Home/FAQs
Frequently
Asked
The questions students, families, sponsors and event organisers ask most often about the International Institution of Sound.
Ask us anything
Ten Questions
01 Do I have to major in music? Members come from every major on campus.
No. The IIOS is open to every Johnson C. Smith University student, and to students at subsidiary community colleges. Members come from every major on campus. What matters is that you can hold the standard the Creed describes and keep your grades where they need to be.
02 What GPA do I need? 2.0 to march, 2.75 to lead, 3.0 for the Scholar’s Club.
A 2.0 cumulative GPA to march, a 2.75 to hold a leadership position, and a 3.0 to be recognised in the Band Scholar’s Club. Members are students first — that is not negotiable in any season.
03 How much time does the band take? Five rehearsals a week through the fall.
Rehearsals run Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:20 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. On home game days the band reports four to five hours before kickoff. Preseason Band Camp runs before the fall term opens, and away game itineraries are issued at the start of each season.
04 Do I need HBCU band experience? Band Camp is where the standard gets taught.
No. Plenty of members arrive having never marched in this style. Preseason Band Camp is where the standard gets taught, and section leadership is there to bring new members up to it.
05 Which course do I enroll in? MUS 210 every year; MUS 211 in spring for scholarship members.
Members enroll in MUS 210 for each year of participation. Scholarship recipients also enroll in Symphonic Band, MUS 211, in the spring. The program sits in the Department of Arts & Humanities, College of Liberal Arts.
06 Are there band scholarships? Yes — and giving funds them directly.
Yes. Band scholarships help JCSU students cover the cost of their education, and they carry the additional spring commitment in Symphonic Band. Gifts and sponsorships to the program fund those awards directly.
07 What if I do not play an instrument? The auxiliaries perform with the band.
The auxiliaries are a way in. Blue Satin Dance Team, the flag and color guard, majorettes and twirlers, and the banner all perform with the band. Read what each one asks for on the ensemble pages.
08 Can I request the band for my event? Parades, exhibitions, civic events and competitions.
Yes. The IIOS performs at parades, exhibitions, civic events and competitions by request, and a request can be for the full band or a smaller ensemble. The booking page lists everything worth telling us up front.
09 Where can I watch the IIOS? The schedule and media pages.
The schedule page carries every performance date for the season, and the media page collects halftimes, tunnel entrances, classics and Battle of the Bands performances on video.
10 How do I support the program? Give, sponsor, or join the Alumni Band.
You can give directly through the University’s giving office and designate the gift to the band, sponsor the program as an organisation, or join the Alumni Band if you served your time in the IIOS and have graduated.
Still Have
a Question?
Email the band directly and someone on staff will answer it.