Cornell: Where your best hasn't been good enough since 1865

  If you are ready for an academic challenge, Cornell is very willing to provide it. The first semester is a shock as you find that your high-school level of achievement gets you a C with the curve. Unless you're in the Arts and Sciences school, where as long as you show up to class and can write in English, you'll get a B+ and end up with a useless degree. Once you adjust to that shock, (and adjust study habits accordingly) Cornell is a wonderful place.

  As for the band in general, you should know a few things:

• This is not a drum corps, but we are the only marching band in the Ivy League. In short, we look good on the field. You don't need to know how to march, but if you want to run around while an announcer reads an overly-long, not-funny script to a bored, empty stadium, this band is not for you.
• You will have to pay a $20 social fee (gets you into all Band related events, well worth it) and a $20 uniform fee. It's still cheaper than most Phys Ed classes.
• We are the largest student run organization in the Ivy League. If you like, there are several opportunities to become involved.
• You can take Band for one of your required Physical Education credits. This requires a rather large commitment to the band, allowing only 5 missed rehearsals and no missed home games. (It sounds rigorous, but really, what are you going to do on a Tuesday night? LiveJournal?) Absences can be made up by going on road trips, which are a fun and highly recommended way to get to know your fellow Tubae.

As for The Big Red Tubas:

We are Big, We are Red, we are Ugly. We are 'the H-bomb of the band'. From climbing buildings to hanging tubas on Benjamin Franklin statues outside of Penn's stadium, we are the focal point of attention in the band (or at least we like to think so). Among several 'traditions' (i.e., bad ideas that become better with age) are:

• 'Blocking Traffic'
• Carrying the Drum Major to the top of the stadium
• Running to a different location from the band in the second verse of some fight songs (and getting free food at tailgates)
• Duct Tape Appreciation Night.
• Tuba Report Time (that is, later than everyone else)

 It is an incredible amount of fun. And stupid. But mostly stupid fun.

 Why is the tuba leader a section 'liason' while other sections have 'leaders'?

 As we like to say: we're all leaders, here. We make decisions as a group and don't feel that anyone should exclusively have a title in such a small section. That being said, the section liason takes care of any social arrangements and extracurricular tuba-related events - they're the liason between the Tubae and the rest of the world.

 When and how often does the marching band rehearse?

 The rehearsal schedule is as follows:

Tuesday Nights 9-11pm

Thursday and Friday afternoons 4:45-6:00pm

Saturday Mornings as necessary

Games on Saturday from about 9am-5pm

 How badly does the marching band kill your weekend? (or does it?)

 Saturday is gone in the fall semester, and Saturday mornings are hard to get up for. (See: Tuba report time.) Sunday is open except for the occasional professional game road trip. We don't generally play in the spring semester, but the Pep Band does. Contact jre29@cornell.edu if you are interested in the Pep Band, which plays at Men's and Women's Hockey, Men's Basketball, and Men's and Women's Lacrosse. (Closely-guarde Cornell Secret: You'll never wait in line for hockey tickets if you play tuba.)

 We have a few road-trips scheduled, including trips to Harvard, Brown and Columbia. We try to play at least one pro game a year, either at the NY Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, or the Buffalo Bills Stadium in... Buffalo. On road trips, you can expect to have all of Saturday and most of Friday taken up, but you'll also have the time of your life playing in front of 70,000 people.

 How competitive is the tuba section?

 If you show up and can play a Bb scale, we will strap a tuba on you. Even if you can't play, we'll put a tuba on you, but a desire to learn to play it is always a plus. We are a very friendly group of people, and welcome as many tuba players as we have tubas.

 If I were to buy a tuba, would you have any suggestions?

 You do not need to buy a tuba for marching band. We will provide the instrument. If you plan on participating in one of Cornell's many music ensembles, you can borrow a tuba for 50 dollars a semester. If you strongly desire your own tuba, www.ebay.com usually has quite a few and www.tubaexchange.com has the best selection (new and used) I have seen.

  If you have any more questions, drop an email to this year's section liason, Eric Heumann. emh39@cornell.edu

 Yours truly,

 Grant B. MacIntyre '05

Former Tuba Section Liason

With some edits by Liz Gall '07