The Yellow Board

Stand Jams

Posted by Noob on 5/3/2022, 7:15 am

supt. wants us to have a presence in the stands a FB games. Brief history. VERY small Class A and 6 (or less) man FB. Since many of my band players will be on the field or sideline I need to create some "noise/spirit" in the stands. I have a bunch of old marching perc. but need help in finding some stand jams/cheers etc that are playable by other than perc. players. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Old dude on 5/5/2022, 4:11 pm, in reply to "Stand Jams"

My HS principal complained that our band wasn't providing enough spirit in the stands at football games. I took note and observed our band was playing 400% more tunes than any other school. I wrote many short "stolen"tunes in unison to help with stand spirit and minimize need for extra rehearsal time. I brought out a trap set and an electric bass for more pop to our sound. My principal still wasn't happy so I asked what he really wanted. He wanted our band to dance in the stands with the drums jamming and the fans chanting some rap crap. I was ready to resign and immediately offered my keys. I explained that I was 64 years old and had no dance or rap training! I suggested my cheerleaders who were in band could create what he was looking for and they did. I suppose they saved this old band director's job.

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Respectfully on 5/11/2022, 2:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

Rap isn't crap. And it's the most popular music in the under-18 demographic nationwide. While there is a TON of bad rap music out there, dismissing it as crap dismisses the cultural significance of a major musical genre and social influence. And there's just as much terrible pop, country, rock, and other genres out there as there is rap.

Twist and Shout, a song I played in high school and an awesome tune, is now nearly sixty years old (58, released in 1964). To liken it to someone who is 64 years old, it'd be like going to one of your own high school football games and playing Al Jolson or Alexander's Ragtime Band (both popular songs from 1912, or 58 years before you were 18 years old). Not saying you're playing T&S, but it was an example song that came to mind from my own experience.

Even our "go-to" hype songs like Seven Nation Army are getting up there in age. That one came out nearly two decades ago itself - it's from 2003.

While there's a place for "classics" it's important for ALL of us to realize that 99% of our audience couldn't care less. They want to hear what's on the radio and the music they know and like.

That 99% is who pays our bills and renews our contracts. Why do you think most college bands each have about six or seven stand chant tunes (almost no full songs) that they cycle through over and over?

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by op on 5/6/2022, 6:42 am, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

Food for thought. Thanks

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Tetra Chords on 5/3/2022, 3:28 pm, in reply to "Stand Jams"

Pick a Tetra Chord and you can play a ton of songs

We Will Rock You
Adams Family
Baby Shark
etc.

Bonus points you can teach the kids to play these short songs in all 12 keys!

P.S. The ESPN hit (dun na-na, dun na-na!) is the first 2 notes of Remington

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Hmm on 5/4/2022, 1:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

The Sports center theme is Do-Te-Do, the second phrase of Remington. I have heard a few minor seconds from a few bands, but it is certainly a major second.

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Just saying.. on 5/5/2022, 12:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

And aside from just that little bit, ESPN hasn't used the SportsCenter theme song in about a decade..

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by op on 5/4/2022, 9:10 am, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

love it!

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by been there on 5/3/2022, 2:23 pm, in reply to "Stand Jams"

I had 15 kids my first year at a 1A and they were weak. The year before I heard you couldn't even recognize the school song or fight song.

I wrote out simple short stand tunes in Musescore. Go Fight Win, Eat Em Up, Land of 1000 Dances, Hey Song, Darth Vader, Sail, 7 Nation Army.. Etc. Super comfortable range and simplified rhythms.

Low Brass/Low Reeds/Tuba Unison Line
Trumpet/Flute/Clarinet Unison Line
Alto/Horn Harmony Line
Simple Percussion Beat

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by op[ on 5/4/2022, 9:11 am, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

good stuff, thanks

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Tim- TYB Host on 5/3/2022, 2:04 pm, in reply to "Stand Jams"
Board Administrator

Folks, I'm not going to approve posts that asks for that person's email. If the OP wants you to email them, that person will post their email.

Tim

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Suggestion on 5/3/2022, 12:34 pm, in reply to "Stand Jams"

Write out simple songs like "Go Big (school color here)" and "Charge" or the like for the kids you have.

Make it flex score instrumentation, even - if you use two or three parts, have them available for all instruments.

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by op on 5/3/2022, 2:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

I've got those already learned by osmosis.Thanks for the suggestions

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by Percguy on 5/3/2022, 9:04 am, in reply to "Stand Jams"

If you want the biggest bang for your buck sound wise, a drumset and an amplified bass guitar will go a long way to creating presence, and that only requires 2 people. You could even play one of those yourself. After that, I would buy the easiest set from this page: https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/marching-band-collections.list

Re: Stand Jams

Posted by op on 5/3/2022, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Stand Jams"

good suggestions on bass g. and I have the books listed and am currently re-arr. to fit. thanks.

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