My Response to UCLA Marching Band Request for Funds
by KSBruin on Jan 3, 2012 4:30 AM PST
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Print-Bumped. BN Eds.
Keep in mind I was in the band all four years I was at UCLA, and attended any and near-every event we played at, not just the marquee matchups involving our (then-making-)revenue teams. This is my response to a mailing from the UCLA Band Director Gordon Henderson requesting donations.
Dear Mr. Henderson,
I recently received a request for a donation to support the Bruin Marching Band. My experiences in the band were among my most memorable moments at UCLA, from having a blast at the lesser-attended volleyball and women's basketball games, to going crazy in the Coliseum watching Marvin Goodwin's interception to clinch the Rose Bowl berth my senior year, and even to the painfully brief trip I finally got to experience in going to the NCAA tournament that same year.
While I still to this day get chills thinking of marching into the Rose Bowl with 250+ fellow band members, strutting to the drum cadence and getting ready to blow a wall of sound with the 20th Century Fox Fanfare, I note that so many of my memories revolve around sports. Men's basketball won 20+ games each year I was there, and the football team won the first three of its eight year streak against USC.
I look at the athletic program now, and it's a joke. Our women's basketball team was placed on an opponent's court for a NCAA tournament game despite being the higher seed, and our athletic director did nothing. Our football team continues its slide into irrelevancy. Our AD was allowed to hire his third football coach...because the first two worked out so well. Even our men's basketball team is floundering, with this year likely to be the second time in three years that they will not appear in the NCAA tournament. A number of players have left due to never getting minutes, only to play impressively in other programs; some players get 30-35 minutes a game despite persistently showing little skill or effort.
I realize that the band is not connected to the athletic department, and I imagine you are just as frustrated as I am at the pitiful showings of late - you have had to suffer through many of them in person. Nonetheless, I will not donate another cent to UCLA until Dan Guerrero is dismissed. This was a very hard decision, but my hope is that Chancellor Block will finally notice the decline in athletics when there is a decline in donations, as nothing else has seemed to draw his attention. Living away from southern California, though the academic excellence of UCLA is noticed whenever I mention my degree, athletics is the public face of the school. I will copy this letter to Michael Dean, Timothy Rice, and Christopher Waterman, as well as Gene Block. Perhaps the collective voice of the four of you, added to that of myself and other alumni deciding not to donate, will be heard by the Chancellor.
Sincerely,
(KSBruin)
UCLA class of 1994
CC: Michael Dean [chair, Department of Music]
Timothy Rice [Director, Herb Alpert School of Music]
Christopher Waterman [Dean, School of the Arts and Architecture]
Gene Block [co-destructor, UCLA Athletics]
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for you KS ..
… so BRAVO.
Hopefully this will only snowball. This post has been tweeted to all of BN (3000+) followers and tweeted also specifically at the Marching Band account. We love those guys but these are crucial times.
Hopefully the band members will also either publicly or indirectly speak out for the need for immediate removal of Dan Guerrero and new leadership (with zero ties to Terry Donahue) at the top of our AD.
Thanks, N.
I’m just trying to do my part. This will take all of us.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
You shouldn't expect band members to speak out about this--
In an effort to maintain the image of the band, we’re specifically forbidden from making such comments in a manner that associates us with the band. If there are band members who want DG out, they will say so as individuals.
That's why I used "or indirectly"
I certainly expect band members to talk among each other, organize and also lobby Professor Henderson to make the feelings known through appropriate channels.
I know, but I wanted to make it clear for others
It’s a good system— it keeps control of the group’s image restricted to the official channels (the band twitter and facebook page) — and reduces the risk of a PR nightmare when one member appears to speak for the group. I wanted people reading this to understand why there likely won’t be very much said from “the band” after being specifically mentioned like that.
It's not about whether or not Gordon has a say
KS’s post has already been RTed by whole bunch of folks. It is about the symbolism that is so powerful. Members of the marching band is the hardest of the hardcore among a college fanbase. These are the kids that go through everything. When you lose alums from band members … it is yet another telling sign for the state of athletics under Chianti.
I have no doubt this will only add to the pressure on Chianti. Much needed and well done by KS. It will help.
One thing
It’s Professor or Doctor Henderson.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
You're right on the PhD thing
His Bio in the music dept page lists him as Professor, though.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Gene Block [co-destructor, UCLA Athletics]
Haha! So is Gene Block in actuality Gozer the Destructor? That would make Bob Fields and Danny G the Keymaster and the Gatekeeper, which would make a lot of sense as I see a lot of Rick Moranis in Danny boy.
