New class required for pep band admittance

As long as there has been a pep band at Gonzaga, it has been open for anyone to join without an audition and without any time commitment outside of the basketball games themselves.

This year, Pep Band Director David Fague, along with Professor Robert Spittal, is changing that. The band will still be open to anyone interested in joining, but all first-year members are now required to enroll in a Gonzaga band class, where they will practice the music that is performed at the games.  

"In the past, first-year students weren't completely up to speed by the first game," Fague said.  

He hopes that with the practice time that this class provides, the entire band will be prepared when it comes time for the first game.

The class will meet once a week until the beginning of basketball season, and then again second semester from the end of basketball season until the end of the school year.  It is taught by Fague in the fall and by Spittal in the spring.  

All interested students are welcome to join pep band, although most have at least one year of experience playing their instrument. Beginning students, however, may also take private lessons in order to join.  

"The pep part of band is just as important as the band part," Fague said, and he encourages all students interested to join.

While the addition of the class requirement may deter some potential pep band members, Fague believes it will simply weed out the students who are not committed at the front end of the season, rather than having them drop out along the road.  

During the 2009-2010 season, the band had about 125 members initially and ended the season with 95.  This costs the program a lot of money on uniforms and other expenses. By starting with a smaller band, Fague hopes to retain all of them.

Most students are not put off by the addition of a class requirement.  Sophomore Emily Slater will be joining the band this year, so she will be taking the Gonzaga band class along with freshmen and any other first-year band members.  

"I think it's a good idea because it gives people a chance to get acclimated to the music," Slater said.

By giving the band a chance to practice before the first basketball game, they'll be better prepared and the games will be more fun for the audience and for the performers.