Fightin ' Texas Aggie Band The Fightin ' Texas Aggie Band ( also known as the Noble Men of Kyle or just the Aggie Band ) is the official marching band of Texas A & M University . Composed of over 300 men and women from the school ' s Corps of Cadets , it is the largest military marching band in the world . The band ' s complex straight - line marching maneuvers are performed exclusively to traditional marches . Since its inception in 1894 , its members eat together , sleep in the same dormitories , and practice up to forty hours per week on top of a full academic schedule . The Aggie Band performs at all home football games , some away games , and university and Corps functions throughout the year . The band has also participated in inauguration parades for many United States Presidents and Texas Governors , major annual parades across the country , and the dedication ceremony for the George H . W . Bush Presidential Library . History . Early years . The Aggie Band owes its existence to Joseph Holick . In 1885 , Holick and his brother Louis boarded an empty boxcar bound for Orange , Texas so that they could gain employment in a lumber mill . En route , the two stopped in Bryan , Texas , near the campus of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas . The 22 - year - old Holick began to doubt his choice , stating , " I was a small boy and couldn ' t do lumbering work " , and chose to remain in Bryan working under Raymond Blatherwick , owner of a prominent boot shop . Lawrence Sullivan Ross , the president of the nearby college and a former Governor of Texas , stopped into Blatherwick ' s boot shop and noted how inconvenient it was for cadets to go to Bryan for their boots . Ross requested Holick be stationed at the new military college to perform cobbler duties . Holick accepted the proposal and moved to work at Texas A & M . Shortly after his arrival , the Commandant ' s staff discovered his musical talents . They requested him to play the bugle for Corps functions and for US $ 65 a month , he was assigned to play " Reveille " and " Taps " . Because the new job paid much more than his previous one , Holick wanted to give the school " more than just two tunes for its money and he asked the commandant for permission to start a cadet band " . The commandant agreed and named Holick its first bandmaster . Under his tutelage and the leadership of subsequent bandmasters , the band grew from 13 members at its inception in 1894 to 75 bandsmen in 1924 . Early drum majors are credited with inspiring the band ' s name . The first student drum major , H . A . " California " Morse , was asked to leave the college due to fighting . In addition , the early drum majors were chosen in physical combat ; insomuch that the candidates were placed in a locked room , with the best fighter / the one emerging victorious , being named to the coveted position . This tradition of aggressiveness and physical combat was noted by band members , who then took to calling themselves the " Fightin ' " Texas Aggie Band . Dunn years . In 1924 , Lieutenant Colonel Richard J . Dunn was appointed as bandmaster . As a former member of John Phillip Sousa ' s Marine Band and with 26 years of military band leadership experience , Dunn quickly instituted changes within the band . The first was to the position of bugler , whose duties had fallen to the bandmaster since 1894 . When informed that he was expected to fill the role , Dunn told college officials , " I have blown enough bugles . I am the Bandmaster . Someone else can blow the bugle calls . " From then on , the Corps Bugler was chosen from the ranks of the Aggie Band . Dunn also instituted uniform changes which added white canvas to the band uniform , resulting in a " flash effect " every other step . Dunn tried , to no avail , to rid the band of the Senior Boots , but this tradition was too well - established . Other additions included crossed white belts , later discarded in favor of a white Sam Browne belt , silver buckle s , and the addition of a bugle rank to lead the band in its maneuvers . Changes in the drills included the " Block T " , the band ' s signature , and such intricate designs which led to talk amongst fans about the band " always winning halftime " . Under Dunn ' s experience , the band instituted some traditions that the university uses to the present . In 1925 , Marvin H . Mimms wrote the lyrics for an alma mater for the school . Dunn , who found the " Aggie War Hymn " " inappropriate " for social functions and solemn occasions , wrote its accompanying music and presented it to the student body titled " Spirit of Aggieland " . In 1926 , the tradition of Elephant Walk began when two seniors in the band led a procession of seniors throughout the school grounds visiting all the important places on campus . All the seniors in one single file was " quite a site to behold " , and one junior commented that they looked like a bunch of old elephants wandering around trying to find some place to die . The name stuck and the tradition continues to the present . Beginning in 1939 , the U . S . Army required all cadets to be in either infantry or field artillery units . Accordingly , the band was split into two separate units at opposite ends of the campus dormitories and named Infantry and Artillery Bands . When the two units performed together , they formed the Combined Band . 