Brass

The marching band has had problems over the years. The band has lost two directors in four years, need more instruments, and have a very small field to practice and learn their show on. A solution to one of those problems would be If the band could use the Football field for their practices. There are many reasons why this could help the band. Many marching bands have some major concerns with their practice fields that the school provides for them because the school doesn't want them to…

The French horn has a brassier sound than a flugelhorn. The main visual difference between a flugelhorn and a French horn is the rounder shape of the latter instrument. A flugelhorn looks like a large trumpet; the french horn does not. Sound wise, however, the two instruments do share some similarities. It takes some extra study to figure out the differences. Range The flugelhorn has the range of a typical trumpet, sounding from G# below middle C to three octaves above middle C. While the…

Seven years of my life I played an instrument in a band for my hometown of Watertown, WI; little did I know that I would learn much more than playing music. Band Ensemble is a group I was motivated to join because of my brother and friends. After I joined the group and began playing the tuba, I always felt like I had a place. Being in band, I felt like I was a part of my community. First, I was drawn to band because I was interested in being a part of a team. Band was a lot of people coming…

To the next section leader, Congratulations! If you are reading this, then you have what it takes to lead the greatest and one of the most difficult sections in the band. Being section leader is hard. It was one of the hardest and most frustrating things I have done in high school. There have been nights when I 've come home, exhausted and defeated. There have also been many days when the whole section locks in. Those are the days that will make you so proud to lead this amazing section. The…

My stand partner and I look out over the piazza - somehow, it’s become even more packed than it was during the last break between pieces. We glance at each other and smile nervously as our conductor announces the next song, “All I Ask of You”. My hands are sweating and I have butterflies in my stomach as our conductor introduces us: me as the arranger, and both of us as the featured soloists. I take a deep breath, glance at my conductor and the orchestra, and begin. I’d like to say I was…

Being in percussion, during football/marching season, you’re either in Drumline or Pit. Drumline is the section of percussion that marches while Pit is the section that does not. I, as an eighth grader, tried out for Drumline, and was already planning the year ahead expecting fantastic memories. However, I was not fully aware of my skills, or lack of. I was not granted a spot on Drumline and was placed in Pit. After this, I decided to stay in Pit for another year because I believed that my…

On the night of September 30th, I was able to attend the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra’s concert at Baldwin Wallace University. A feature that made them unique was their ability to arrange modern songs into a salsa format. It was a lively performance where many audience members danced along with the band, demonstrating the danceable feature of the music. The orchestra used many of the traditional salsa instruments, including timbales, conga drums, a cowbell, and a guiro. Mambo influences were…

When I was growing up and my brother attended high school, I always enjoyed going to Friday night football games and watching the best part of the game: the halftime show. While I sat in the stands, my brother would be marching sets, creating intricate formations and blasting his trumpet at fortissimo. I dreamed to be a part of the sets of formations and play difficult music at rapid tempos. Once I entered middle school, I immediately signed up for band and assigned to play the oboe, a woodwind…

Music has played a gigantic role in defining who I am. When I was little I was always involved in music. Even if it was not me making the music, I was always bopping my head along or tapping my foot to the beat of the music. My parents were surprised to find out that I was the child that was fascinated by the marching band walking in the parade. I knew by a young age that I wanted to be in that band. The day I started to play my instruments changed my life, each in a different way. In 2002 I…

Marching band has been influential in helping me to develop into the young adult I am today. I have gained confidence and have responsibility and leadership through participation in marching band. Marching band helps shape me into the leader and adult I am today. Prior to joining marching band I lack confidence and feel self-conscious about myself. Participating in marching band helps increase my confidence and allows me the freedom to express myself through music. Before I used to not take…