FAQ

Q. How do i audition?

A. Membership in the Pep Band is open to anyone, no audition required! Whether you are an all-state musician or someone excited to learn the cymbals, we would love to have you! Don’t play a traditional marching instrument? Stop by a rehearsal anyways! We’ve had many unique instrumentations in the past (even a melodica once!)

Q. do i need to provide my own instrument?

A. While we definitely prefer you provide your own instrument, we are always willing to rent one on your behalf. Just make sure to contact us ahead of time and let us know! Additionally, we specifically provide all sousaphones, mellophones, baritones, and drumline equipment (but you are more than welcome to bring your own!).

q. how often do we rehearse?

A. We rehearse twice a week in the Fall during football season and stop regular rehearsals once the basketball season starts (though we will have occasional short practices if needed). These rehearsals never last more than two hours and are completely student-run. Once the basketball season is over, we will move onto shorter, weekly rehearsals to try out new pieces and keep everyone’s chops fresh.

Q. what games do we play at?

A. The Pep Band plays at almost every home football and basketball (men’s and women’s) game during the academic year. Additionally, we typically travel to one away football game (such as UVA, Virginia Tech, or ECU) in the Fall and the CAA Basketball Tournament in the Spring. This is in addition to certain College ceremonies and occasional community events.

q. What is the attendance policy?

A. We proudly support all levels of involvement in the Pep Band! Whether you show up to every rehearsal and game, or just stop by occasionally to have some fun, we love to have you as a member of the band! While we do encourage attendance through raffles and other incentives, there is no punishment for missing anything.

Q. what is a scramble band?

A. Well, if you ask Wikipedia they’ll say that “A scramble band - also known as a scatter band - is a particular type of field-performing marching band with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other common forms of marching bands; most notably, scramble bands do not normally march.” This is pretty accurate. Unlike most college marching bands, we perform only a few halftime shows a year. You can find an example of one of our shows (from 2007, we promise to replace the link soon!) here.