The news is spreading around the campus of Doane College in Crete, Neb.—there will be a marching band for the upcoming fall for the first time in 26 years. “The plan for this marching band is to be a low-key and fun experience that will provide an extra element of excitement at our home football games and provide our music education students the experience of directing a marching band,” says Dr. Lance Nielsen, director.
The Mighty Tiger Marching Band began in 1925 and existed in various forms until it was disbanded in 1987. While the band will be open to all students, it will mostly exist as an educational lab project for music education majors.
“The sole purpose of this marching band experience is to give our music education students the needed experience of how to direct, administer, and plan for a marching band program,” Nielsen says. “A short show will be designed and taught as part of a class project in the junior level instrumental methods course.”
The band plans on performing a pregame show and potentially marching in the homecoming parade. Rehearsals will begin in the fall with minimal commitments—the band will gather on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Uniforms will consist of warm-ups and baseball caps. In future years Nielsen hopes the band will also perform halftime shows.
“We have had wonderful support from our school administration and the college community in reestablishing the Doane Marching Band,” Nielsen says. I think it’s going to be fun, something that’s going to add a little extra school spirit to Doane College.”
