Pep band pumps crowd up

by Mandi Kane

Daily Lobo

The marching band may be done for the year, but the beat goes on for some UNM musicians in the University's Soundpack.

The by-audition-only Soundpack is the pep band that plays at all home men's and women's basketball games and is the "best pep band in the Mountain West Conference," according to former UNM President Bill Gordon.

Under the direction of Miller Asbill, UNM director of bands, the group of graduate and undergraduate musicians play a variety of pep songs, said Susan Brake, an administrative assistant within the Music department.

"The (Soundpack) is really important," Brake said. "At a critical point in the game, or during a time-out, they break into the fight song and it helps the morale of the crowd and helps with keeping people involved in the game."

The band entertains fans with an assortment of music ranging from "traditional" UNM songs such as the fight song and "Go Big Red," to more popular songs that the crowd will know and appreciate, Brake said.

"There is music for everybody that is in the audience," she said.

Unlike the marching band, which is a two-year requirement for music education majors, the Soundpack is extracurricular, but students may receive academic credit if they attend at least 20 out of about 37 home games, Brake said.

"It is a huge time commitment," she said. "We let the students pick and choose what games they attend."

In addition to class credit, band members are compensated for their entertainment by the Athletics department that pays members $20 a game which can add up to as much as $700 for the entire season, according to the band's Web site.

The number of students playing in the Soundpack varies from game to game, but there is an available pool of about 53, Brake said.

"It is a fun group to be in," said Antonio Romero, a sophomore and second-year member of the Soundpack. "I like getting the crowd pumped up and supporting the basketball team."

Romero, who plays the baritone horn, describes the Soundpack as a tightly knit group. His favorite song to play at the games is "Johnny's Mambo," a piece that was learned during one of the two rehearsals prior to the start of the basketball season, Romero said.

Students must be enrolled at UNM and have participated in the Spirit Marching Band to be eligible for an audition with the Soundpack. Auditions are in early October.

The Soundpack is also responsible for entertainment at NCAA Tournament games at The Pit, according to the band's Web site. The group also travels to Las Vegas, Nev., annually to play in the MWC Tournament.