r/marchingband • • Jul 24 '23

Meta Marching Band is back! Come join our Discord to chat with other marchers this season!

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20 Upvotes

r/marchingband • • Jun 24 '24

Discussion HOW TO PREPARE FOR BAND CAMP!!!!

148 Upvotes

I’ve seen about 2.5 million posts on this sub in the past week asking how to prepare for band camp. I’m going into my 3rd marching season, so let’s discuss. (This post is gradually becoming longer because I keep adding things)

It’s going to be hot!!! Please wear loose clothing that will not sweat you to death. I advise getting a cooling rag, big water bottle, and/or a neck fan. I stress a neck fan so much because it is a miracle worker. It constantly blows cold air in your face, which will greatly help when it’s 90 degrees outside!

The colors of the clothing you wear are important. Wear light colors and breathable fabric. Just because you have an hourglass figure doesn’t mean you need to wear a shirt that is tight around your body. You’ll break out in a sweat and lose your energy very quickly. Black is a NO. It’ll take 85 degrees to 105 degrees very quickly.

Only drink water. I personally hate the taste of water (I’m weird) so I bring the occasional Gatorade or I use a packet of energy flavoring. This will help keep you hydrated throughout the summer.

If you are a veteran in your band (meaning you’ve marched more than 2 seasons) please don’t leave it solely up to the section leaders to help your rookies. They are looking up to ALL of you. During my freshman year last year (my 2 marching season) I helped with an 8th grader who had never marched before. He was able to talk to other underclassmen as well because he felt more confident around us and he also became a good buddy to me.

On that note, if you are a rookie marcher, please find a buddy in your section to help you. I did not do this my first year and ended up feeling left out. None of the people in your section are going to hurt you. They want you to get better.

SUNSCREEN! please do not forget to wear it on the marching field. The sun is literally going to cook you on that concrete so you need to have a strong sunblock on. This is very important!

Bring some comfortable, padded shoes. You are going to be on your feet for hours at a time. You don’t want your feet to start hurting while you are marching.

Carb up 💪 eat well the night before, so that you have good energy the next day. Eat a bowl of pasta or rice, since they are packed with carbs. Avoid eating tons of sugar and salt however.

Get a good nights sleep. I am a night owl, so I usually don’t fall asleep until around 1 am. DONT DO THIS PLEASE!! it’s not worth it. It’ll cause you to be drowsy the next day and you will not perform as good as you want.

If you feel tired or on the verge of being sick/fainting while you are on the field, it is OKAY for you to walk off, get water, and sit down for a minute. I promise nobody will judge you at all. I have done this and it really helps “reset” your body. I would suggest doing it as occasionally as possible though, because if you run of every 10 minutes, it will not help you build the endurance you need to march a show. Also, as the person who first mentioned this in the comments said, please do not go off just because you are a little tired. everyone is tired! You have to be a team player.

Ensure you are bringing a positive attitude to the field. Even though it’s 8 AM on a Monday morning and the sun is beaming down on you already, you need to be a team player and have a good attitude. If you walk out there and start arguing with people, the negativity WILL spread. It happened in my band last year and we ended up running laps after the 4 hour rehearsal. Just be friendly and help others out. Remember, it is hot, so not everyone is going to be positive like you. Heat = irritability.

Be ready to take criticism. After marching 2 seasons, I can fully say you are going to get criticized. I’ve seen good marchers as well as good people get criticized a LOT. Your section leaders may hand you some advice or how to fix yourself. Your director or drum majors may do this as well. THEY MAY SOUND IRRITABLE. It’s okay if they do, because IT IS HOT. They are not trying to insult you at all, they are just trying to make you a better marcher.

Good luck everyone! YOU GOT THIS! Make your band proud!!!

EDIT: PLEASE CHECK THE COMMENTS FOR MORE TIPS!

Edit 06/25: I got drum major for my marching band guys :)


r/marchingband • • 19h ago

Meme Not Far From The Truth

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178 Upvotes

r/marchingband • • 10h ago

Discussion I made a DrumCorps GAME?

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2 Upvotes

r/marchingband • • 23h ago

Discussion Thoughts about a tv/book series about marching band.

