After entering college, students often leave their favorite pastimes behind in order to devote more time to their majors, or because they think they don’t have the opportunity to partake in them at the collegiate level.

With this in mind, Ohio State’s School of Music offers student-musicians the chance to continue their passion without taking too much time from other areas of study.

“The real reason that University Band exists is to allow an outlet for the non-music major to continue to enjoy making music for a lifetime,” said Russel Mikkelson, director of University Bands.

To become part of the full concert band, students who have a small amount of band experience must enroll in University Band 204.04. The course is repeatable and meets two evenings a week for rehearsal, said Milton Allen, University Band conductor. No audition is needed to join the ensemble.

“Some students have a little bit of stage fright, especially to come in front of a music faculty member,” Mikkelson said. “I want to put their mind at ease. I don’t want that to be a hurdle for them to get a musical experience.”

Students also value not having an auditioning process, which can allow them to focus on their abilities rather than trying to impress others.

“They’d be intimidated by the auditioning process and a lot of them might not make it in,” said Brian Brainard, a senior in mechanical engineering and two quarter band member.

Although the band performs a concert at the end of each quarter, the program is not intended to be practice intensive, Allen said.

“We understand that you’re involved in whatever major you’re involved in. This is a release,” Allen said. “Just come in a couple of nights a week and make some music.”

This is exactly what students like about the program.

“It’s definitely a stress reliever,” said Lois Hadley, a senior in accounting who has been playing in bands since the sixth grade. “You get a grade, but it’s not really stressful. It’s just really nice to be involved in music again.”

The students’ enjoyment in the band is evident by an increase in involvement. During the transition from autumn quarter 2003 to winter quarter 2004, nearly 60 students have joined the group, Mikkelson said. This expansion caused facility problems for rehearsal and ultimately led to splitting the band into two groups during rehearsal. Although the groups practice in different rooms, no group is better than the other one, Mikkelson said.

Despite the division, students enjoy the fun and laid-back atmosphere of the band.

“It’s a good place to go and make music because you want to, not because you have to,” said Allison Klenk, a freshman in physics who plays the flute and has been in the band for two quarters.

Students, however, aren’t the only ones benefiting from the band. Regular and guest conductors also have the opportunity to enhance their skills, Mikkelson said.

“University Band serves as a training ground for up-and-coming conductors,” he said.

When guest conductors aid the rehearsals, the normal conductors get the chance to get off the podium and listen to the band from a different angle, which allows them to notice things they haven’t before, Mikkelson said.

The university community will have the chance to see the University Band perform at their winter quarter concert at 8 p.m. March 4 in Weigel Hall. The band will perform a mix of traditional band music along with some pop and contemporary music, Allen said.

Although University Band has yet to achieve the same attention as other campus bands, the students and faculty realize that recognition isn’t what making music is about.

“The University Band is music-making at its purest,” Mikkelson said. “They don’t get to wear a uniform, they don’t get to play at basketball games or go on trips. They only do it because they love playing and that’s it. How much more pure can you be than that?”