Bouncing balls, cheering fans and shouting cheerleaders are all common sounds people will hear at Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) home basketball games. Beginning in the 2019 basketball season, one more sound has been added to the mix as the Javelina Pep Band plays live music at each game held on campus
The Pep Band consists of TAMUK music students who volunteer their time to support the Javelina Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. The band consists of trumpet, French horn, trombone and saxophone players. The band also has a bass guitar player and a drummer.
While the Pep Band has previously played for the Javelina basketball teams, the athletic and music departments decided it was time to bring the band back for home games.
“I know that the Pep Band has been a long interest for both athletics and for the music department mutually. But, just with the hustle and bustle of the spring semester it’s just hard to make something happen like that, [but] with the addition of new faculty and also just a willingness on both sides to make it happen is what made it happen,” Pep Band director Eduardo Moncada said.
Similar to the university’s marching band, Pep Band also plays renditions of popular pop tunes and fight songs. However, they also try to mix it up by playing different styles of music. Along with the help of another music faculty member, Moncada has chosen a diverse song list for the band.
“Basically, it was just trying to find songs that are in general exciting. Like one of the songs we have is Party Rock Anthem from LMFAO…and then we have some classic songs…just good sounding music. You know it sounds good and it feels good when the band’s playing and you look around and the audience is bobbing their head or kind of moving. That confirms the music selection,” Moncada said.
For Javelina basketball player Bri-Anna Soliz, having the Pep Band play brings a new element to the team’s home games.
“I think the band changes the atmosphere, especially when we are about to start the game. It’s different than regular music and it brings
[me]
chills every time we are about to start because it’s so loud and not the regular music you hear every other game,” Soliz said.
Basketball player Kristina Kana also believes that having the Pep Band helps pump up the players and the crowd.
“I love having Pep Band at the games because it brings so much more energy to the game. The louder the better and having them there gets the stands and the team hyped,” Kana said.