Spencer Martin, a third-generation Vandal and the University of Idaho”s director of athletic bands, said homecoming is a special time for the university because it brings together generations of Vandals.
“My favorite part is the energy,” Martin said. “The energy of our students, both in the band and the student body, mixed with the energy of the alumni that are coming back to a place that obviously changed their lives.”
Martin said multiple university departments work together during the weeks leading up to homecoming to plan out every last detail.
When it comes to the Vandal Marching Band, Martin said the many events of Homecoming weekend can be challenging to his students.
“One of the things that will make this game a little bit more challenging is we have the Serpentine that Friday night,” Martin said. “Then on that Saturday we meet early for the Homecoming Parade.”
Immediately after the parade, Martin said the band also goes to a morning rehearsal at the Kibbie Dome. Fifteen middle school and high school bands join the Vandal Marching Band to rehearse for the pregame performance.
“It is one of the greatest weekends we have because so many alumni and everyone come back,” Martin said. “It”s so great to see them, and there is a lot of energy, but it”s also just trying to coordinate 15 different bands, 1,000 different students, and the coordination definitely makes it one of the more stressful weekends.”
Martin said the band works hard to put on a good show for the students and alumni and the relationship between vandals and the marching band is unique.
“What”s special is I have worked at other universities when the halftime show happens, people clear out and go tailgate,” Martin said. “Here they don”t – the students pack in, and they stay and they watch.”
Alex Brizee | Argonaut
University of Idaho Director of Athletic Bands, Spencer Martin, leads the Vandal Marching Band in practice Wednesday.
Martin also said that while most performances are directed toward the student body, homecoming is for the alumni.
“We always do homecoming towards alumni because people are coming home,” Martin said.
Yet, Martin said the shows are created with every audience member in mind.
“When I create the shows, I am trying to kind of hit all the different generations,” Martin said. “I am trying to hit different pieces of music from different eras to have it impact somebody from every era … We”re not always successful but we are trying.”
Martin said sometimes the band performances mash together music artists from vastly different eras, and has produced performances that mashed artists like ACDC with Beethoven before.
Martin said part of creating performances is keeping the audience interested.
When it comes to creating shows and directing their music, Martin said he received a valuable piece of advice from mentor Daniel Bukvich, who told him people want to hear the Rolling Stones play all of “Satisfaction,” but they don”t necessarily want to hear the marching band play all of “Satisfaction.”
“As I am putting these songs together I am trying to find the key points where people will get that emotional “aha” hit and connection with the song,” Martin said. “And then immediately move to something else when they don”t expect it just to keep their attention and surprise them.”
Martin said working with the computer science and engineering department for the past four years has also helped the band”s wow-factor.
Martin said it has been fun working with Robert Rinker, a computer science professor, and Edwin Odom, a mechanical engineering professor. Some of the band students majoring in computer science or engineering have dedicated hours to working on collaboration projects.
“I think one of the things I am really proud of is that the typical Idaho student, and this is the same way 20 years ago as it is now, is a nice, hard working student,” Martin said.
Martin said he estimates that 65 percent of the marching band members are majoring outside of the music department. He said he enjoys seeing the different roles his band students take on.
In this case, Martin said he gets to see his students become scientists.
“Hopefully this game you will really see what we have been working on,” Martin said.
Whitney Hilliard can be reached at [email protected]