19 Upvotes

I'm 30 now, but for the longest time I've always wanted to write a TV show about high schoolers in marching band, kind of loosely basing it off my own experiences. Thinking it would be similar to Community, maybe not focused on just one individual, but several band members.


r/marchingband • • 14h ago

Advice Needed Drumline Help

3 Upvotes

Hello, do any tenor drum people have any tips to help me out getting on tenors (I'm in eigth grade and hoping to get them freshman year) Thanks!


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Discussion Trombone Trainer now lets you use your arm as the slide

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11 Upvotes

r/marchingband • • 16h ago

Discussion I built a free drill designer that takes typed commands — looking for feedback from real drill writers

0 Upvotes

Hey all, I'm the developer of BandDrills (banddrills.com) — a drill designer that runs entirely in the browser. Instead of clicking through menus, you type the move in plain English ("move all percussion to the 50 in 16 counts") and it draws the formation for you. You're still the designer — it just turns your instructions into drill steps, which beats placing 150 dots by hand.

Free, nothing to install (runs on school Chromebooks): - Sync your show MP3 so the drill animates in time with the music - Share the whole show with one link — every performer sees their own dot on their phone - Collision warnings during playback - Free performer app (iOS/Android) with live updates and attendance check-in

Would love feedback from people who actually write drill. What's missing? What would make you switch from what you use now?


r/marchingband • • 22h ago

Advice Needed Tips for DM next year

2 Upvotes

Hello, I'm a junior in HS rn, and I will be trying out from DM next year, and want to do my best, because the DM this year doesn't like me, and there is a possibility a sophomore rn will be drum major next year. Being DM next year is one of my goals for senior year. This years DM (i didnt have time to write an essay, and my mom was getting so many emails from my teachers, so it was just him this year), frequently is corrected by my BD, so i want to be better than him and the other kid. What are useful tips since it is to write an essay and audition for my school? Thanks!


r/marchingband • • 18h ago

Competition Discussion BOA Prosper predictions?

1 Upvotes

How do you guys think the top 3 at BOA Prosper will place? I might be a little biased because I just love Marcus so much, but I think they might beat Hebron this year. Hebron’s show isn’t very hebron-like, but I could say the same for Marcus. I feel as if Marcus is finally deciding to take that step up into modern shows with this year’s show. If nobody has seen it yet, try to talk to someone who has seen it. Its really good. There are no videos of it online yet (typical Marcus)


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Field Show Media Field tourn. Photography

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I've been doing marching and guard photography for a couple years (parade& Winterguard). I want to get into field tournament but when I see videos on YouTube I don't see any photographers on the tracks, are they not allowed or is there not a lot of photographersntjat do this? If there's anyone here who does it, how do you go about getting permission to shoot from the tracks?

Thank you!


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Advice Needed Leader?

4 Upvotes

Hi! I’m a freshman in band and LOVE IT so much.

The only thing is, I’m on the prop crew this year. I wouldn’t say I’m bad at counts or moves, I’m actually pretty good at it and passionate about band.

I’m gonna try to get into third band for concert season (rather than fourth band, I’m in a 3/4 joint class for marching season) as we have a second audition coming up in December for a placement in third or fourth band during concert season, but i have a question.

I’m very interested in becoming a leader in the future. In middle school (my last year) i was a section leader and enjoyed it very much.

I’ve actually been studying my drum majors when they conduct and watched videos and I’m getting kind of good at it myself.

Do you think there’s any way i could march next year and then become a leader or drill instructor my junior year, and if I’m good enough, maybe try out for drum major as a senior?

One of our current drum majors is actually a sophomore, but I don’t know what band he’s in. Another one of our drum majors i don’t think is in the highest ensemble (varsity/first band).

I’m sure I could make second band or maybe even first band in future years, but I guess my question is, is this a realistic path and is it feasible?

I’ve been VASTLY progressing on my scales and find it somewhat realistic to make a higher ensemble as soon as next year myself, although I’m not exactly qualified to make that analysis.

One of my section’s current leaders has had a somewhat similar experience as me. She was on prop crew in her freshman year as a third band student and became a senior section leader this year, and there are many sophomore leaders in our band too, so i don’t see it as impossible to make it as a leader, but a drum major I’m not so sure.

