There are often many questions associated with the considerable change and adjustment into college life. However, it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. We are here to help. Please read through these frequently asked questions and contact us for additional clarification and/or other questions that might come up.
We are excited that you are considering Marshall and the Marching Thunder.
An informative email was sent out on July 14th to all those who have pre-registered for band camp.
You can find all the information provided in that email here.
You can find all the information provided in that email here.
If you did not receive this email or you have not yet pre-registered for band camp, you can pre-register for band camp here!
All ensembles at Marshall are available to any student regardless of major. These include the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Marching Thunder, and 6th Man Pep Band. Some do require an audition for chair placement while others do not. You can find contact information for ensemble conductors here.
During the Fall semester, the Marching Thunder rehearses Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. In addition, we hold short Game-day Rehearsals the mornings of home games. Students rarely drop marching band because of time problems. In fact, student feel that being a part of the Marching Thunder provides structure and helps with time management. In addition, our students view marching band as a time to get outside and break away from the lecture halls and labs to play great music and be among close friends.
We play at all home football games and occasionally take the full band to at least one traveling performance a year. The band also performs at the post-season Conference USA Championship (if we qualify) and bowl games (if we qualify). In addition, we often perform at regional marching band competitions in exhibition, as well as the Tri-State Marching Band Championship which we host.
Membership is open to all Marshall University Students. There is no audition for wind members to get into the band, but there will be a small audition at band camp to assist with the part assignment process. Percussion, Majorettes, and Color guard auditions occur in the Spring semester and/or over the Summer. If you are interested in joining please fill out our New Member Interest Form so we can send you more information as Band Camp gets closer.
All students who wish to be a member of The Marching Thunder should register for the Marching Thunder course, MUS 266 for Freshmen and Sophomores and MUS 466 for Juniors and Seniors. Marching Thunder is a graded class and each member MUST register for the class in order to participate in the band. This policy is in place for liability and for student support.
If a class conflict cannot be avoided, do not assume that you cannot participate! We understand that there are many lab and/or course conflicts with marching band during the week. If you have exhausted all other scheduling options, we do permit members to miss one rehearsal per week due to a conflict with a class/lab required for your major. Work and other personal conflicts are not permissible. Class conflict requests should be submitted via email to Dr. Schletter.
The University covers all travel costs related to participation in the marching band, including providing all hotel costs and food costs while on band trips. The University also provides Marching Thunder members with their uniform. Students will be charged a band camp fee of $85 to help with the cost of camp, meals, apparel, and other items throughout the year. This should be paid at band camp registration. If you are in need of black marching shoes, then you’ll need to add $40 to the band camp fee. If you have black marching shoes from high school that are in good condition, you’re welcome to use them.
The 6th Man Pep Band is open to all Marshall University Students. All members of the Marching Thunder are encourage to join the pep band. During the fall season there are a few games that must be covered. For these early games, the full band is split into two groups that rotate to cover these games. In the Spring, the pep bands play at all men’s and women’s home basketball games. Pep Band is a course that students receive credit for. More information will be provided to students at the end of the fall season.
Short answer: Yes! However, most of the music scholarships are awarded to music majors and there is a specific deadline for application and audition for a music scholarship. If you would like more information regarding music major scholarships, please contact one of our ensemble directors. If you are interested in participating in The Marching Thunder or The 6th Man Pep Band and you’re interested in the possibility of receiving a tuition waiver, please go to this Tuition Waiver Audition Registration. The tuition waiver can be broken up to apply to two semesters, or can be used as one sum in the fall semester.
Yes. For more information, please contact Dr. Schletter.