Alma College Kiltie Marching Band
100th Anniversary Commemorative Deck
I had the distinct honor and privilege to march in the Alma College Kiltie Marching Band while I was a student there from 1987 through 1991. For all four years, I played the largest bass drum in the drum line, and it was a time that I will never forget. Now, my daughter is attending Alma College, and has just spent her first year playing in the drum line of the Kiltie Marching Band, also playing bass drum (but on the opposite end of the line — highest pitched bass), and it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life watching her blossom in the world of collegiate music, learning under the amazing tutelage of Mr. David Zerbe (who was just starting out as a drum line tech when I was at Alma).
This year, I was able to march on the field during the Homecoming Pre-Game show, playing the fight song side-by-side with my little girl, and I’m amazed my heart didn’t burst from the pride coursing through me.
In October of 2022, we will be holding another Homecoming celebration, only this time, we’ll also be celebrating the first 100 years of the Kiltie Marching Band! We have hopes to include as many alumni on the field as possible, and to celebrate this momentous occasion, I wanted to try my hand at designing a custom playing card deck that would showcase all sections of the band, as well as highlighting some key aspects of our distinctive uniform (the Alma Scots march in their own registered tartan kilts).
As this was the first deck that I ever attempted designing, I walked into the process rather blindly, but started with the design of the pips, which I knew would become the primary focal point that distinguished each section of the deck (and marching band). I split the band into four groups, Spades (Brass), Diamonds (Woodwinds), Clubs (Percussion), and Hearts (Color Guard), and developed my Aces.
The addition of the football field hash marks and yard markers happened halfway through the process, so you will notice that the Club and Heart do not have them yet.
I’m not sure what inspired me to begin with the brass section — perhaps it’s that the Spades are my favorite suit — but focusing on the three main instruments of the brass section was so much fun!
I then attacked the woodwinds (Diamonds) which has always been my home section (as I’m an oboe/English horn player during concert season).
The back of the cards has been designed as more of a scrollwork-sheet of music with a marching snare and sticks in the foreground.
The back of the card showcases the registered tartan of Alma College, as well as the eventual addition of the musical notes for the Alma Mater on the background score.
The tuck for the deck is based on the socks and flashers worn by the Kiltie Marching Band members below their kilts.
If/When the deck is ever actually produced, all of the gold on the tuck would be produced in gold foil-stamping.