With its bold red and white polo shirts and upbeat music, the pep band makes its presence known at Wolfpack basketball games. And although it is clear that these pep band members are relentless NC State fans, much of the student body is probably not aware of what it takes to be a member of this energetic band.
Becoming a pep band member begins with an audition which is adjudicated by Paul Garcia, the director of the band. Some pep band members also play in the marching band during football season, so they audition for both bands during the summer before the fall semester.
For students who do not audition in the summer for the marching band, Garcia holds separate pep band auditions in late September. These auditions are pretty laid back, and students simply set up an appointment with Garcia during which he listens to them play. Garcia is limited in the number of students he can accept into the band, as well as the number of students he can accept into each section of the band, but he says he has never reached that limit.
Once the band is finalized, it begins rehearsing throughout the month of October. Unlike the marching band, which holds practice three times a week, the pep band only rehearses one night a week for 45 minutes. But once basketball season begins, the band may perform at various men’s and women’s games three or four times a week. Because of this time commitment, students receive one hour of course credit for participating in the band.
This year’s pep band has 140 members, and its sections are split up so not every band member has to go to every game. However, students are allowed to play in the band for as many games as they like.
“We average about 100 members for normal games, but when we have big games like Duke and Carolina almost all 140 members will come out,” Garcia said.
Unfortunately when the ACC and NCAA tournaments come around in March, NCAA requirements cause the band to be downsized to just 29 members. Each school represented at these tournaments is only allowed to have 30 band members present, including the director.
With so few spots available for tournament games, Garcia has developed a point system to determine who is able to travel with the basketball team for these games. The system is based upon seniority and the number of games each member has played at throughout the year.
Those who earn a spot to travel with the band face a unique but somewhat challenging experience. While away from class, students must find a way to fulfill their normal academic duties. Garcia tries to ensure that his band members stay on track in this area by giving them a study hall each morning while they are on the road.
Lorenzo Melton II, a drummer for the pep band and a sophomore studying zoology, said balancing schoolwork and the pep band requires organization and planning.
“My saving grace this semester was having friends sending me notes from class while I was away, and working with me on assignments when I got back,” Melton said.
While band members still must work hard in their academics, they do get to have a lot of fun playing at tournaments. Band members received front-row seats to each of NC State’s exciting March Madness games.
“Being on the front row of that NCSU vs. LSU game was the most surreal experience I have ever had. It is something I will always remember,” Melton said.