1942 saw the band expand to 250 members , but the need for manpower for the war effort caused membership to plummet . By the end of the 1942 – 1943 school year , it dropped it to only 90 bandsmen . As " a crusty old army man " , Dunn understood the nation ' s urgent need for troops , and he accepted the fact that the Aggie Band could only return after the war was over . Along with conducting the Aggie Band , Dunn started his own orchestra with the newly built A & M Consolidated High School on the Texas A & M Campus , called the " Little Symphony Orchestra " . Dunn was also the founder of the famous A & M Consolidated High School Tiger Band in 1947 . Adams era . Dunn once told then - cadet Edward Vergne Adams , " One day I want you to direct this band . " Adams thought the Colonel was joking , but " went to music school after graduation just in case he wasn ' t " . After music school , he joined the Army and put his musical skills to rest for the duration of the war , with one notable exception . While on regimental staff during the retreat ceremony at the end of the day , the assigned bugler had no experience and couldn ' t even play a single note . So Adams stepped out of formation , took the bugle from the bugler ' s hands , blew the appropriate calls , handed the bugle back , and marched back into his spot in the formation . This intolerance for incompetence served him well when he accepted the invitation of Dunn to be his replacement as director of the Aggie Band . Adams began his tenure with an undisciplined band devoid of experience and ravaged by years of war , but in his first year of leadership , the ranks of the band quickly swelled to 225 members . Infantry and field artillery associations were no longer required by the Army and Adams changed the units ' names to the Maroon and White Bands . More notably , Adams began to make the drills far more intricate and precise than they had in the past by adding a countermarch , maneuvers from the " Army Drill Manual " , and established a 30 inch ( 76 cm ) step , or six steps for every five yards ( 4 . 57m ) , as the band standard . Adams also added the criss - cross maneuver . First performed November 27 , 1947 at the annual Thanksgiving Day game with the University of Texas , the criss - cross maneuver and its later variations became the band ' s most anticipated maneuver . Other band directors said it was impossible to do because it required two people to be in the same place at the same time ( indeed , to this day computer programs that chart band formations say that this maneuver cannot be performed ) . To accomplish this , band members step between each other ' s feet . In later years , people who did not know that the maneuver was first done in 1947 claimed that the drill was designed by a computer . Adams explained , " It ' s all a matter of mathematics . One man can take up only a certain amount of space at one time and moves in one direction at a predictable rate of speed . " The band ' s reputation spread and other bands had begun to have some apprehension about performing in the same halftime as the Aggie Band . One Southwest Conference band director stated , " I dread going against the Aggie Band . . . What is so humiliating is to see the Aggie Band do things band directors talk about as being impossible , and do them perfectly . It takes two weeks to recover from the trauma . " In 1960 , " one band gave up without a fight " : the Trinity Tiger Band opted to sit instead of perform and gave the Aggie Band the entire halftime to perform . During Adams ' tenure , the college acquired a new mascot , the first since the original Reveille died in 1944 . Reveille II , like the original Reveille , was cared for and attended to by band members . During halftime performances , the young dog was allowed to be on the field with the band without her leash . During these breaks where she could get out and run , she had a tendency to " do her business " on Kyle Field ' s playing surface . This didn ' t bother the band members much , as Reveille stayed away from the band , but Adams discovered a gambling scheme whereby cadets were taking bets on what yardline the dog would defecate . He quickly ended the practice and turned the responsibility of caring for Reveille over to Company E - 2 , which has since been called the Mascot Company . On October 7 , 1967 , the first meeting of the Aggie Band Association took place to support the band . The organization , composed of former members and supporters , continue to assist the band through fundraising , scholarships , instrument repair , and general welfare of the cadets in the band . In 1970 , Adams acquired funds and built a new band hall which was named in his honor . Modernization and expansion . Colonel Joe T . Haney took over the band in 1973 . He felt his obligation was , " not to build up the band . . . [ but ] to keep it at its already exceptional level " . During Haney ' s years , the band expanded to include a concert band , a symphonic band , the Aggieland Orchestra , and a Drum and Bugle Corps , and the names of the two subunits reverted to their earlier designations of Infantry and Artillery Bands . This simple philosophy was tested as Texas A & M transitioned from an all - male military college to a coeducational research university . The addition of women to the Corps presented some challenges , including one high - profile lawsuit and fierce resistance from former Corps and Band members . When women were finally admitted to the band under court order ( Fall Semester , 1985 ) ; the first three women had to be housed in a separate dorm until accommodations could be made within the band dorms . Reporters were relentless and Haney finally called an open press conference with the three young ladies . The female cadets refused pictures unless their fish buddies ( members of their freshman class in their unit ) were included in the photos . With a band dropout rate of 33 % the odds were against all of the female cadets succeeding , only Andrea Abat remained in the band through her senior year . Haney realized the separate living conditions were not conducive to good order and discipline and integrated the dorms , grouping females at one end of the dorm and designating one bathroom for exclusive female use . Amidst these drastic changes , large proportions of the freshmen classes ( some as high as 30 % ) contained all - state high school band members . As the band ' s experience and musical talents grew , the quality of the music improved dramatically . Haney even rewrote the drills to include a portion where the band stopped moving and played to the audience . This innovation was well received and became a staple of the band ' s repertoire . In 1975 , at a televised game versus the University of Arkansas , the Aggie Band was repeatedly asked to play music during lulls in the game . By the fourth quarter , the Aggie Band had played on TV during every break and Colonel Haney , trying his best to be fair , told the cameraman that they really should let the Razorback Band play a little too . The cameraman called up to the broadcast booth to get guidance and then replied , " The director doesn ' t want to hear the Arkansas band , he wants to hear the Aggie Band . " The drills became even more complicated as Haney added formations and maneuvers never before seen . The excellence shown on the field belied its heavy dependence on precision . On October 24 , 1981 the band suffered a serious misstep during the halftime show at Rice University when four members of a lead element turned early and , before anyone could make a correction , colliding band members ground the drill to a halt . With so many members doing exactly what the person in front of them does with mere inches of clearance , the cascade effect was unrecoverable and the band simply stopped and left the field . Although it was first rumored that the collision was intended to mock the Rice Marching Owl Band , and later that Rice students were using whistles to throw off the band ' s response to drum major whistle commands , all of the rumors proved to be unsubstantiated . Thereafter the band performed all drills in Houston without whistle commands . The following weekend the band attempted their most complicated drill and performed flawlessly . Each subsequent week , the drills became more complicated . The " Bryan - College Station Eagle ' s " editor opined , " A & M is probably the only school anywhere that throws in a free football game with its performance . One of these days , I fully expect the band to be invited to a bowl game — and to be told it can bring along its football team if it wants to . " Into a new millennium . Lieutenant Colonel Ray E . Toler , a Texas Christian University graduate , replaced Haney when he stepped down in 1989 . As a veteran of many Air Force Band s and with a Grammy Award nomination under his belt , Toler was quick to realize the potential and traditions of the Aggie Band and quickly set about publicizing it . Under his direction , the Aggie Band began a weekly television show ( the " Texas Aggie Band Show " ) that showcased the band , the Corps of Cadets , and the daily life of a band member . As of 2007 , the Aggie Band is the only university or college band with its own weekly television show . The Aggie Band was recognized nationally as the 2001 recipient of the Louis Sudler Trophy for collegiate marching bands , administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation . During Toler ' s leadership of the Aggie Band , its presence was personally requested by President - elect George W . Bush for his inauguration parade . During Toler ' s tenure , many of the Aggie drills and music were written by Dr . Timothy Rhea , who succeeded Toler as Director of Bands in 2002 . Rhea actively arranges and composes music , which has been published by TRN Music Publisher , RBC Music Publisher , and Arranger ' s Publishing Company . Cadet life . The members of the band are called BQ s and , since the band ' s inception , are part of the Corps of Cadets . All BQs are assigned to one of four units : A - Battery , B - Battery , A - Company , or B - Company . The band is a major unit within the Corps , comparable in size to a Brigade or a Wing . Due to its status as a Senior Military College all cadets are required to take ROTC classes at least their first two years , though follow - on military service is not required . The Aggie Band is unique among college bands ; no other band eats and lives together as a military unit , even at the Service Academies and military colleges . Bandsmen wear their cadet uniforms to class , drill , meetings , and other functions on campus . As a requested component of football away games , they perform at more football games than any other band . As of 1993 , the band performed at 125 of the last 131 football games , including a streak of 42 straight from 1981 to 1984 . Demand is extremely high for the band and one person , upon finding out the Aggie Band would not be performing at the local football game versus A & M , returned and requested a refund for 40 tickets . The Aggie Band performs a new show each week during the football season and does not generally repeat drills from week to week . During the fall semester , the Aggie Band practices one to three hours every weekday morning and on Saturdays every week with a football game . In addition , some components of the band also practice on Sunday afternoons and planning of the drills takes place throughout the fall semester . During weeks with complicated drills , extra practice and planning time is sometimes also done on weekday afternoons . All told , drills can take up to 40 hours per week on top of a full academic schedule and Corps / ROTC activities . All seniors in the Corps of Cadets wear distinctive cavalry riding boots with their uniforms . These boots usually cost more than US $ 1 , 000 and are generally made at Victor ' s or Holick ' s , formerly owned by the family of Joseph Holick , the first Band Director . Leadership . Unlike many bands , the drum major s are not in charge of the band