Hi everyone! My name is Nick Schalago ’22, and I am the social media chair of the Pep Band here at Clarkson. This blog post will tell you everything you could possibly imagine about Clarkson’s Pep Band.
Nick Schalago ’22, Social Media Chair for Clarkson’s Pep Band.
There are more than 200 clubs and professional societies at Clarkson that every student can join. When I first came to Clarkson, I was quickly notified of the Clarkson University Pep Band, because I showed interest in clubs that involved music. My first instrument that I learned how to play was the flute in fourth grade. Fast forward 10 years, and learning alto saxophone, trumpet, baritone and trombone brought me to the world-famous Pep Band. You will find me in the back of the band playing trombone! Having a band available at Clarkson has allowed me to become part of a family over the two years that I have been here. Yes. I said family.
My advice for incoming first-year students is to understand that not all members of the band have the musical background I have, nor is the band’s environment competitive. I started learning trombone during my first semester here with the help of upperclass students. I cannot read the bass clef, but I am still able to have fun during hockey games. Speaking of which, not everyone in the band plays an instrument. Some members just enjoy the family feel inside and outside of Cheel Arena, so they clap during games or play the triangle. You name it, and the band probably has someone that plays it.