Anyone who is part of a marching band will probably end up having to wear one of the official band uniforms when an actual show comes around. This always goes for college bands, and sometimes applies for high school and middle school bands, although sometimes there is just a dress code that can be fulfilled with clothes from home. These uniforms can vary greatly from school to school, and usually give a sense of identity to the members of the band. Marching bands try to be fairly creative in choosing their uniforms, and over the years there have been many interesting things.
The uniforms usually try to be expressive, whether they are trying to reflect the music or the spirit of the school. Colors are a very important part. Usually the theme will be the school colors. It is a common element to see a uniform with separate color themes on each side, so that the band can collectively form one giant blob of color, then rapidly change it by switching to the other side. Naturally, it is usually accompanied by a shift in the tempo or a dramatic part of the song being played.
Accessories are also very prominent in marching band uniforms. Hats are carefully selected from various styles that match the uniform. Plumes, gloves, capes, and batons may be included when possible, but not if they will get in the way of the member’s ability to play his or her instrument. During important football games, marching bands may wear uniforms that mimic those of the football team. The accessories are rarely the same from performance to performance, as they like to switch them up and have a fresh look every time.
Some schools even decide to go against the flow by having uniforms that don’t follow any of these standards. This could be t-shirts and shorts, or a minimalist robe. Some Ivy League schools hold marching band performances wearing jackets and ties. But while these schools might not have the fanciness of the other schools, they are still recognized by what they wear. When schools are picking out uniforms, recognition is a huge factor. It allows for schools to have a good reason to wear the uniforms and gain respect from the other schools that witness their band.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
How to Practice Marching Band Music
If you have been assigned a part in the marching band of your school, you will want to practice your part as much as possible before the day that you will actually be performing it. You will have plenty of opportunities to practice at school with the rest of the band, but what can you do when you are at home? This is a tough question that has plagued marching band members for years, and there are several good solutions to the problem. Read on to find out some tricks you can use to practice at home exactly how you would practice with the rest of the band.
Many companies sell pre-recorded marching band tunes with one instrument missing. You can buy the CD that corresponds to the instrument that you play, and it’s just like having the rest of your marching band there with you. Just pretend like you’re at a regular practice, and you’ll be able to play the song. If you will be playing a popular song, then you may be able to find a CD with the same song on it. Otherwise, you will have to learn other songs and practice your overall compatibility with other instruments. It may not sound helpful to practice on other songs, but it will affect all areas of your ability.
You can also record a practice session to tape, perhaps even sitting out so that you have an audio track without your own instrument playing. This is a very primitive solution and generally of fairly low quality, but it works. It will give you a way to practice with the people from your actual band, as well as with the songs that you will have to play at the performance. This is very helpful if you feel the songs offered by CDs are not adequate.
When you are in a marching band, you are a part of a team. The overall quality of the performance depends heavily on each individual member, so you should always realize that your own skills will affect the sound. The more you practice, the more you will be able to improve yourself. So even if you have to improvise some techniques to increase your ability to practice, you shouldn’t settle for just practicing on the scheduled times.
Many companies sell pre-recorded marching band tunes with one instrument missing. You can buy the CD that corresponds to the instrument that you play, and it’s just like having the rest of your marching band there with you. Just pretend like you’re at a regular practice, and you’ll be able to play the song. If you will be playing a popular song, then you may be able to find a CD with the same song on it. Otherwise, you will have to learn other songs and practice your overall compatibility with other instruments. It may not sound helpful to practice on other songs, but it will affect all areas of your ability.
You can also record a practice session to tape, perhaps even sitting out so that you have an audio track without your own instrument playing. This is a very primitive solution and generally of fairly low quality, but it works. It will give you a way to practice with the people from your actual band, as well as with the songs that you will have to play at the performance. This is very helpful if you feel the songs offered by CDs are not adequate.
