A 50 percent larger -- and louder -- band of Marching Sycamores graced the field of Memorial Stadium for the first home football game of the season Thursday night.
The number of members went from 115 students two years ago to 180 this year.
"My original goal was to have 150 students next year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the university," said Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Nikk Pilato. "I was very pleasantly surprised to see the numbers climb and climb over the summer months and was elated to see 180 people show up for camp. Our new goal is to reach 200. If we keep doing what we're doing and keep improving the experience for everyone, I feel we can accomplish that goal within a couple of years."
The university administration has been supportive of the band and its growth.
"You need administrative support to run a successful program, and we get that from the president, the provost, the dean and our own School of Music," Pilato said. "The administration has provided money for scholarships, a new truck, new drums and new instruments. It makes for a great situation with this kind of support."
Pilato also has help and support from his students, some of whom have designated leadership responsibilities.
"This is a team effort. I could not possibly do it all alone. I have wonderful drumline and color guard instructors and great student leaders," Pilato said. "I am not being humble when I say I couldn't do this without them -- I honestly could not. Many of these students want to be band directors themselves someday, so it is a fantastic opportunity for them to see the responsibilities they have to prepare for."
Pilato and his team started working with band members when they reported to band camp a week before the football team took the field for its first game on Aug. 31.
"We try to learn pregame and halftime during band camp," Pilato said. "It takes a great deal of mental discipline to remember all of the moves as fast as we're teaching them. Our main focus is to have a great show and entertain the crowd, but I also want them to feel like they've had a great show when they are finished and coming off the field."
Many bands are known by their identity and style, but the Marching Sycamores use a mixture of several traditions.
"We have a bit of a hybrid style," Pilato said. "Our style is a blend of everything. We use some corps style, some show band style and every once in a while, throw in some Big Ten style into the mix. We try to use whatever we think might entertain the crowd."
The band isn't just made of music majors. "Maybe 80 students in the band are music majors," Pilato said, "So 100 students are majoring in other things. It's a great representation of a cross section of our university."
"The band has become my family," senior Christa Goins said. "They are some of the greatest people I know and I know they have my back. We have a lot of fun and make so many memories together. It's also a fun way to stay involved in music and play my instrument even though I'm an exercise science major."
Pilato makes it a goal to learn all of his students' names. Sometimes when he's on his tower, he practices the students' names to make sure he has them down.
"It takes me some time but by the end of the year I'll be able to match faces with names," Pilato said. "It's important for them to know that they aren't just a nameless person marching the drill I wrote. I want them to know that I know who they are and that they are important to our success. But most of all, I just want them to keep getting better in all things and always put their best foot forward."
-30-
Photos: https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Football/Season-201718/Indiana-State-vs-Eastern-Illinois-2017/i-fX62QLC/1/b303e718/X5/08_31_17_football_ISU_EIU-0763-X5.jpg -- The Marching Sycamores perform Friday night at the Indiana State football game against Eastern Illinois University. (Tony Campbell/Indiana State University Photography Services)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Football/Season-201718/Indiana-State-vs-Eastern-Illinois-2017/i-jdP8qgN/1/e9bc827a/X5/08_31_17_football_ISU_EIU-0089-X5.jpg -- The Marching Sycamores perform Friday night at the Indiana State football game against Eastern Illinois University. (Tony Campbell/Indiana State University Photography Services)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Football/Season-201718/Indiana-State-vs-Eastern-Illinois-2017/i-XsWN8HM/1/a7733b17/X5/08_31_17_football_ISU_EIU-0117-X5.jpg -- The Marching Sycamores perform Friday night at the Indiana State football game against Eastern Illinois University. (Tony Campbell/Indiana State University Photography Services)
Writer and media contact: Antonio Turner, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, aturner41@sycamores.indstate.edu or 812-237-3773