The Band Wagon

Direction is an English-Irish pop boy band composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and formerly Zayn Malik, until his departure in March 2015. They are currently one of the biggest pop acts in the world and have won multiple awards, including most recently Artists of the Year at the 2015 American Music Awards. They have broken many records, and are ranked the fourth highest earning celebrities in the world. They were put together as a band after each individually…

form of music emerged called “swing”. Swing is characterized by very large bands, fixed, usually written arrangements, and solos by individual musicians in turn. Swing bands typically used an upright or double bass instead of a tuba and played repeated riffs to give the music a propulsive rhythmic force. Swing combined harmonic sophistication with danceable rhythms and compelling individual improvisations. Swing bands ranged from groups like Count Basie with his “Kansas City” style that…

(00:03:59-00:04:02). In addition, the Black culture focused more on their form, “From Africa and the jazz from New Orleans,” (00:04:02-00:04:05). However, a few years after WWI Paul Whiteman who was the king of White dance bands, created an organized band known as Smooth Big Band— which consisted of jazz elements and classical music. According to the documentary, Paul Whiteman was the reason for how Swing started in 1924 when he instructed George Gershwin to write “Rhapsody in Blue”, “The first…

African-Americans turned into piano songs, and soon enough evolved into the Jazz we know and love today. In modern Jazz, there are pieces that are considered “Jazz Standards”, one major contributor to these standards is the trombone player and Big Band Jazz composer, Glenn Miller. Glenn Miller lived a short yet interesting life, he differed from his competitors and left a dazzling legacy on the Jazz community. On March 1st of 1904 in the small town of Clarinda, Iowa, Alton Glenn Miller was…

“You may take the field for competition.” Marching band has always been something I wanted to do since I entered North Middle School band. When I first signed up to be in the ‘Rebel Pride’ marching Band at Franklin County High School, I had no idea what that year would have in store for me. ‘Will I fit in?’ ‘Will anyone like me?’ Those were all questions I asked myself. I can honestly say that the four years I was in marching band was the time of great learning and discovery of myself and the…

As the rhythmic music started to play, I realized that my routine would determine my personal overall placement and the placement of my team. The pressure was on and I had to take a few deep breathes before I could focus on the importance of the next minute and eight seconds. I continued to match my skills with the timing of the music while listening to the cheering of the crowd and my nervous heart beating erratically out of my chest. Once I completed my last tumbling pass and stuck it, I…

may seem effortless when I play the trombone, but it took me several challenges to get to where I am. When I was in sixth grade, a middle school band inspired me to join band in middle school. With my family being a “fresh off the boat” immigrant, however, I was insecure about myself since I was not much fluent in English. Worse than expected, my first band experience disappointed me. Trombone was not my priority, but other instruments seemed to have no vacancies. I also struggled to learn so…

I first joined marching band, I was a very quiet and timid individual, but as I got more used to the marching band program, I noticed that I had…

Few people outside the marching band world realize the amount of time and effort that goes into assembling the perfect halftime show; months of preparation take place, and, then, rehearsals begin up until competition. Everyone involved, including band directors and band members, must contribute to the overall success of the marching band. Months before marching season begins, all materials must be prepared. This includes drill, coordinate sheets, and music. Usually, a drill writer is hired to…

Working on the HHS Band leadership team has been one of the most difficult but rewarding jobs of my high school career. My junior year I was selected as the clarinet co-section leader with another one of my good friends Laura. Both of us are very strong and confident leaders, so throughout the marching band season, there was a bit of a power struggle. We didn't know how to properly balance our authority in the group to command equal respect, and we didn't know how to work as a team. Through my…