USD and SDSU’s marching bands compete in all things band related

As the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State prepare for their 107th meeting on the football field, each university’s marching band is also preparing to entertain before and during the game Nov. 16.

While both Jonathan Alvis, director of athletic bands at USD, and Jim Coull, director of athletic bands at SDSU, called the two bands similar, there are some initial differences between the two marching bands.

The Sound of USD has 115 members and practices four times per week during game weeks. The Pride of the Dakotas has 200 members and practices Monday through Friday plus the mornings of game days.

Both directors said the content of each practice depends on what areas need polishing.

“It always depends on where we are in the show,” Alvis said. “If we’re learning new music, then we’ll polish it so it’s perfect. We’re constantly adding to and adjusting our shows.”

Coull said he has his students work on whatever is needed, but they usually spend more time working on the music.

For both the Sound and the Pride, any student can join as long as they sign up for the marching band class and email either Alvis or Coull during the summer. Coull said there are auditions for the SDSU drum line and flag corps. Both schools require auditions for drum majors.

Music scholarships at USD and SDSU also work differently.

At USD, there are scholarships for talent, and are awarded by the music department that students can audition for, Alvis said.

If students are not on scholarship, they are awarded a marching band stipend.

At SDSU, there are no scholarships within the marching band, but anyone can audition for music scholarships, Coull said. Additionally, if a student marches all four years of college with the Pride, he or she receives a Pride scholarship for their final semester.

Neither band competes in any competitions, as they are both performance-only groups. However, they both participate in numerous exhibitions in addition to football game performances throughout the marching band season.

The Sound have hosted a high school marching competition, where they are the exhibition band, and have been the exhibition band at two other high school competitions, in Chester, S.D., and Sioux City, Iowa, and have done a recruiting tour at high schools on their way to and from an away football game. They will close their year with an inside concert Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Aalfs Auditorium in Slagle Hall.

The Pride also were the exhibition band at a high school marching competition this year, and in the last several years, have been the exhibition band at the Festival of Bands and the Youth and America Competition in Minneapolis, Minn. Coull said the marching band also plays at a high school football game as a recruitment tool.

“They’re both top-notch bands,” Alvis said. “I have a lot of respect for the Pride. I’d say we’re pretty equal. They’re a little bit bigger, but we have the same goal in mind.”

Coull also said the Sound and the Pride are “very similar” bands.

“It was my first time seeing them under (Alvis) last year, but I noticed we have a more rock ‘n’ roll style, simply because we played more pop tunes,” Coull said. “They’re both good bands.”

Just like the bands themselves, the members of each band have their similarities and their differences.

SDSU first-year Courtney Andersen plays the clarinet for the Pride.

“I joined the marching band because I had heard so many good things about them,” Andersen said. “Marching band was something I had all throughout high school, so I can’t imagine not having it in college.”

Andersen said the Pride has become like a family for her.

“The camaraderie we have is my favorite part,” she said.

Andersen is most looking forward to the atmosphere of the USD-SDSU football game.

“It’ll be a really good game,” she said. “Everyone is just so passionate about it.”

USD junior Sam Schroeder is currently one of the Sound’s drum majors.

“My freshman year, we went to London, and I really wanted to go, so I joined the band,” Schroeder said. “Then I just stuck with it because I liked it so much.”

Schroeder said he auditioned for drum major to gain more experience for his future as a music teacher.

“I really wanted the experience of another conducting style, and the experience of this kind of leadership position is so valuable since some day I’ll be in front of a class every day,” he said.

Schroeder said his favorite part of marching band is seeing each show come together on the field after all the work the band has put in preparing for it. As for the USD-SDSU game, Schroeder’s focus is on the two bands.

“I’m looking forward to having both bands be at the Dome,” he said. “They’re a great representation of South Dakota’s two largest public universities, and I can’t wait to hear their band.”