The UMass Hoop Band are the students that keep the music going at all home Men’s and Women’s Basketball games. Hoop Band, or “Pep Band,” is a one-credit class that meets once per week, on Mondays from 4:40pm to 6:10pm. Students begin rehearsing at the end of the fall semester, as the basketball season kicks off before winter break. The UMass Hoop Band is composed of approximately 107 students, playing a variety of instruments, including: percussion, trumpet, trombone, mellophone, tuba, saxophone, flute, and clarinet. At least thirty students perform at each game, along with two twirlers.

Concert Band (MUSIC 569) is an ensemble offered to both non-music and music major students of the 5-College program. The class recently became available both fall and spring semesters at the George N. Parks Marching Band Building. The concert band is directed by Dr. Timothy Todd Anderson on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:40pm to 6:10pm, as well as other guest conductors that are often graduate music students.

On October 18th at 8:00PM, the UMMB will be the headlining performance at the UMass-Amherst Department of Music’s Multibands Pops Concert. The event will consist of many UMass musical ensembles, closed by the Power and Class of New England. One can expect to hear a plethora of tunes from the UMMB’s 2013 season. The UMMB will also be performing on the mornings of the 17th and the 18th for the local middle and elementary schools. Finally, don’t miss the Homecoming Parade on October 17th at 4:30PM, in which the UMMB will be marching and kicking off the Homecoming week!

       On November 28, 2013, it might be the year to get up early again and watch the dozens of balloon floats and marching bands go through New York City. Why, you ask? Under the direction of Director, Timothy Todd Anderson and Associate Director, Thomas P. Hannum, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band will be traveling to New York City to march in the Macy’s Parade among one of the several marching bands. On April 3rd, 2012 Wesley Whatley, Creative Director of the parade, came to the George N.