[5] Ransom McDonough Brooks was a student and former civil war veteran who first led the band.

During this time the band was led by students and military officers, including cornetist I.E. Hill, and Professor B.G.

Taylor would lead the first band to perform the new college fight song, written by cheerleader Francis Lankey.

[7] MSU began playing Big Ten Conference football in 1952 and during this time the band received its first green and white uniforms.

[citation needed] Falcone was a professor of baritone and euphonium, and a prolific transcriber and arranger of music for concert band.

[10] Falcone retired and took on a role as professor emeritus in 1967, though he remained a fixture around the campus until weeks before his death in 1985.

[citation needed] The E-flat cornet in the SMB instrumentation is reminiscent of the standard British brass band tradition.

Working directly under the director are graduate assistants and various instructors for visuals, color guard and percussion.

The drum major and band president are the top ranking student leaders in the organization.

After marching to Spartan Stadium, the band gathers near the tunnel leading onto the football field and sings before lining up for the pregame Kickstep entrance.

MSU Shadows is also sung at the end of game days, after marching back and usually performing for the sizable crowd of band fans.

After the final home game of the year after the seniors sing the infrequently-sung second verse, the content of which is about one's love for MSU remaining after graduating.