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Instrumentation

An image of the 2008 Ohio State marching band spelling out "Browns" before the Browns 2008 season opener.
The band consists of 225 instrumentalists. 192 of these create the block band that is seen at every home game. The other 33 members are called alternates. These are members of the band who challenge the regular members every week for a spot in the 192-piece block. The alternates also understudy the week’s halftime show with the squad leader in case someone gets sick or injured before the performance. All music is memorized, verified during music checks each Friday. On game day the alternates help move equipment around if the show has props or a pit, otherwise they are led by the assistant drum major and stand at attention (minus instruments) along the SE end of the field. The band block consists of lettered rows ABCEFHIJKLMQRSTX and D. D row is not considered a part of the block as D row is the Drum Major, Assistant Drum Major, and Drum Major(s) in training.
The rows are paired in sister rows as follows: A-X, B-T, C-S, E-R, F-Q, H-M, I-J, K-L. Each row in the 192 block band contains the following:
A Row: 7 Trumpets, 5 E? Cornets
B Row: 12 Trumpets
C Row: 12 Flugelhorns
E Row: 12 Mellophones
F Row: 9 Trombones, 3 Bass Trombones
H Row: 12 Baritones
I Row: 12 Snare Drums
J Row: 4 Bass drums, 4 Cymbals, 4 Multi-tenors (Quints)
K Row: 12 Sousaphones
L Row: 12 Sousaphones
M Row: 12 Baritones
Q Row: 9 Trombones, 3 Bass Trombones
R Row: 12 Mellophones
S Row: 6 Flugelhorns and 6 Trumpets
T Row: 12 Trumpets
X Row: 7 Trumpets, 5 E? Cornets
While the brass-only configuration has been unvarying since 1934, the instrumentation has been subject to experimentation over the years. For several decades, slide trombones were replaced by valved "Tromboniums" manufactured by King Musical Instruments; by 1970 they had adopted the large-bore Conn 90G, prepared by Conn at the OSUMB's instigation. Slide trombones returned to the band in 1980. Tromboniums last marched in the OSUMB block at the 1982 Alumni Reunion game.>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ohio_State_University_Marching_Band>