When NIU sees the Huskie Marching Band perform at Homecoming, it will see the finished product.

The band will be working overtime this week to prepare for the Homecoming festivities. You might hear the sounds of this effort some time this week if you are in the vicinity of its practice area on the east side of Anderson Hall.

Huskie Band Director Frank Bibb said he is looking forward to performing for the NIU community on Homecoming. He said he realizes this means a lot of extra rehearsing and effort on the part of the band members, but he says they are up to it.

The two drum majors for the band, Nick Perrino and Will Witzemann, also are very excited about this weekend’s events. “This year’s band is a young group with a lot of potential,” Perrino said. “This potential will be exemplified at the Homecoming show this weekend.”

There are about 225 people in the band including the color guard and the Silverette dancing line.

One of the freshman band members, Amy Perrino, said, “Coming from high school, I was totally overwhelmed at how great college band is compared to my high school band. I really feel as though I fit in here. No one makes you feel like you are just a freshman.” Amy Perrino’s instrument is the piccolo.

Megan Carmody, a member of the color guard, said, “Even though we just started working on one of the pieces of music for the show, it really looks good because everyone pulled together to learn it.”

The band will have a very busy day Saturday. The first thing the band will do is march in the Homecoming parade. Bibb said the band will be performing a regal sounding march called “Summit,” alternating with the Huskie fight song.

The band also will be on hand to perform in the tailgate area before the game. They will be playing various tunes for this portion of the program.

A pre-game show also is part of the band’s agenda. This show will include a drill to its marching song, “Summit.” Next, the band will get into a formation spelling out the letters “NIU” while once again playing the school fight song. The band will then play the school’s alma mater. The conclusion of the pre-game show and the start of the game will be the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”

As is common at every home football game, the band will be in the stands for the game to play little cheers for inspiration.

The last, but probably most important thing the band will do for the Homecoming event is put on a half-time show.

The marching show will consist of five pieces of music. The first is a song produced by George Gershwin called “Summertime.” The next song is the band’s newest piece called “Durango.” After this, the band will give a tribute to the Big West and the Old West with a piece called “Born Wild.” This will include a percussion solo. The next part of the show will feature the Silverettes and the color guard doing an old rock tune called “Money.” The band will conclude their half-time show with a love ballad written by Kenny Rogers called “Love the World Away.”

“This is the best bunch of kids that I have had in ten years,” Bibb said. “This band turns me on, and by me being turned on and excited, they get turned on and excited. This shows in their work and hard effort. I am looking forward to an excellent show in front of what may be a sold out crowd.”

“This year’s band is a young group with a lot of potential, this potential will be exemplified at the Homecoming show this weekend.”