Orchestrating the Soundtrack of Bengal Sports: How ISU's Music Department Elevates the Game-Day Experience

In the world of sports, the soundtrack can often make or break the atmosphere. From the iconic themes of "Halloween" and "Jaws" to the rousing scores of "Jurassic Park," music has the power to captivate audiences and heighten the emotional intensity of the game. At Idaho State University, the music department is responsible for crafting the perfect soundtrack to elevate the Bengal sports experience, ensuring that every game is a true sensory delight for the fans.

Bringing the Beats: ISU's Music Department Orchestrates the Game-Day Soundtrack

Curating the Setlist: Blending Popularity and Performative Flair

The process of selecting the songs that will be played during Bengal games is a carefully curated endeavor. Dr. Thomas Kloss, the Associate Director of Athletic Bands at ISU, explains that the goal is to find the "hot songs" from the previous season and seamlessly integrate them into the existing setlist. But it's not just about popularity – Kloss also considers the "dramatic quality" and "effect" of each song, as well as its "instantly recognizable" nature.One of the big additions to the setlist this fall is "Hot To Go" by Chappell Roan, a track that Kloss believes will captivate the audience. "When the audience sees it – when we do a halftime show, I want grandma to put down the hot dog and cheer for us because she didn't realize what cool stuff we were doing on the field," he says.

Audience Engagement: Feeding off the Energy of the Players

The band's song choices are also influenced by the players' reactions on the field or court. Kloss notes that whenever the band plays the song "Narco" by BlasterJaxx and Timmy Trumpet, the players can't help but dance or bop to the beat, so that song remains a staple in the rotation."Whenever the band plays the song 'Narco' by BlasterJaxx and Timmy Trumpet, players dance or bop to the beat, so that song remains in heavy rotation," Kloss explains. "We want to create a game-day experience that resonates with both the players and the fans, and the music is a crucial component of that."

Adapting to Venue Constraints: Tailoring the Band's Presence

While the band has the luxury of bringing a full contingent to football games, the same can't be said for basketball and volleyball matches. The limited space in Reed Gym means that the band members who attend those events must volunteer, though they do receive a small scholarship as compensation."For football games, the band has enough room to bring a full contingent. But for basketball and volleyball games, Reed Gym does not offer enough space to do the same," Kloss says. "So, band members present at those games are asked to volunteer – though the volunteers do receive a small scholarship as recompense."

Celebrating the Art of Marching Bands: The ISU Mountain West Marching Band Invitational

In addition to their game-day performances, the ISU music department also organizes an annual event that celebrates the art of marching bands. The ISU Mountain West Marching Band Invitational is a festival and competition that brings together high school bands from Idaho and Utah, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents."The Mountain West Band Festival is one that I have looked forward to every year since being in high school and competing at it, to now being a part of the Bengal Marching Band and helping run and perform at it," says ISU student Hailey Anderson. "It's a great way to learn from and enjoy other marching performances from around Southeast Idaho. It's a major event for all involved in marching band, and never fails to excite."The event, which takes place this Saturday, October 19th, will feature 18 high school bands performing their halftime shows, with winners receiving trophies. After the high school performances, the ISU band will take the field, giving the audience a chance to see the university's musical prowess in action."We get to show everybody what we're doing, and we get to celebrate all that work that (the students) are doing, without the football team present," Kloss says. "It's a day full of halftime shows."The ISU Mountain West Marching Band Invitational is not just a competition, but a celebration of the art of marching bands and a platform for showcasing the talent and dedication of the local music programs. It's an event that Kloss believes is a "culmination of a lot of their seasons" and the "biggest event" for the East Idaho region.