What is marching band? Well first, what is marching? Marching is walking in an orderly manner. Secondly, what is a band? A band is a group of musicians playing a variety of different instruments to obtain different types of music. But marching band is the mixing and mastering of both. There are different variations of a marching band and the way one is run. A marching band includes a drum major, woodwinds and brass players, and color guard. There is music that varies. There are practices, breaks, commands, tempo, counting, marching, forms, visuals, half-time, contests, goals, and leadership. All of these words can be used to describe a marching band, but what matters is what they mean. Marching band truly entertains. Many things come with being in marching band. There is heat, terrible tan lines, long practices, football games, contests, and the list goes on. All of these things are purely required elements of being in a marching band. If these things are not bearable then marching band is not for you. Many people misinterpret the meaning of marching band. In school, they consider it as an athletic course, but…
I shadowed a junior, who will be referred to as Sarah, through 6 class periods. The classes observed included Government, Informational Technology (IT), band, lunch, and a free period during which Sarah worked in the office. The high school in which I observed showed its age, there was a very warm feel to the building. The first classroom I was in grew almost unbearably warm, there was still a chalkboard in the room, and the room itself felt crowded. The feeling of being crowed carried through…
The tradition of concert, or wind bands has developed so much over many centuries and eras in the world of music. There is a lot of evidence of some instruments, like trumpets, drums, and horns. Although these early uses of instruments were mostly used for signs of battle or war, and not music. It took about until the 17th Century that a band was considered a group of musicians, or something near. At that time, to the people there; there wasn’t really a difference between a band and an…
Rubbing Off in the 110 I’ve always been involved with marching band most of my time in school starting in 5th grade. I fell in love with it. I consider marching band an art form. The band marches in many different designs or a patterns on the field while playing music, and for the Marching 110, they perform a dance at the end. For the rubbings project, I wanted to celebrate my time here at Ohio University and give thanks to The Most Exciting Band In The Land. The materials I was regular printer…
These musicians do not care about the conventional life of having a job and family, but instead focus on expressing their views in artistic ways through their music. In some cases, music was the only motivation of living for some musicians, especially in areas of unemployment and distress, where young people had very limited opportunities. This was the reason why a stereotype developed, considering musicians depressed and low-life individuals who were not contributing to society. Not bound by…
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…
This is when I joined my first real band with a couple of college kids from my surrounding area. Those next 6 months of my life are to this day, the most important to date. In February of 2007, after months of playing shows on the weekends and practicing every night with my new band, things started to pick up. The band wanted to start touring full time but I was the only member still in school. We also had mention of a record deal coming down the pipeline. I finally said screw it and when I came…
The Classical music performance had an order to it in the way the musicians walk out, sit down and how they played. The crowd would be very respectful and professional while watching the orchestra. The crowd would clap when need and would be quiet when needed. The orchestra would perform in a beautiful theater not outside on an open stage like a rock concert. A rock concert differs from that of a classical performs. The band usually has no order to way the play. They just kind of all walk on…
This I Believe What makes a person believe in something? A powerful moment, tragic loss, or sign from above are all things that can cause people to have a deeper understanding of their life. In particular, an influencing moment caused me to realize some things about an area of my life that were not clear before. Due to this moment, I now strongly believe in the power of spotlight. I am a member of the varsity show choir group called Express at my school. Being apart of this group has…
In high school, I remember where my biggest dream changed into a reality. I was a member of the Greenville High School Tiger Pride Marching Band. I played the alto saxophone. Unlike my bandmates, I did not know how to read music then. I played by ear, and whatever scale, jazz run, or chromatic I heard, I could play it back just like that. I played at numerous of black history programs and different events at school. My favorite saxophonist was Kenneth Williams, and I told myself that I want to…