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Covid 19 has affected school, sports, and events since nearly the beginning of the year. That hasn’t stopped the Chippewa Marching Band at Central Michigan University from having a good time, and supporting the team in other ways. The band may not be able to marching like normal, and take persuasions such as horn guards to prevent germs from spreading, but the band still finds ways to have fun. Starting with the game on November 4th against Ohio University, the Chippewa Marching Band will be cheering socially distant in the stands at Kelly Shorts Stadium.

On September 10, 2020, the “Legalize Being Black” march/protest on police brutality/ racism took place starting at Central Michigan University’s UC, and marching into Downtown Mt. Pleasant.

 

Michale Lee shows that the band earned its name “6th man” for a reason on 11/25/2018. The band cheers on the team no matter what it takes, even if it means distracting the other teams players with signs. The band plays at Mens and Women’s Basketball games at McGuirk Arena. (PC: Brendan Kwietniewski)

Brendan Wilk is the drum major for the Chippewa Marching Band at Central Michigan University. Wilk is a fifth year student from Livonia, MI; while the band is in its 96th season as the spirit of the stadium. Will shows that being a Drum Major is just not conducting the band. You also have to be physically fit and have the certain leadership skills to lead a 300 member band.

Dr. James Batcheller is the Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at Central Michigan University’s School of Music. He is passionate about what he does and is always making sure students learn to their full potential. (Photo: Brendan Kwietniewski)  

Matthew Kelley celebrates getting a grand slam home run after his first time up to bat at the games beginning, as the Central Michigan University Drumline plays a game called “Boomer Ball,” created by the line themselves, right before homecoming week (Photo: Brendan Kwietniewski)

Derrick Vanway was not happy when he was called out unfairly in the second half of the game at Jack Saunders Field. Vanway is a freshmen music major in the Drumline. (Photo: Brendan Kwietniewski) 

Jeffery Roberts, a sophomore Bass Drum player at Central Michigan University, steps up to pitch as the game comes to a close with his team holding a strong lead. (Photo Brendan Kwietniewski)  

Marimba player and percussion studio member Spencer Nolton, a fourth year student at Central Michigan University, practices a piece entitled “Dance on a Shattered Mirror” for an upcoming recital later this school year. (Photo by Brendan Kwietniewski.)

 

Nolton shows how it is not easy playing mallet percussion, as you have to use up to four mallets and learn certain technique in order to play the instrument right.”I really love the piece I am working on,” Spencer comments,”It is music I really love working on and shows how I am really painting my own picture.” (PC: Brendan Kwietniewski)

 

 

Matthew Anderson is a fourth year Central Michigan University Student, who is going on strong studying Music Education. Matthew plays the clarinet and saxophone as his primary instruments here at Central. He has also performed in many of CMU’s musical ensembles such as the Chippewa Marching Band and CMU’s Symphony Band over the past few years. One thing that Matthew mentions a lot that is unique, is how he seems to drive around a lot, and that he likes it.

 

Nick Kandrot is a 22-year-old student here at Central Michigan University. Nick is a Political Science major, now going into his fifth year of college. Nick hopes to be a social studies teacher sometime in the near future after getting his undergraduates degree. One thing that is pretty unique about Nick, is how passionate about his fraternity he is in. Kandrot currently serves as the Warden for Phi Mu Alpha’s Nu Pi chapter here at Central Michigan University.  He is always trying to strive to advance music in America, even though his career path may take him away from the activity itself as his passion lives on.

 

 

Connor Cummins is a 19-year-old student, now in his Sophomore year here at Central Michigan University. He is a double major in Music Education, as well as Music Theory Composition. Theory and Composition is the writing process of music overall, which is something that Cummins is very passionate about. Connor has played percussion in the Chippewa Marching Bands Drumline as a tenor player. For his major, he is in the bassoon studio, but hopes to be in the composition studio soon. One thing unique about Connor is that both in and out of music he synthesizes everything. He likes to take everything in he can, and try to put all together to see how it works.

 

 

Justin Rabine is twenty-year-old student here at Central Michigan University. He is a third year student who is a financial major. Justin plays the Euphonium in the Chippewa Marching Band, as they just recently played at Ford Field for the Detroit Lions recently. Justin also hopes to stick with music as much as he can, by considering rushing one of the music fraternities that held open recruitment tonight. But music is not the only thing Justin has skill in. Something unique about Rabine is that he has rode his bicycle over one hundred miles before in one go.