Effects of Marching Band - Good or Bad?

[trumpet_cop]

[Steve A]

[cheiden]

I'm really split. I enjoy drum corp and really liked Blast! when that was a thing. I've heard some brilliant playing. But I've also met DC players who were limited musician who didn't sound that great, couldn't play well at low dynamics and who can't read. My longtime teacher talks about all the DC players he's had to fix when the marching season is over.

I'm reasonably concerned about my ability to get my son out of marching band mode and into a more well-rounded routine. He's already resisting me with statements like "playing softly doesn't work for me". In a way, I really kind of wish that his initial HS experience was more informed by concert and orchestral playing before being pulled into the marching band.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
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[oxleyk]

[Thatoneguy]

To me marching band was mostly just a fun, temporary experience, but I too felt that it really reinforced bad habits. When we went into wind ensemble the next semester I felt like I was going deaf. I suppose it really depends on the band director, as mine really wanted to win competitions. So i guess the question really has to be do i want to be like an athlete and win competitions or be an artist and make some truly varied music.

[razeontherock]

"Playing softly doesn't work for me."

I could've well said that for many years, during which time I had some pretty formidable chops. Here's the response I needed to hear:

that's because your chops are toast, fried half the time as you desperately struggle to recuperate after beating them to death in one performance, so you can convince yourself you're somehow "ready" to do it again in the next performance. I've seen you be frustrated from this process. When will you be ready to get off that hamster wheel?

Such a frank question will only serve well if you can in fact guide them off said 'hamster wheel.'

[Suffice to say, for me, marching band was horrible for my development as a player]

[JoseLindE4]

My college trumpet professor, who worked at a large state school with no trouble filling the marching band and who's students have had plenty of success, would encourage all of his incoming freshman to do at least one semester of marching band.

Marching band is the most visible performance opportunity most students will ever have. The bands with strong marching bands turn out some excellent musicians. The issue isnt the medium, it's the instruction. Those same issues arise in schools without marching and without quality teaching.

It's wise to go into marching eyes wide open, but there is a lot of places young musicians can grow while participating in marching band.

[greg warthan]

I marched for about 8 years with no ill effects. Most issues are a result of
overblowing. I always played loud, without overblowing. If one marches with a steady gait, the mouthpiece will not move on the chops. Played Paliacci, Tiger of San Pedro, Children Of Sanchez and many more, with high lead and solo parts. Never had a chop problem with this. Just my experience.

[LittleRusty]

I loved marching band. I marched in an excellent band that was always at the top. It never hurt our chops, but maybe because our director was a trumpet player.

That said I always dreaded the approach of concert band season. Sitting around playing the boring repertoire day after day was mind numbing.

But say what you want, would you rather do away with opportunities for our youth to get involved in music?

The Santa Clara Vanguard has started a program to help backfill the lack of music in the schools and help delay the end of instrumental music in public schools.

Not only does marching give opportunities to many children, but it also gives them exercise.

[Brad361]

[Brad361]

[cheiden]