All 180 members of Eastern Michigan University's Marching
Band will pile into chartered buses at 6:15 a.m. Nov. 26
for their second appearance in America's Thanksgiving Parade.
After the short ride to Detroit, the band will take its
place near the head of the parade to entertain thousands
of people gathered along Woodward Avenue for this exciting
holiday tradition.
 |
EAGLE MARCH: EMU's Marching Band performs
in last
year's Detroit Thanksgiving Parade. They
will again
make an appearance this year. |
"Millions of people watch the parade on TV, so it puts
the University in the national spotlight," said John Zastoupil,
EMU's marching band director. "And the students are really
excited about being in a parade they've watched since they
were kids."
Chad Mielens was one of those kids who gathered around
the TV to watch the parade with his family every Thanksgiving.
Last year, as drum major, he experienced the thrill of
leading the band down the parade route.
"My favorite part was hearing EMU alumni singing along
to our fight song when we marched by," said Mielens, a
senior from Bay City, Mich. "It also was a great feeling
to go home and watch the DVR recording of the parade and
see myself on national TV."
Mielens is anxious to entertain the crowds again this
year.
The EMU Marching Band's parade performance is part of
a collaboration begun last year between EMU and The Parade
Company, based in Detroit. In return for EMU's help in
creating an educational component for their Studio Tours
Program, the band was invited to play in the parade.
Brigid Beaubien, EMU professor of education, worked with
The Parade Company to create five curriculum guides: "The
Parade Company," "Celebrate Detroit," "It's a Michigan
Thing," "Energy Innovators" and "Big Red Chair". These
guides are intended to give lesson plan ideas for students
in grades pre-K through fifth grade before, during and
after their tour of the Parade Studio. Educators can download
the units at www.theparade.org/thankskids.php.
"Together We Shine" is the theme for the 2009 parade.
The band will perform a variety of rock, patriotic, movie
and Motown music from this year's halftime shows.
They also may add some holiday tunes to the eclectic mix.
At EMU's Annual Bandorama Nov. 21, the band will have a
final chance to polish their performance before the parade.
"It doesn't take a lot of extra time to prepare," said
Zastoupil. "The band performs so often, we're always prepared."
They are even prepared for Detroit's chilly November weather.
Last year, one of the band members knitted white fleece
headbands for all of her band mates and they will probably
do something similar this year.
Freshman Adam Sniezek is eagerly awaiting his first appearance
in America's Thanksgiving Parade.
"I have been watching the Thanksgiving Day parade for
as long as I can remember," said Sniezek, a saxophone player
from Dearborn Heights. "This is my first year in the EMU
Marching Band and I'm really excited to be part of the
parade."
