While there won’t be a Picnic Day parade marching down the streets of Davis this year, UC Davis is still striking up the band. With the help of some clever video editing, members of the UC Davis Marching Band are staying connected and playing their favorite tunes together.

About 20 band members started by recording themselves playing the time-honored Aggie Fight Song while sheltering in place. Brad Sparks, the band’s coordinator, then spliced the fight song footage into a single video.

“The students wanted to come up with ways to keep engaging the community,” Sparks said. “There were some technical challenges in doing the [first] video, but I think we’ve got it figured out. I’m thrilled with how they’re keeping the band family together.”

Student leaders in the band are creating videos that share breathing exercises and marching techniques. More songs are also coming soon, including tunes from Green Day and Little Differences from the 1990s alternative-rock band Save Ferris.

“It’s like they’re jamming with friends,” said Garrett Rigsby, the band’s interim assistant director. “I’m really proud of their resilience and their desire to [move forward] in the face of everything.”

In the meantime, the band’s fight song video calls for a sing-a-long in this time of social distancing. Be sure to play it loud and proud each Aggie Pride Friday!

Lift up your voices — now's the time to sing.
This is the day the Victory Bell will ring.
Loyal Aggies, all for one.
Never stopping 'til we've won,
Because the Mustang will show our team the way to fight,
Charging the enemy with all his might. Let's go.
Let's win. Today's the day the Aggies will fight!
Fight! Fight!