<P> Military training was an important part of the early curriculum at Ohio State, and a band was formed to provide music to the cadets for drills . Organized in 1878, the Marching Band was first organized as a fife and drum corps and was sponsored by the Military Department . In 1881, a stolen mouthpiece incident, which prevented the Marching Band from performing, led the Military Department to end support . </P> <P> The band was a student - led organization until 1896 . Gustav Bruder, a professional musician with military band experience, was hired to lead the band . Under Bruder, the band's size grew . It began playing and marching for all military and athletic events . In 1926, it performed jointly with the Ohio State University Drum and Bugle Corps at West Point . The timing between the groups on the field was off because of errant counting, causing the groups to counter march through each other's ranks . This spectacle was considered one of the most intense band formations done on the field at West Point . In 1929, the Military Department, along with the School of Music, entered into a new agreement to bring the Marching Band under control of the School of Music, which would provide faculty, while the Military Department limited membership to cadets, who also received military instruction along with playing and marching . The band was so popular in 1929 that the entire 100 piece block band was composed of upperclassmen . This situation gave Director Eugene J. Weigel the idea to create two additional bands, the Infantry Regimental Band and the Artillery Regimental Band, which would provide training to underclassmen until they were able to try out for the Marching Band . These bands met in the Winter and Spring, and together with the Activities Band formed in 1947, created the modern Athletic Band . </P> <P> During World War II, Ohio State was one of the few colleges able to field a marching band for every home game . The band was able to field 100 to 120 musicians throughout the war . Because the band was still under ROTC control, women were not allowed to perform . The band was open to alumni members of the band, woodwind players, vocalists, high school students, even strangers on the street who expressed interest . The morale with which this highly volunteer band helped to cheer on Ohio State football was during a time when spirits on the home front were at a low . By the early 1950s, the Department of Defense issued much more stringent rules about what courses and activities constitute eligible curriculum for the ROTC program . The Marching Band was no longer an eligible activity, and in 1952, the Marching Band officially ended ties with the ROTC department . Cadets in the band could continue to try out and participate in band, but they would no longer receive ROTC credit . Once the Marching Band separated from ROTC control, the band was more free to experiment with show themes and music genres, culminating in the band's 1965 performance of "Hang On, Sloopy!". After the extremely positive response for "Sloopy", the band decided to venture into more modern and topical styles of music . </P> <P> The band maintained a 120 - piece block into the 1970s, when director Paul Droste expanded the band first to 160, and then to 192 members by adding another row of Sousaphones, creating a full row of snare drums, and adding tenor duo - toms to the row of bass drums and cymbals . Women were admitted into the band starting in 1973, after the passage of the 1972 Title IX legislation . Today, approximately 20--25% of the band's members are women each year . By the mid-1970s, a limitation on the maximum number of years one could be in the Marching Band was imposed . Prior to this, there were people who had spent nearly a decade playing and marching with the band . Some of these band members were gainfully employed graduates of the university, who would continue to pay fees to try out for band . A decision was reached to limit the band to 5 years, 6 under extenuating circumstances and director approval . This allowed for more new students to try out and make the band, and also allowed for a better spirit of competition for the 225 total spots in the band . </P>

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