Meet the New Michigan Marching Band Drum Major

M-Live introduces MMB Drum Major 53, McKenna Thayer 

MMB at Citrus Bowl - Game Day Video

Nice video put together by the Michigan Band Video crew.

They finally did it! Michigan Marching Band on Ice!

The Michigan Hockey Pep Band normally sits in the stands. For the first time the band made it down to the ICE. (But not on skates - how to do that is not yet worked out.)

This group is billed as the Michigan Marching Band and they do march and the drum major is there and even did the backbend. 

"Lets Go Blue" Links

Michigan Today has a story about "Lets Go Blue" that is worth reading (and listening - it includes a podcast with Albert Ahronheim!)

I made some comments on Michigan Today and posted some related things in other places, but I am too busy and/or lazy to  repeat them here, so for now here are the links:


Michigan Today - How We Went Blue


AboutBand - A Band Tradition for 40 Years


Michigan Band Vintage Flashback - Michgian Hockey Band - A True Story

MMB drummer hanging upside down

Getty images has an amazing photo of an MMB drum line guy playing his quad drums while hanging upside down! I put it in my "Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue" blog and you should go there to see the MMB photographs.

Also, don't miss  Maize and Blue donuts and the Birth of "The Yellow and Blue".

NY Philharmonic (and friends) in the Big House

The big day has come and gone, and is now in the news.

AP College Football shows Alan Gilbert on the podium (wearing #1 in Maize and Blue.) The article describes the performance and the NY Phil activities at the University of Music School of Music, Theater and Dance.

From AP College Football: Alan Gilbert, music director of the New York Philharmonic, conducts members of his brass section along with the Michigan Marching Band during a halftime of the Michigan-Northwestern game in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

The Michigan Daily article  quoted Director of the Michigan Marching Band, John Pasquale: "“The students’ reaction is why we teach — seeing their faces as they were playing is a highlight of my career thus far,” he wrote. “The (Michigan Marching Band’s) performance was fantastic and we are so proud of them.  What they accomplished is testament that Michigan has the best and brightest students in the world. It was a great day for the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and Michigan Athletics. It was a great day for the legacy, tradition and spirit of Michigan.”

The MMB Video version will be available eventually, but this video of the finale gives a good idea of the impressive sound and the crowd's appreciation.