+1
“do you want some coffee?”
“i don’t know, do i?”
“say yes”
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
love that quote
but you blew it:
Egon says “yes, have some”, then Louis (Rick Moranis) says “yes, have some”
Yeah, I’m an old nerd..
The day they're serious about football
may be the day cats and dogs are living together.
you are correct sir
i stand corrected
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
KS, Like Taz -- Bleeding Blue and Gold
Tough thing to do — but the right thing.
Great letter.
Rec’d.
sjh
Keep Chipping Away
at the wall that is UCLA Administration
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
Hope.
I hope day after day with UCLA recieving these letters that they find there way to the desk of Chancellor Gene Block to see just how serious we are about getting rid of DG.
Here is a thank you for KS...
The very first stop I would take “the family” when I attended UCLA games was the disembarkement area of the UCLA Band. I loved the different componenets of the Band getting in their respective groups and warming up and then coming together for practice and finally formation before marching into the Rose Bowl.The skill sets of these young men and women rivaled those of the FB team…just in different ways!
Rushing to get ahead of the Band as they would March into the Rose Bowl was great! The acoustics where the band assembled before they hit the field were awesome. The Band is and was an essential part of “Game Day” experience for Us.
Of course no game was complete without staying afterwards and hearing the “post game” fanfare. No splitting halfway through the 4th quarter for us. So…thank you for contributing mightly to my and our enjoyment of many Saturday afternoons and evenings.
May things improve soon and contributions once again begin to flow.
That's the one overriding pre-game memory I have
I remember very little about stuff that happened before the game. I enjoyed seeing so many people I had gone to school with just while wandering around, but the thing I remember the most was how absolutely exciting it was when the band fired up and marched into the Crapaseum or the Rose Bowl. If’s funny – I thought the relatively short period before the game, getting into the stadium, was much more electrifying than the half time shows.
Great letter and great strategy, KS,
involving others who might have the Chancellor’s ear. This is, literally I’m afraid, my fifth decade of enjoying the UCLA Band, and I do mean enjoy. I can only imagine how difficult this was for you.
I’d rec this twice if I could.
Great letter thanks KS
I have a request for donations sitting on my desk which I haven’t responded to yet but you have inspired me.
While you're at it...
Can you get Henderson to explain why the band continues to play “Word Up” from the obscure 80’s band Cameo at every basketball game?
Some of the stuff we played in the stands
seemed pretty dated to me – and I graduated nearly two decades ago. I still hear many of the same songs being played.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
The band continues to play "Word Up" because
the band continues to vote to keep it in. At the end of the year, the band is given a say as to which songs stay and which songs go, as well as an opportunity to suggest new songs. I’m not going to say Gordon has no say in what we play, but it’s certainly not a unilateral decision on his part.
As one who dabbles in marching band music arrangement, I can tell you that getting more current music to translate to marching band is pretty difficult since a lot of popular music follows the “percussive vocals in front of a four- or eight- bar vamp” formula, which is nearly impossible to do as a marching band. Simply put, a lot of current, popular music just doesn’t lend itself to marching band.
How about the last movement to Pines of Rome?
I would like to hear the Bruin Band play that (although I see very few fiddles in a marching band.)
OT: Not exactly Pines of Rome
One of the best Drum Corps endings of all time! (this is Star of Indiana in 1991 if anyone was curious)
Speaking of Drum Corps endings, I have tix to Rampage in Sarasota in a week or so.
For those of you who have never seen what elite band members do after they graduate, you should see this show. It’s beyond amazing. And this from a classical music – opera guy.
I NEVER thought I'd see Star '91 on BN.
Never in a million years.
Thanks for the clarification
Had no idea how the songs are chosen. That said, “Word Up”? The band seriously WANTS to play that year after year? I brought my wife to a game last month (she has no affiliation to UCLA), she couldn’t believe they were playing such an obscure chestnut from the 80’s. It did not give her a good impression of the band at all.
Heard a few good takes on modern songs during football yesterday. Some band during the Rose Parade played Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory”, and it sounded pretty good!
It's a fun song to play
and consistently popular enough to stay. The thing is, it’s a “rank your top 5 and bottom 5” kind of thing, so unless a lot of people absolutely hate a song, it probably stays. I’ve heard that Walt Hazzard suggested that the band play it when it first came out and he was basketball HC, and it just stayed popular with the band all these years, but I’m not entirely sure that that’s true. Also a trend to note, the pop song that the band plays combined with the high school bands tends to stick around at least for the rest of that year as a stand tune (exception being this year, because nobody liked “Teenage Dream,” and Gordon either disliked or didn’t care about it enough to leave whether it stayed or went up to a vote.)
