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About the Marching 97

The Marching 97 is Lehigh University's student-run marching band.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's with the 97? [ top ]
The number 97 is the traditional number of people in the Lehigh Marching Band. The band is made up of ranks-groups of eight members per instrument. Ideally, there would be twelve ranks, making the band 96 musicians strong. Add in the Drum Major, who doesn't march but does wave maniacally, and you have 97 people. We consider it our goal to have the full 97 members, though we've had between 55 and 70 members in recent years..


I loved/hated my high school band. Are you like them? [ top ]
There are a few differences. Most importantly, there is NO roll stepping in the Marching 97. Most high school bands march in the same style as a DCI drum and bugle corps-- The Marching 97 marches in the high-stepping Big 10 style. This means that your foot comes completely off of the ground, your toe is pointed and your thigh is raised until it is parallel with the ground. Yes, it does take a little practice

Aside from marching style, we are also a noncompetitive band. Instead, we perform only at football games. Because we don't have to prepare for competitions, we learn a brand new show for every home game. How is that possible? Our drills are a lot easier to learn than most corps style shows, since each rank of eight people moves in concert. Shows are easy to create, learn and remember.

Finally, there is no color guard in the Marching 97. The Big 10 marching style is a little too rough for the twirling and gracefulness of most color guards. And, they don't trust us near sabers or rifles.


Yeah, ok. Why should I join? [ top ]
Fun! Although we strive for the best marching and best playing, there are no push-ups for missed notes, no drill downs and no screaming about "hitting your marks," we are an extremely social organization. At practices, football games, and after-band events, we're always making jokes and having a good time. We aren't the super strict marching bands of many high schools-the atmosphere is one of friendship, love of music and most importantly, hatred of Lafayette . The marching band is made up of students from all colleges at Lehigh-with so many different people and disciplines represented among the members, it's easy to find help with homework or people to talk to.

Do you really play at every game? [ top ]
We play at every home game and Lafayette, when an away year. In addition, we'll also play at one other away game, determined in spring of the year before. For all other away games, attendance is not mandatory, but keeping in the rowdy, fun atmosphere, we usually send a delegation of the marching band to those games as well to heckle, play and keep the team motivated. These trips, called flames, are some of the most fun times of band-we don't put on a full show at a flame, so it's a pep-band style performance.

Will this interrupt my homework.or video game time? [ top ]
Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM outside the Rauch Field House on Goodman Campus. We meet at 4:00 outside Zoellner Arts Center and drive over South Mountain to the practice fields. After practice, you are free to eat with most of the band in the upper UC.or, you can catch dinner with your hall mates.

When there is a home game on Saturday, we'll have an extra practice on Fridays at 4:00 . The morning of a home game, we meet around 9:30 AM run through the show a few more times, eat lunch, get dressed, and march to the field.

Will my friends make awful "band camp" jokes? [ top ]
Sadly, yes; band camp lasts for three days the week prior to the start of classes. Over the course of the three day camp in the Poconos, we learn the first drill of the season written by the drum major. We also hold the a softball game, fling water balloons, swim, sing songs, play music, and generally have a good time. Since band camp starts the week before classes, you get to move in before your roommate, get the inside scoop on Lehigh before everyone else, and make a cadre of good friends (chauffeurs and tutors, too) in the process!

I don't go to Lehigh, am I invited, too? [ top ]
Sure! Students from any of the colleges, universities, or community colleges in the Allentown/Bethlehem area can join the 97 as long as they can get to and from practices and shows.

What's all this talk about students running the place? [ top ]
The Marching 97 holds elections at the end of every year to elect a new batch of student officers. There are eleven executive members of the band including the Manager, Drum Major and Conductor. Each of the major positions of the band are held by students .

There is one faculty member that helps the band, Al Neumeyer . He's there to give advice, and help us learn the drills and play the music. Students write all shows for the 97-from all majors and colleges.

What kind of music do you play? [ top ]
Everything. Our drills range from traditional marches to current hits, and along the way play some movie themes or your favorite TV show jingle plus, of course, the Lehigh fight songs.

In the stands we'll play anything we damn well please. Our favorites are usually songs that are loud, catchy, and familiar to most people in the crowd. Our music folders have around thirty pieces in them every year, and we quickly learn the songs we play most often.

What if I can't march with my bassoon/double bass/ didgeridoo, but I still want to play music? [ top ]
Other than the marching band, Lehigh also has an orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz groups, and many more. Below is a list of the websites for some of the other music organizations, as well as their directors.

Pep Band www.lehigh.edu/~inpep/  
Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra www.lehigh.edu/orchestra/
The Wind Ensemble at Lehigh University www.lehigh.edu/~inwind/ Prof. David B. Diggs
Jazz Ensembles No Website Prof. William Warfield
Choral Arts www.lehigh.edu/~inchoir/ Prof. Steven Sametz
Lehigh University Very Modern Ensemble (LUVME) No Website Prof. Paul Salerni


Do you do anything else? [ top ]
Yes! As a group, we do everything from movie nights to game nights as well as parties, Midnight Kickball, late-night trips and other craziness. Outside of practice and football games, we're just a large group of friends with many, varied interests. You can always find someone within the band interested in the same things you are!

Can I still do marching band and get all of my work done? [ top ]
We do! The practice schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays is not during class times, and it's a good way to take a break from working and relax for a little while. Since we're done by 6:00 PM , there's still plenty of time to get your work done and get some sleep.

If you're worried about the end-of-semester crunch into finals, the last game of the season (always Lafayette ) is prior to Thanksgiving-quite some time before finals. If the football team makes it into the playoffs, performances at the post-season games are voluntary.

Apparently, my question was not "frequently asked." [ top ]

If you have any additional questions or if you hate Lafayette , feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!