as a whole . Since the band is part of the Corps , it has its own unit commander , a Cadet Colonel . Due to necessity for military functions , the Band Commander is accorded the privilege of the first file in bugle rank ( the lead rank of the band ) . During formal military ceremonies , the commander carries a sabre instead of a bugle , as do all other commanders . Subordinate to the Band Commander are the unit commanders of A - Battery , B - Battery , A - Company , and B - Company ; the Batteries are called the " Artillery Band " and the Companies the " Infantry Band " . The two bands perform together for halftime shows , but are often split for minor performances such as local parades and functions where the entire band is not needed . Furthermore , the band is composed of three different ROTC programs and appoints commanders to manage and train the cadets within their respective ROTC affiliations . On the field , the band is led by three drum majors and the twelve members of bugle rank . Each drum major carries a mace and directs the band based on its movements and whistle commands during a drill . The head drum major is a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel , while the two side drum majors , the Infantry Side Drum Major and the Artillery Side Drum Major , are Cadet Majors . Bugle rank consists of the Band Commander and eleven other senior cadets who are well respected in the band and have impeccable marching abilities . Each Bugle rank member carries a bugle with a banner ; most of the bugles are functional , but are never played during a performance . Together , the drum majors and bugle rank lead the band through the maneuvers on the field . In addition to their primary functions within the band , the bugles and maces also serve a military ceremonial function and are used to salute commissioned officers , much as a rifleman would salute with a rifle or a commander would salute with a sabre . Composition . The band has approximately 400 members with more than 80 trumpet s and cornet s , 70 trombone s , 30 french horn s , 30 baritone s , 45 bass horns , 50 drummer s , and 80 assorted woodwind s , though the actual composition varies annually . There are no flute s in the Aggie Band , as their position while being played would hinder the intricate marching maneuvers . Piccolo s are used instead . All members of the band must have high school marching experience , an audition during the Summer New Student Conferences to include major scales and sight reading , and an individual interview with the band director . Prospective members are also encouraged to participate in the " Spend the Night with the Corps " program to better understand the rigors of life in the Corps of Cadets . Marching . Complex maneuvers . The repertoire of the Aggie Band ' s maneuvers is designed by the directors and drum majors and can include obliques , flanks , countermarches , and other Army marching maneuvers . The Band is generally led by the bugle rank with each person following the person in front of them , also known as follow - the - leader . Space between band members during countermarches is less than six inches ( 15 cm ) and during other maneuvers even less . This space is insufficient for the bass horns and some members must turn their horns to complete the maneuver . According to an article in " The Battalion " , " some of the Aggie band ' s maneuvers are so complex that some drill - charting software says that the drills are impossible because they require multiple people to be in the same place at the same time . " This is also discussed in a video by The Association of Former Students of Texas A & M University . The Fightin ' Texas Aggie Band has performed at inauguration parade s for many Presidents of the United States in Washington D . C . , including at the personal request of President - elect George H . W . Bush . Other events in which the band has participated include inauguration parades for Governors of Texas , major annual parades across the country , and the dedication ceremony for the George H . W . Bush Presidential Library . Typical halftime drill . The halftime drill always begins with the band running into place at the command of the drum major ' s whistle . The announcer ( Lieutenant Colonel Jay Brewer ) then states , usually in unison with the crowd , " Now forming at the north end of Kyle Field , the nationally famous Fightin ' Texas Aggie Band . " A whoop and cheers come from the audience . The drum majors then march out in front of the band and the head drum major calls the band to attention and vocally gives directions to the band , referencing the composition of the Aggie War Hymn , by shouting , " Recall ! Step off on Hullabaloo ! " ( Recall is a traditional Army bugle call - the first 34 notes , and intro of the Aggie War Hymn . " Hullabaloo " is the first word sung in the Aggie War Hymn . ) These directions are not amplified in any way , but can be heard across the entire stadium . After another whoop , the drum majors signal for the horns to be lifted into playing position with two quick whistle blasts and the bugle rank does a flourish . The drill then begins with the band playing the opening notes of the War Hymn and stepping off into the initial formation . At some point in the drill , the band converts from Spread formation to Block formation . With no cessation of the music until the band leaves the field , the drill continues and often stops with the band playing the last stanza in place in the center of the field before moving into the signature " Block T " or " Block T " . When done playing , the band runs off the field . Specific maneuvers in the drill can include : Music . As a military marching band , the Aggie Band exclusively plays traditional marches . Among many other marches , its primary repertoire includes :