Oregon State University Marching Band

History

Staff Members

Drum Majors

The drum major is the leader of the band, and is chosen from among the student body of the band.

Section Leaders

Each section has one, two, or three section leaders based on section size. Additional student leadership is provided by squad leaders. Section leaders provide student leadership in all aspects of the organization, while squad leaders provide additional leadership during marching rehearsals.

Membership

Membership is open to any Oregon State University or Linn-Benton Community College student. Students are welcome from all fields of study.

Game day

The Oregon State University Marching Band performs at all Oregon State University home and bowl games. During these game days, the marching band begins their day with a pre-performance rehearsal. During this rehearsal, the band will briefly rehearse the halftime show and the pre-game sequence. After rehearsal, the band will set up a parade block to prepare for the "Beaver Walk" (an event where the football team walks west on SW Ralph Miller Street. Prior to the start of the game, the band breaks into smaller bands (called "Orange Band", "Black Band", and "White Band") to tailgate. These smaller bands will tailgate at various locations near the stadium to play the school's Fight Song along with other arrangements before meeting inside Reser Stadium for an on-field pregame performance. The only exception to this is Civil War at OSU. Instead of tailgating, the band will meet with the Oregon Marching Band face-to-face for Battle of the Bands.

During the football games, the band plays music from their seats in the stands, and during halftime performs an on-field show.

At the conclusion of each home game the band performs the fight song "Hail to OSU" and the alma mater "Carry Me Back to OSU". When the team wins, additional music is performed.

Away Game Trips

The Oregon State Marching Band typically attends one away game each year, in addition to the Civil War if it is held at the University of Oregon. The entire band travels to any high-profile Bowl Games, while lower-tiered Bowl Games usually are accompanied by a smaller "pep band" from within the band.

Bowl Game Appearances

Types of Uniforms

The marching band has three different variations to their uniform; the uniform that the marching band wears will depend on the type of event. There are three different variations: full uniform, "Beaver Casual", and "Beaver Scuzzy". The full uniform is used exclusively during the fall season and only during special parades and most football games. "Beaver Casual" is used as the default uniform primarily for pep band events, basketball band, and other related events that do not require the full uniform; this uniform can be used year-round. The Beaver Casual uniform consists of the OSU Band baseball cap, orange polo, black slacks, and black socks and shoes. "Beaver Scuzzy" consist of the orange OSU band t-shirt and blue jeans and is normally used for informal events such as bar band.

Earlier Uniforms (1989 and earlier)

Orange and white jackets, tall helmets, and large white plumes.

Other previous uniforms have included a version with shoulder-tassels and other regalia, black uniforms with orange half-capes and orange military helmets (used in 1941 season), and military cadet uniforms.

Past Featured Twirlers have historically worn uniforms mainly of white with short or no legs.

1997-2005

The previous set of uniforms consistent of orange and black jackets with silver sequins, as well as black gloves and gauntlets, black pants and shoes, black shako, and black and silver tasseled plumes.

2006-2015

Orange and black jackets with white stripes and the "Beavers" logo in the center of a white shield on the front, white gauntlets, white gloves, black pants, and black shako with mirrors and black feathered plumes. The drum majors have an alternate version, substituting the jacket colors of orange and black with black and white, larger white plumes, and optional black gauntlets.

2016-present

The new uniforms were unveiled July 2016. The uniform consists of a tall, 16" black feather plume with a shako featuring an orange colored front side. The jacket features an orange and black body color split featuring the beaver logo on the wearer's top left and the Oregon State logo embroidered vertically along the black edge of the split. The rear side of the jacket features the orange OSU block letters arranged vertically along the back side. The features a traditional canopy that resembles traditional uniforms college bands traditionally wear. The gauntlets are black with the beaver script logo embroidered on them; these are worn with black gloves. Bibber pants are black with no unique design features. The overall design of the uniform borrowed many design elements from uniform designs of the 70's with contemporary styling from new the logos and colors.

Instrumentation

The instrumentation does not include percussion typically located in the "Front Ensemble" or "Pit" (Bells and other instruments on wheels) due to the band's emphasis on performing for the crowd, as opposed to the drum corps style utilized by most high schools and by a handful of university marching bands.

Color Guard

Featured Twirler

The featured twirler is a member of the band who performs at every performance and has included multiple people over the years.

The Fight Song: Hail to Old OSU

"Hail to Old OSU" is the fight song for Oregon State University. It was written by Harold a. Wilkins (Class of 1907) in 1914. The song consists of two verses and a chorus. It was originally called "Hail to Old O.A.C." and has officially remained unaltered except in the school initials as the school's name underwent changes to Oregon State College, and later, Oregon State University.

Alma Mater

The OSU Alma Mater, "Carry Me Back", was written by W. Homer Maris.

Within a vale of western mountains,
There's a college we hold dear.
Her shady slopes and fountains
Oft to me appear.
I love to wander on the pathway
Down to the Trysting Tree,
For there again I see in fancy,
Old friends dear to me.

[CHORUS]
Carry me back to OSU,
Back to her vine-clad halls;
Thus fondly ever in my mem'ry
Alma Mater calls.

Other Commonly Performed Tunes

The band also plays various popular music to rally the crowd during the games. These include:

Notable Alumni