r/marchingband

So my band director, after our school year ended, emailed my parents and I, saying that he'd love to have a meeting about marching band next year. Of course I was super excited about this, and I thought that it was his way of telling me that he thought I would make a good drum major. (Spoiler alert: literally the exact opposite)

He started off the meeting by playing part of an episode of Young Sheldon, the one where Sheldon goes to high school when he's really young and corrects everyone on the rules. Then he was saying how this was how other people were perceiving me (I was assistant drum major last year), and that 6 people had come forward and mentioned that they didnt like something or other about how I was leading. Things like me being too strict at the wrong times or other things like that. I was heartbroken, as I have poured my heart, soul, and body into this band. I have POTS (a heart condition) and have still been pushing my body to its limit for band. I always show up 10 minutes early, and try to encourage everyone and be nice to everyone, but some people just seem to have a problem with me. I literally transferred school to be with this band because our school district was splitting and I wouldve been cut off from the program, so I couldn't really help but take it a bit personally.

When I was younger I had a lot of issues (I'm diagnosed ADHD, undiagnosed but suspected Autism), and would brag a lot or try to take things over, and nobody corrected me for a while, until maybe 7th grade? I would correct people on things I saw that I could fix, and some people hated me for that. I had been working on myself in therapy for years after that, and thought I was doing a great job as Assistant Drum Major, so it broke my heart to hear that people didn't like what I was doing. I am a huge people pleaser and always try my best to make everyone comfortable, often at the expense of myself, and as such had been literally straining my body to keep up with the demands of the band so that they would follow my example and not be lazy. I guess that didnt work because people were really upset with me by the end of the season, and I had no idea until my director mentioned it.

My director straight up told me that some people had issues with me, and that he wanted me to just be a person in the band, rather than Drum Major. He said that I was the most technically skilled at the drum major auditions last year, and that if it weren't for those people, I would've literally been drum major without a doubt. For reference, I am going into my Junior year of High School, and have done marching band since 6th grade. Hearing that I would've had the position if not for those few things was soul-crushing, and I started tearing up right then and there. I asked if there was any chance of me being Drum Major and he said yes, but that it just depends who tries out for it.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, he started holding leadership meetings with anyone who wanted to be section leader or drum major. I of course show up, hopeful that I could still be drum major. We worked on basic things, like conducting and commands, which everyone was seeming to struggle with except for me. (I dont mean this to sound egotistical, they were just less experienced and I already had most of the things down.)

Now about 2 weeks ago, he held auditions. We conducted, did commands, and had to write an essay as to why we think we should be leadership. I thought I did really well, and he told me that I did a great job, so I watched everyone else audition too and cheered them on as best as I could. I honestly believed for a while that I was going to get Drum Major, as everything had been going well with the Summer season (we didnt have a drum major for summer, rather our center Snare just did different roll offs and staff would instruct). Then the email came. It wasn't me, but my section leader from the previous year, who was also going into her Junior year. Of course I'm really happy for her, but my heart is crushed and I dont know what to do. I was appointed as woodwind captain, and I'm excited to work with them, but I'm so disheartened about not being drum major, as I spent most of the time between seasons thinking I for sure had the role.

A little while after he sent the email with the roles he said that if everything went well, I was his first pick for drum major next year (my Senior year). Thats extra heartbreaking, knowing that I had the position if not for those small little things that I could've corrected now that I knew what they were.

Sorry to ramble, (and I'm sure I repeated some things,) but I dont know what to do. If anyone has some advice, I'd really appreciate that.

This was something I was wondering throughout my time in high school. What is the effect of the band Director on the band, and if the band is previously successful, would the teachings from previous band directors help carry on the band if the band director is not coaching the band as well? Many successful bands I have seen have been successful from their establishment. Also, for new band directors who are trying to change an old culture, how hard is that culture often to change? Is success usually the way to make cultures change in band?

Every year our boosters feed the marching band dinner every night of band camp. My husband and I are taking the lead this year and I'm looking for ideas for meals. We're feeding approximately 130+ people. What are everyone's favorite meals during band camp?

Hey r/marchingband, band lifer here (I teach music technology and basically live in the marching world).

I always wished there was a game that captured the actual grind and joy of building a band program up from nothing, so I went and made one.

It's called Marching Tycoon. It's a free idle/tycoon game where you start with a tiny, underfunded program and slowly build it into a powerhouse — growing your numbers, upgrading the program, watching it all snowball. > It's that satisfying "numbers go up" idle loop, except the theme is the world we all spent our falls in.

I built it solo, it's genuinely free, and there's no paywall blocking the actual game. I'd love for some real band people to try it and tell me what rings true and what's missing. Y'all are exactly who I made it for.

It's live on IOS now, and the Android version should be live in about a week.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/marching-tycoon/id6777115732

If you give it a shot, drop honest feedback in the comments. Roast it if it earns a roast. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I currently teach a front ensemble percussion in marching band. We are starting our winter show cycle in September. Previously we have worked with some arrangers to get our music, but i am very interested in resources, score study suggestions, and ways to go about improving my own skills.

Other than reaching out and discussing with people who do this kind of work already, what is the best way to start learning?

My experience - been involved in concert / marching / jazz for >10 years to some pretty high levels (some international competition), some music theory work and fundamentals, but the vast majority has been on the performing / teaching side, and i want to become a more complete musician.