When you are in a marching band, you are a part of a team. The overall quality of the performance depends heavily on each individual member, so you should always realize that your own skills will affect the sound. The more you practice, the more you will be able to improve yourself. So even if you have to improvise some techniques to increase your ability to practice, you shouldn’t settle for just practicing on the scheduled times.
Competing in Marching Band Competitions
Marching bands usually spend hours and hours preparing their performance to be shown to the public. These marching band competitions are something to really look forward to if you are in a marching band. It is when the hard work and practice pay off, and you are able to enjoy the fruits of all the labor. The competitions themselves are fairly well structured, and entertaining to watch. They usually follow a strict schedule, allowing a certain amount of time for each band. The bands each give it their best shot, and then are judged based on several different factors.
The main factor is how musical the particular band is. Do they sound good together, or would they be better off in some other activity? If the band is able to produce a song that impresses the judges, they will likely see high scores in this area. This usually just boils down to the individual talents of all of the members of the band.
The uniformity of the band is also extremely important. This refers not only to their ability to musically compliment each other, but also their marching and outfits. With more and more practice, a marching band will seem more like they are comfortable with each other and know how to march and play in a way that shows this.
The uniforms and march itself are important, since the bands aren’t simply judged by how they sound to the ear. They are also graded based on how powerful their visual style is. If they perform a difficult drill while wearing complex uniforms and executing great flares, they will have more of a visual impact on the judges and be more likely to win.
The difficulty of the music is also taken into consideration. Two bands might have a similar performance, but if one of them has a few more tough notes than the other, they will be given preference when being judged.
Marching band competitions are exciting events where different bands from different schools can come together and perform, and hopefully learn things from each other. When one band is able to see another band, they can pick up techniques, or even just be inspired to practice more and become better. The competition is very friendly, and provides something to look forward to after countless hours of practice.
The main factor is how musical the particular band is. Do they sound good together, or would they be better off in some other activity? If the band is able to produce a song that impresses the judges, they will likely see high scores in this area. This usually just boils down to the individual talents of all of the members of the band.
The uniformity of the band is also extremely important. This refers not only to their ability to musically compliment each other, but also their marching and outfits. With more and more practice, a marching band will seem more like they are comfortable with each other and know how to march and play in a way that shows this.
The uniforms and march itself are important, since the bands aren’t simply judged by how they sound to the ear. They are also graded based on how powerful their visual style is. If they perform a difficult drill while wearing complex uniforms and executing great flares, they will have more of a visual impact on the judges and be more likely to win.
The difficulty of the music is also taken into consideration. Two bands might have a similar performance, but if one of them has a few more tough notes than the other, they will be given preference when being judged.
Marching band competitions are exciting events where different bands from different schools can come together and perform, and hopefully learn things from each other. When one band is able to see another band, they can pick up techniques, or even just be inspired to practice more and become better. The competition is very friendly, and provides something to look forward to after countless hours of practice.
Joining and Participating in a Marching Band
If your child seems to have music talent, you should encourage him or her to join a marching band. There are many marching band opportunities for the average child. These include the school band, along with other extracurricular opportunities. If your child has the musical talent and the initiative to join a marching band, then you should encourage him or her in the process. Being part of a marching band is a fun experience for any kid. In order to understand what your child is getting in to when joining a marching band, you should get a better idea of what goes on in the band on a day to day basis.
For a children’s marching band, instruments are usually not up to children to choose. In order to introduce children to all of the instruments, a few weeks will be set aside for each child to try out each instrument. After those weeks finish up, the auditions will be held. Even though every kid will probably want to beat on the drums the most, the teacher will do his or her best to find a kid that can be assigned to each instrument and who has the most natural talent for it.
After everyone has an assigned position within the band, they will start to work together and learn the first song. The first song will probably never be performed outside the safe confines of the school, but will give the band the experience they need in working together to create the best music possible. It will also allow for the kids to decide whether they can stick it out with the assigned instruments, or if they would do better on another one. It may seem like a marching band at that point is fairly pointless, but the practice lays the foundation for skills that will later create a very successful marching band career.
