Civil engineering student Martin Brosnan plays trumpet in the WSU marching band. (Photo by Alonso del Arte)

by Derrick Bean COE Public Affairs Writer Engineering freshman Nigil Valikodath (undecided; leaning toward biomedical engineering) and sophomore Martin Brosnan (civil engineering) are breathing life back into Wayne State University’s resurrected marching band. It has been about 20 years since the last time a Wayne State marching band made the Tom Adams Field their stomping ground. But things are changing and it all started during the homecoming game on Oct. 3 when the band rose from the dead. “I am so glad that there is a band,” says 18-year-old bass drum player, Valikodath. “Of course, it’s my freshman year, so the fact that it is resurrected does not mean much to me. But I appreciate that people made the effort to bring the band back.” Brosnan, 19, says the marching band will give a boost to school spirit. “It helps with bringing people down to the football games and everything,” he says. “It helps out with school spirit. It almost seems wrong if you go to a football game and there’s no marching band. The halftime show isn’t the same with music being played over the P.A. system.” Music lecturer and band director Janet Wright-McCaskill is leading the way. “Bringing back the Warrior Band revisits a lost venue for school spirit and pride,” says Wright-McCaskill, the adamant and determined ring leader who was hired this past summer to revive the former world-renowned band. “It also provides a great outlet for students who want to continue to play their instruments, but don't want to become a music major or music minor. I want students to have opportunities to become involved in their collegiate community and the Warrior Band provides those situations.” But the band isn’t back to its normal self just yet. In a short time, about 50 would-be band members had to put in long hours behind the scenes to make rehearsals a reality. Brosnan says students only needed to show interest and have some skill with a musical instrument. “Because it was the first year, we didn’t have any cuts or tryouts or anything because we needed people,” he says. “You have to know how to play the instruments and actually show up to every rehearsal.” Experience certainly helps, though. Valikodath and Brosnan, a trumpeter, have been involved in playing instruments most of their lives. “I’ve done some type of band since fourth grade,” says Valikodath. “I love playing instruments.” Brosnan played in his high school pep band, but has been playing music since a child. He says there’s a link between playing music and studying. “I’ve been a musician since I was 4 years old, and I do think there’s a connection between playing in a band and doing well in school,” Brosnan says of the discipline needed to succeed in each path. “Learning to play an instrument does really help with being able to do well in class.” Valikodath says his studies allow him to think outside the box because “engineering brings my creative side to the marching band.” For instance, he says, “We had to think of a way to harness the bass drums, and we had to figure out how to assemble the other harnesses that were sent in. Also, when we have to modify or make up our own cadences -the drumline’s own parading music played in between the normal band songs- I think of it as making something from the limited resources. I think of it as engineering a song.” Wright-McCaskill says some students brought their own instruments while they wait for new ones purchased by the university to arrive.. “Some instruments should arrive by the end of the semester, and some will arrive throughout the next several months,” she says. The road to the football field was tough. “I didn't have an instrument for the pre-game, but I did for the stands,” says Valikodath. “The bass drum did not have a harness to hold it up, and so I could only play in the stands. I think bringing it to the stands was the difficulty I had to overcome.” Brosnan used his own trumpet he has had since high school. Considering all the challenges that arose leading up to the big game, he says he is proud of the marching band’s performance, and that the hard work paid off. “One of the biggest difficulties is most marching bands start in the summer with a camp, work with techniques, pass out music, get to know stuff,” says Brosnan. “We had so many conflicts with people working and classes that we had to learn all the music on our own or outside of rehearsal. We basically had to do everything on an accelerated timescale. That’s why we haven’t done anything complex yet. But that’s pretty impressive.” At the game, the band played the WSU alma mater, a version of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” and the national anthem. “They sound great,” a proud Wright-McCaskill says. Fortunately, everything ended on a good note – including the game. “It was awesome,” says Brosnan. “I never played football. I love watching football games. Being a fan watching the football games is great. But being a part of the game (whether you’re a cheerleader or in the band, a commentator or a player on the field) is just another level. Knowing that you’re a part of what people are going to watch is just amazing. The game was just amazing – probably one of the best days I’ve had since I started college.” “A marching band makes the fans and maybe even the players get more into the game,” Valikodath says. “I think we are one of the many reasons we won at homecoming.” There are a couple of immediate goals Wright-McCaskill is planning to achieve. “We hope to push 100 members within the next year,” she says. “We will also continue to expand our pregame show, add more stands selections and add several half-time shows next season. We will have a band camp before next school year where everyone will audition for part-assignments. Additionally, throughout the summer, I hope to have several mini-camps for percussion, auxiliary and leadership. It will be a very busy time.” In the meantime, Wright-McCaskill says the Warrior Band will keep playing. “Come check us out at a basketball game,” she says.