Marching Bands

Trombone section of a Texas high-school marching band. I was a marching trombonist in Provo High School marching band in 1962. To this day I get a lump in my throat when I see a high performing marching band. I look at these kids and sense the pride and joy they must be feeling marching and playing in synch, the culmination of much music practicing and marching training. Notoriously, the nation's best marching bands are from Big Ten universities, to wit, Michigan, Ohio State. The Big Ten's Penn State marching band is at this parade. I'm looking forward to watching their performance at half time of today's Rose Bowl football game between Penn State and Utah. Go Penn State! PS. I have two friends who were in Purdue's (also Big Ten) marching band (at different times). Each recounts their marching band experience as being one of the best of their lives. Each note how daily training and drilling contributed to building pride, esprit de corps, and friendships, happily keeping them at a distance from the debilitating college partying, drinking and drugs scene.