So if you would like your child to be more involved in school activities, it is a good idea to push the idea of a marching band. It’s not just a way to learn to play an instrument well, but also a way to teach your child how to work in a team with other people, to achieve the common goal of producing great music for the enjoyment of an audience.
For a children’s marching band, instruments are usually not up to children to choose. In order to introduce children to all of the instruments, a few weeks will be set aside for each child to try out each instrument. After those weeks finish up, the auditions will be held. Even though every kid will probably want to beat on the drums the most, the teacher will do his or her best to find a kid that can be assigned to each instrument and who has the most natural talent for it.
After everyone has an assigned position within the band, they will start to work together and learn the first song. The first song will probably never be performed outside the safe confines of the school, but will give the band the experience they need in working together to create the best music possible. It will also allow for the kids to decide whether they can stick it out with the assigned instruments, or if they would do better on another one. It may seem like a marching band at that point is fairly pointless, but the practice lays the foundation for skills that will later create a very successful marching band career.
So if you would like your child to be more involved in school activities, it is a good idea to push the idea of a marching band. It’s not just a way to learn to play an instrument well, but also a way to teach your child how to work in a team with other people, to achieve the common goal of producing great music for the enjoyment of an audience.
Getting Involved with a College Marching Band
If you were involved with a marching band during your grade school years, then you probably want to continue the experience up through your college years. Being involved with a marching band is a very memorable experience, and creates a sense of teamwork and camaraderie with your fellow band members. If you were a successful member of the marching bands in years of the past, you should have no problem getting involved with a college marching band. They are more rigorous and definitely have a higher threshold of quality required to be a part of the band.
Like any school activity or sport, a college marching band is as much a fun social experience as it is the production of professional sounding music. Band members will often go out for a night on the town after practice, having a good time. Going through college without any extra activities is a very boring experience, and it may be harder to meet friends when your only venue is class. Therefore, if you have been having any doubts about marching band, you should know that the social aspect is a good reason alone.
If you really want to master an instrument, college marching band is a good way to do it. The performance quality relies on every single performer being of a high quality, so if you are not up to standards then you will most likely be dismissed from the band. This provides motivation for hours and hours of practice, and enough work to completely master the instrument. Even if you were top in the class during your previous marching band experiences, you will find that the competition is much tougher this time around.
If you are interested in joining a college marching band but haven’t had any previous experience with an instrument, you are probably out of luck. It is possible to pick up an instrument and become fairly proficient with it over a short period of time, but unless you have a predisposed talent you will probably not reach the level required. However, if you are able to take an entire summer and practice for 8 hours a day every day, you may be able to master an instrument. It is possible, but like anything amazing it requires lots of commitment.
Like any school activity or sport, a college marching band is as much a fun social experience as it is the production of professional sounding music. Band members will often go out for a night on the town after practice, having a good time. Going through college without any extra activities is a very boring experience, and it may be harder to meet friends when your only venue is class. Therefore, if you have been having any doubts about marching band, you should know that the social aspect is a good reason alone.
If you really want to master an instrument, college marching band is a good way to do it. The performance quality relies on every single performer being of a high quality, so if you are not up to standards then you will most likely be dismissed from the band. This provides motivation for hours and hours of practice, and enough work to completely master the instrument. Even if you were top in the class during your previous marching band experiences, you will find that the competition is much tougher this time around.
If you are interested in joining a college marching band but haven’t had any previous experience with an instrument, you are probably out of luck. It is possible to pick up an instrument and become fairly proficient with it over a short period of time, but unless you have a predisposed talent you will probably not reach the level required. However, if you are able to take an entire summer and practice for 8 hours a day every day, you may be able to master an instrument. It is possible, but like anything amazing it requires lots of commitment.
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