Handjive

Instrumentation requirements

• bass drum
• low brass
• multiple trumpets (and ones willing to solo)

History

This cheer is traditionally started by either low wind/brass or the bass drum. The rest of the low brass/percussion then come in, and then the rest of the band. There is a solo ad lib trumpet part in between the melody that the rest of the band plays. The cheer can be repeated several times, and due to this it is frequently used to kill extra time in period breaks and occasionally time outs. The cheer ends with the melody cutting out, then the low brass and percussion, until only the bass drum is left.

Dances

The flutes, oboes, and clarinets (and anyone else who is so inclined) leave their instruments and do the handjive at the front of the stage.

Other instruments (saxophones, tubas, mellophones, and anyone else not on the chairs in the back row) form into a line and walk around the stage in an impromptu game of follow-the-leader.

On rare occasions, the band has marched all the way around the Field House while playing this.