. Fun times.
I was in Marching Band in High School and we had to learn a new field show for each home game, so you didn’t get a lot of practice time before the next home football game but in marching band you are always on the move learning new things so wasn’t stressful but exciting to see what the new diagrams, instructions were for the next field show. The music for all the field shows we practiced during the summer months on the field and also we had plenty of practice marching in straight lines because we marched in every parade in the county during the summer plus we did competitions. So we had all the music for the summer and fall memorized by early summer, our matching was down because most of us had been in band since 5th grade and had did matching band all through Jr. High so we really only needed to practice on the football field to know our hash marks and other positions on the field, our speed on turns and keeping our lines straight or curved or whatever was needed for each design. So it was pretty easy to do a new field show each time since our music was already memorized and our straight marching was in the bag, just needed to learn the new designs so we would each know where to be at what time and what speed we needed to each match at to get there and still look like one unit moving across the field. Of course these college bands are doing very intricate designs compared to what we were doing and they are amazing to watch. When I’m at fireball games and it’s going into half time and everyone starts getting up to go to the bathroom and get a drink, I’m staying in my seat because to me the Marching Band half time show is the best entertainment and always impressive!!!❤
really like the reactions from both men on all vids this channel. Thanks Guys
At the university level (like this one) the creme de la creme of musicians and marching excellence are chosen via a try-out situation each summer. Like others have said, by the time they get to this level they all have 4-8 years of experience. These things are usually extra-curricular - this is like being part of a club or on a sports team (at a general level) - so it is all done in their "free" time. The bands play at all home/away games. So much fun to watch. My daughter and I often attend "the big game" (big rivalry) between the University of California, Berkeley (we are TOTALLY team Cal) and Stanford. It's the only game we attend in person.
GO BEARS!!!
My daughter was in marching band middle thru high school. They were state Champs 🏆 multiple years. Practices every day for a minimum of 3 hrs. competitions every Saturday rain, snow, or whatever the temp was. Each year it was a different theme, music and steps 🚶♀️. I would think major had done this in high-school