Composed of over 400 men and women from the school's Corps of Cadets, it is the largest military marching band in the United States.

Since its inception in 1894, its members eat together, sleep in the same dormitories, and practice up to forty hours per week on top of a full academic schedule.

In 1885, Holick and his brother Louis boarded an empty boxcar bound for Orange, Texas, so that they could gain employment in a lumber mill.

[1][8] Because the new job paid much more than his previous one, Holick wanted to give the school "more than just two tunes for its money and he asked the commandant for permission to start a cadet band".

In addition, the early drum majors were chosen in physical combat; insomuch that the candidates were placed in a locked room, with the best fighter / the one emerging victorious, being named to the coveted position.

Dunn, who found the Aggie War Hymn "inappropriate"[1] for social functions and solemn occasions, wrote its accompanying music and presented it to the student body titled Spirit of Aggieland.

All the seniors in one single file was "quite a sight to behold",[1] and one junior commented that they looked like a bunch of old elephants wandering around trying to find some place to die.

As "a crusty old army man",[1] Dunn understood the nation's urgent need for troops, and he accepted the fact that the Aggie Band could only return after the war was over.

[1] After music school, he joined the army and put his musical skills to rest for the duration of the war, with one exception: while on regimental staff during the retreat ceremony at the end of the day, the assigned bugler had no experience and couldn't play a single note, so Adams stepped out of formation, took the bugle from the bugler's hands, blew the appropriate calls, handed the bugle back, and marched back into his spot in the formation.

Infantry and field artillery associations were no longer required by the Army and Adams changed the units' names to the Maroon and White Bands.

[1] This simple philosophy was tested as Texas A&M transitioned from an all-male military college to a coeducational research university.

The female cadets refused pictures unless their fish buddies (members of their freshman class in their unit) were included in the photos.

With so many members doing exactly what the person in front of them does with mere inches of clearance, the cascade effect was unrecoverable and the band simply stopped and left the field.

The Bryan-College Station Eagle's editor opined, "A&M is probably the only school anywhere that throws in a free football game with its performance.

One of these days, I fully expect the band to be invited to a bowl game—and to be told it can bring along its football team if it wants to.

"[1][18] Lieutenant Colonel Ray E. Toler, a Texas Christian University graduate,[19] replaced Haney when he stepped down in 1989.

[6][22] During Toler's leadership of the Aggie Band, its presence was personally requested by President-elect George W. Bush for his inauguration parade.

[1][23] During Toler's tenure, many of the drills were written by Colonel Jay Brewer who also served as the announcer for over 30 years until his retirement in 2020.

[24] In addition, many of the Aggie drills and music were written by Dr. Timothy Rhea, who succeeded Toler as Director of Bands in 2002.

This facility considerably increases rehearsal space for the band and includes a turf drill field, which is not susceptible to the ruts and holes often created on Haney due to constant marching.

On December 6, 2018, a select contingent of the Aggie Band performed at the burial of U.S. President George H. W. Bush on the Texas A&M campus.

[28] The band played the presidential salute "Hail to the Chief" and the "Texas Aggie War Hymn" as Bush's casket was removed from the funeral train.

During the fall semester, the Aggie Band practices for 90 minutes every weekday morning and on Saturdays every week with a football game.

[31] In addition, some components of the band also practice on Sunday afternoons and planning of the drills takes place throughout the fall semester.

Each drum major carries a mace and directs the band based on its movements and whistle commands during a drill.

[43][44] Instrumentation consists of more than 60 trumpets, 40 trombones, 30 mellophones, 30 baritones, 25 bass horns, 40 drummers, and 90 assorted woodwinds, though the actual composition varies annually.

[45] According to an article in The Battalion, "some of the Aggie band's maneuvers are so complex that some drill-charting software says that the drills are impossible because they require multiple people to be in the same place at the same time.

[47] The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band has performed at inauguration parades for many Presidents of the United States in Washington, D.C., including at the personal request of President-elect George H. W.

After another whoop, the drum majors signal for the horns to be lifted into playing position with two quick whistle blasts and the bugle rank does a flourish.

[45] The drill then begins with the band playing the opening notes of the War Hymn and stepping off into the initial formation.