It’s nothing to do with the music or memorization or marching technique im rolling my feet fine but just whenever im playing (trumpet) my sound isnt stable and i sound so shakey and i cant hold a note with a good tone, im fine when still but its when i start marching, any advice appreciated tysm

We have this tradition where the entire band gets apples. We also recite a chant. I don't remember it exactly but it's something like "This is my apple. There are many like it. But this one is mine." And we'd all take a bite together. People with braces or other things that kept them from eating whole apples got apple slices. The apples are also really good. I would eat my apple core. This happens after halftime in the stands I believe near the end of the third quarter.

I joined my schools marching band but I don’t know nothing about music AT ALL & only picked mellophone cause that’s where my friend was.

I really do want to give marching band a try but I’ve got until August 10th to learn how to play an instrument and whatnot all by myself. Does anyone have any advice for me or anything that could guide me in the right direction?

I started percussion without any prior knowledge. I'm on cymbals in the stands but on the field I'm on the accessory rack. I think it has a few different names but as far as I know it's a ton of random instruments.

I’m sure many of us have a long, hot parade tomorrow. Unlike rehearsals, we typically can’t wear light colored clothing, or have a cool towel on the neck, ect. And of course there’s also the fact you can’t put your (sometimes very heavy) instrument down for about 45 minutes.

Share your favorite tips to feel good during a parade!

I tried posting this in the color guard subreddit, but got no input. Hopefully theres some guard here who can help me out!
Okay, so for our school's fight song, at one point we have to do drop spins. Every time I try, my flag gets tangled between my wrists because of even the slightest tap of wind on it and i have to stop my spins entirely and I come back in at our next move, cones, and they're extremely weak and discouraged because of how badly I messed up drop spins right before. Anything I can do to fix this problem? I don't have a flag to practice with today, nor do we have practice, but I'm trying to go to my section leader's house later to get it dealt with.

Hello all, I am about to finish a degree in music education and wanted to get people's opinions on the title of this post. Personally, my high school marched both my freshman year, but after that we didn't, and the people who played those instruments marched something else. What I was told in my marching band class & other general classes in college is that you should only march them if you have a huge school with enough players on each instrument to make a textural impact. But I go out in the world and see mid to small-sized schools with one bari player and 2 or 3 bass clarinets. As someone who will be handling logistics and show design for my own band in a year, I would like to know if people have any thoughts/opinions they would like to share. Thanks!

So I have band camp in about 27 days (July 28th), I am a Sophomore so I’ve done it once before, but this time I’m a drum major. Our band camp is the 28th and the 31st from 8am-2pm. It’s basically just how to march and things. It’s me and my other drum major who have the role split, he has the field show and I get pro tunes. Is there anything that I should pack this time because I’m drum major that I wouldn’t have had to pack last year. Last year I had water, a snack, a phone charger, sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle and I was set. Is there anything else that may be useful though? I know it’s a while away but I want to prepare if needed.

Hey guys, I have a problem that I don’t know how to deal with it. Im a Sophomore in hs and I’ve wanted to do marching band for years, my middle school didn’t have one and because of sign up rules I couldn’t do it freshman year. Anyways, my problem is this, I really wanna do marching band but I also really love theatre and I’m almost guaranteed to have a big role this year. On top of that I also go up to Penn State almost every weekend to watch football games so I can’t be in my town during that time. Another thing is that I have fall preseason lacrosse workouts during that time, I love doing all of those things but I don’t know what to do.

I’m a mom to a soon to be high schooler and their first band camp is coming up and I saw the schedule and it’s just 2hrs a day (5 days a week for 3 full weeks) that’s spent outside. I see lots of other states do sleep away band camps or 12hr day band camps with at least twice that amount of time spent actually marching.
I always heard Tx is the most intense when it comes to marching band (along w Indiana) but how can they be so much “better” than other places but with way less time they’re allowed to practice

Hello! To get straight into the point I really suck at playing on time. I can’t tell if I’m rushing or dragging. I try subdividing while playing but sometimes it feels like I can’t keep up with my own playing or like I’m not making any progress. Is there any way to get better? The hardest part of band right now is the fact that I just can’t play… pls help😢

What size bass drums have yall run/do you recommend running for a 3 man bass line?

Hey, guys! I have a 14 year old son who is starting high school this year. He auditioned for and made the drumline, playing tenors. He is about 5'5-5'6 and super thin (5 drums on a shoulder harness).
In August they leave for a 5 day band camp. We are in WV, USA, so the terrain at their camp has huge hills and the weather will be really hot and humid.
He is already feeling the pain from carrying these heavy drums during their twice weekly practices. What can I have him do to really prepare for band camp, and do you have any tips in general for a new tenor player?
My other son is a senior who also plays tenors in the band, so I am not a new band mom. I know about hydrating and old comfortable shoes. But my older son is built bigger and had a year on bass drum to kind of get used to the weight of carrying a drum before switching to tenors. So, any tips appreciated!

Hello everyone,

I just got into a collegiate drumline! I'm really excited - but I did get dropped from snare drum to cymbals, and I've discovered that cymbal playing uses very different muscle groups.

I have pretty good core, ankle, and wrist strength from marching on snare. However, I need to work on my leg strength (snares can roll step, while cymbals have to do a high step/chair step) and especially my arm strength. I've done a bit of conditioning in the past for drum majoring, but our band hasn't marched in two years (we had an unfortunate combination of weather hazards and schedule conflicts) and I can't remember much of the specifics. Does anyone have exercise and exercise-adjacent advice (things like diets, routines, and safety tips) to help me get into shape for September?

Thank you!