The BRMB is a place for fun and music! We don’t want band to stress you out, but rather help you escape from stress. We love to spontaneously build sax pyramids on the field and throw a ball around during rehearsal, so serious might not be the best word to describe us. However, we do hold ourselves to some standard, as we are the only REAL marching band in the Ivy League. Academics and your health come first, so we completely understand if you are unable to make some rehearsals. That being said, we want our shows to look and sound great, and that can’t happen without attending rehearsals before a game.
Nope! If you want to bring your own sax from home, you’re more than welcome to use it and store it in the band room. If you don’t have your own sax ($$$$$$$), we have plenty for you to use.
In the fall, we rehearse every Tuesday (9pm-11pm), Thursday (9:15pm-10:30pm), and Friday (4:45pm-6:00pm). Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals are field rehearsals, while Friday rehearsals are strictly music rehearsals. On “off” weekends (weekends when we don’t have a game), we have Saturday field rehearsals (10am-12pm). Rehearsals are always fun and a great way to end a day.
While we always enjoy your company and seeing your smiling faces, we understand that you may need a break every now and then. We’ll be waiting for you with open arms when you return!
No way! Just show up to our next rehearsal and we’ll be more than willing to help get you started!
Yes! We travel to away games at other Ivy League institutions. Travel costs are covered by generous alumni donations, so the only cost to you will be meal expenses, aside from lunch on game days. We either stay at a hotel (again, costs are covered) or stay with the hosting band in their dorms and/or apartments.
In the past, the band has gone to NFL games and CFL games. On certain trips, we also play at special events, such as the Sy Katz ‘31 Parade. Outside of football, the Big Red Pep Band attends most other sporting events on campus. They also travel with the Men’s Hockey team across the majority of the Northeast!
If this is the first time you’ll pick up a saxophone, it won’t be your last! Saxophone is objectively one of the easier instruments for beginners to learn. We can teach you how to play, how to read music and anything else you’ll need to know - just come and try it out!
Many of our current members never marched before joining the BRMB! We’ll teach you all you need to know about marching technique. Our shows have relatively simple drill and only require basic marching skills to follow.
Your academics and your health are our first priority. As a member of the marching band, you’ll have access to a large network of upperclassmen (and alumni) who have taken the same classes you are (or will be) taking. Us bandies are always willing to help out if you’re finding a class to be particularly difficult, and are just as willing to help you through tough spots academically, emotionally, or socially. You’ll find some of the most brilliant people at Cornell among our ranks. Balancing academics with any extracurricular activity will take some initiative on your part, but it doesn’t hurt to be doing it alongside your friends! In most classes that you take, there is likely another bandie (or a whole band row) in the lecture hall.
Friends! The best of friends! Lots of friends! The friends that you make in band will last a lifetime. These friends will be with you throughout your time at Cornell, and will become an essential part of your experience at Cornell - classmates, housemates, you name it.