You heard a pretty good portion of the repertoire at the Hunger Bowl— we played at almost every possible opportunity. I’m not so sure about “Edge of Glory,” because despite it being a good song, we already have two Gaga songs (Born This Way and I think Bad Romance is back in after we played it combined with Oregon at the Pac12 championship game). I mean, I have no idea how it’ll work out, and I only account for one vote out of 250+, but I don’t think we’ll have three Gaga songs next year.
by b d on Jan 3, 2012 7:23 PM PST up reply actions
No Mozart? No Verdi?
Just teasing, of course. That said, the marriage march (Ecco la marcia) from Marriage of Figaro is pretty nice, and the Triumphal March from Aida is also a hit. Work those into the song book, and the low brows from across town wouldn’t know what hit them.
Wow, that's all really interesting
I just figured “Word Up” was hanging around out of laziness or something, but if you guys really love it, more power to you!
But here’s another idea that might engage the fans more – how about letting US pick some of the songs?? If you did it via the web, it could direct traffic to the band’s website, where you could conveniently also solicit donations….
Fun, indeed.
As a former student in a band run by a UCLA ‘89 alum, an ’04 band alum myself, and a current HS band director, I can certainly attest to the fact that people love to play Word Up. I’ve heard that song every week of fall since ’96.
A favorite UCLA Band memory of mine...(I'm not in the band)
was during my first year (1993) at a home football game. The game was almost over and for some reason a lot of cops got onto the field and were standing shoulder to shoulder around the field…as if people were going to rush the field at the end of the game. Anyways, the next thing I hear is the band playing the theme song to CHiPs! I loved it!
Once at the Sports Arena (where we had our home BBall games)
just$c*’s band played 1812 Overture. Then our band played it (and played it better), and head yell leader Terry Stewart had us all yell “Twenty to sixteen Overture” to remind the trOJies of the football game (that was the Beban to Altenburg game in ’65.) That was one of my favorite band memoried.
The highlight of my experience at the Sports Arena this year
Was when the band played “All of the Lights” after the lights turned off during the Texas game. My friends and I still talk about that.
It would be awesome to hear others share their stories here!
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
One of my favorite memories (I was not in band either)
was UCLA’s marching band starting a “Bow Wow’s better clap clap clap clap clap” chant when Lil’ Romeo (wannabe rapper and son of Master P) stepped on the court for $C during a game at Pauley. Soon enough, the whole Den was chanting it and Lil’ Romeo looked like he was going to cry!
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 3, 2012 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
October 1983...
Got a back-channel call from the Stanford band looking for help. They were coming down to play at the ’sc game in the Coliseum but lacked sufficient players due to midterms. A few of us simply could not pass up the opportunity and took up the invite. The pre-game show ended with the band making a rose on the field and playing Sons of Westwood.
Gas – $6.00
Parking – $12.00
Uniform – not required
Watching 80K trojie jaws drop – PRICELESS.
by NorthernNeckBruin on Jan 3, 2012 7:41 PM PST reply actions
When I was at freshman orientation
I was also told an urban legend that sometime in the 1980s, the Bruin marching band had been invited to play at halftime of a Los Angeles Raiders game at the Mausoleum. Supposedly they formed the UCLA logo, then dropped bleach onto the grass so that it stained the field when the Trogans played on Saturday. I have no idea if this is a true story but if so this is legendary.
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 3, 2012 9:59 PM PST up reply actions
Any Way to Verify that?
Because that would be Legendary !!!
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
It was real
It happened, cause I was there :) . I think Hondo (Gordon) still has the police report. Best part was the discription of the suspects. “Aprox 250 persons in blue and gold uniforms” LoL. No charges where ever filed but I think we had to pay $50k or some such for them to repair the field. The raider game was on Sunday, and by Monday the big UCLA was in fact burned into the field, and quite visible. They painted it over with green paint before our game the following Saturday.
It'd be nice to get that swagger back ...
… these days we have some UCLA fans looking for silver linings in a true moral victory.
Awesome!!
I was wondering if this was true or just UCLA folklore. Glad to see that it was real
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 4, 2012 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
Stanford has Class
That is a great Story !!
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
Excellent, KS
You have written a perfectly worded, classy and insightful response to the Band Director’s request. You are a shining example of stepping up and doing the right thing, when it is the most difficult.
Thank you.
Love My Bruins
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