'Bonecoming' Brings Early Morning Wake-Up Call to CMU

Central Michigans Chippewa Marching Band trombonists practice during a sectional on the Jack Saunders Marching Band Field, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. This was the last sectional the section had together before the homecoming game. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Central Michigan senior and trombone section leader of the Chippewa Marching Band Collin Miller sits down in the Park Library on the campus of Central Michigan University, to assemble the schedule for the morning of ‘Bonecoming’, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Building the schedule involves deciding call-time, putting together time increments of performances and sending out emails. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

A trombonist of the Chippewa Marching Band dips a sponge in polish before applying it to their instrument, to polish it before game day, under the awning of the School of Music on the campus of Central Michigan University, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. The section gets together every friday before home games to polish their instruments. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Central Michigan University sophomore students and trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band, Riley Ingraham, left, and Ellie Gray, right, polish their horns before game day under the awning of the School of Music on the campus of Central Michigan University, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

The trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band celebrate in the parking lot of the School of Music on the campus of Central Michigan University, before the ‘Bonecoming’ festivities begin, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. All members were given the call time of 3:10 a.m. to be able to pack cars and debrief the morning. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Central Michigan students look out their window of Beddow Hall, on the campus of Central Michigan University, as the trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band play outside, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. These were the first dorms the trombonists traveled to during their morning ritual. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Central Michigan University president Neil MacKinnon, right, and First Lady Leanne MacKinnon, left, are greeted outside their home by the trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band for ‘Bonecoming’, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. After performing two bone tunes, the section was invited into their home to enjoy hot cider, donuts and cookies. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Central Michigan trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band go around the room sharing how long they’ve been playing trombone and a fun fact about themselves inside the presidents house on ‘Bonecoming’ morning, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Each member of the section was also gifted a CMU tartan bucket hat as a gesture from president Neil MacKinnon. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

The trombone section members of the Chippewa Marching Band help themselves to breakfast on the morning of ‘Bonecoming’, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Each year the drum majors of the band will prepare breakfast before the trombones make their rounds of performances. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

Trombonists of the Chippewa Marching Band leave their shoes at the door of an apartment to share breakfast after ‘Bonecoming’ morning, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. All of the members of the section meet at the section leaders house. (Photo by Alivia Cranick)

At 2:25 a.m., when most of Central Michigan University’s campus is still asleep, the trombone section is already getting ready to make some noise.

Bonecoming, one of CMU’s most unique Homecoming traditions, begins in the early morning hours with trombone players gathering at the School of Music before traveling across campus to wake up students, faculty and university leaders with music. The group visits residence halls including Saxe, Merrill/Beddow, Kesseler and Campbell before making stops at faculty homes and President Neil MacKinnon’s house.

For Collin Miller, a student and trombone section leader, the reactions from students are what make the tradition special.

“My favorite part of Bonecoming is waking up the dorms and hearing all of the reactions we get from the student body,” Miller said.

The tradition’s exact beginning is unclear, but Miller said it dates back at least to the early 1980s, when CMU’s current band director was a student. More than four decades later, the tradition continues to bring a little organized chaos to Homecoming morning.

After visiting campus and community stops, the trombones head to breakfast before continuing on to the SAC, where they prepare for the rest of the day.

“I think its importance comes from how unique it is,” Miller said. “CMU is the only college I know of that has anything like Bonecoming.”

For the trombone section, Bonecoming is more than an early alarm. It is a way to bring music, tradition and school spirit directly to the people who make Homecoming feel like Homecoming.

Reflection

I had a lot of fun shooting this story because I was able to spend time with the trombone section and experience Bonecoming from the inside. I went to multiple sectionals and polishing sessions before home games, which made the experience even more exciting because I knew the end goal and what I would be doing with the photos. The group was so much fun to hang out with that they eventually knew me by name and enjoyed having me around. They were especially surprised when I introduced myself and told them I would be following them throughout the process and during the entire morning of Bonecoming.

When Bonecoming morning arrived, I was the second car in the parking lot. I got out and started talking with everyone, and they were all so excited. I drove separately to each location, but I also had to run to each spot with them to make sure I could capture the action. They would run to their playing location, perform, then run back to their cars to get to the next stop. Everything was carefully planned and followed a specific schedule, but it was so fun watching them enjoy themselves. The experience felt especially full circle because I remember being a freshman and hearing the trombones outside my window. Now, I was behind the camera capturing and telling the story of a tradition I once experienced myself.