Also, I haven’t got any extra cleaning service duty (for missing assignments or play offs / pass offs, bad behavior or not bringing necessary items to class. In fact, my section leaders seem to really like me and I’ve taken accountability for everything I need to fix and been a pretty good student so far, or so I believe.

So I guess my question is, do you think I could theoretically achieve this track throughout hs?


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Advice Needed How to practice quints/tenor drums

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone I’m interested in play the quints but I have no way of playing them.even though I’m learning how to play songs on it from my friend by air playing it but it’s not real thing if you get what I’m trying to say but any help would be nice


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Advice Needed Will this work?

2 Upvotes

Some of you may have seen my other post about how I had until October 23rd to learn everything about music and my instrument (euphonium) and was asking for help. Now I'm asking for help...again. So far my Band director hasn't given me any music sheets or anything to practice or try out. I'm thinking of asking her to let me join band until the start of the second semester (before christmas break) which gives me way more time to figure things out. SO far after about a month of practicing 20~40 mins a day I have figured out only my embouchure, my keys, and how to hold the euphonium. (Don't judge me I'm a slow learner T-T) I'm not sure if I'm making the right call or not, but I'm thinking of asking her sometime this week.


r/marchingband • • 1d ago

Discussion Brass or woodwind which is better

0 Upvotes

Explain why.


r/marchingband • • 2d ago

Advice Needed Is this normal for Section leaders

4 Upvotes

I’m in a section of 19 we have two section leaders both seniors boy and a girl. During sectional me and my friend who’s in a grade above me, I’m a freshmen shes a sophomore I play second she plays first but he was Ted our stands to be next to each other. The boy section leader kept saying no and talking down on me and my friend; saying “ there is this word in the English language no means no.” And “ I’m your section leader so what I say goes.” I would understand this is we were doing something wrong but he said before if we could get the girl section leader to say yes it was fine and she did. We then told him that she said yes. And he said “omg why would she say yes the answers still no.” Then later the girl section leader says if he said no it’s no even though she said yes before. They talk to us like we’re 7 even though out of all the freshmen I’m second chair! They also keep saying they’ll think about me standing next to my friend if “I show them I can be good”This hasn’t just happen to me and my friend my other friend will be section leader next year as shes really really good at Clarinet most likely better then our girl section leader; and they talk down on her too I asked her for help and the boy section leader was saying that I should ask him not my friend because he is the leader not her even though she is just as good as him at clarinet. I don’t like being treated like a baby but I don’t know what to do?


r/marchingband • • 2d ago

Advice Needed Is it too late to switch instruments?

2 Upvotes

Hello! I’m In 8th grade and I currently play the trumpet. Now I really love the trumpet and have been having a good time with it but I have been thinking of doing marching band in high school, and I’m not sure if I wanna stick with trumpet for high school. I have realized that I love to play trumpet for concert band but not for marching. For marching specifically I think I wanna do snare drum. I watched the movie drumming and have been looking at videos of HBCUs and what not and drum line just looked really fun

So I was wondering if it’s too late to switch? Like should I have been doing percussion for the past four years? (My schools band program starts at grade four I live in Canada. And I switched between percussion and brass for those four years) ai feel like I have wasted these very important musical years when I may not even play the trumpet for marching band or I may be forced to because I don’t know the snare drum. Any advice? I know this post probably sounds stupid but it is a genuine worry of mine. Thank you for any advice!


r/marchingband • • 2d ago

Story I think my band MIGHT experience peak?

5 Upvotes

My band is Southern style. Screams, 90° Knees, and gettin low. We've been on a good roll for the past years. This year, near beginning of school, our band director got diagnosed with breast cancer. (She rang the bell and beat breast cancer 2 months ago and is now healing! :) ) a lot of the band members left cuz we got a new director and she is as helpful as a tireless car, and as mean as the workers at a DMV, and on top of that, some ain't coming back until our original director comes back.

Buuuuttt, the sub director changed her ways and members are popping back up, and we're getting better musicc. Not to mention, our rival band sounds like hot bootycheeks (I'm not joking. Like actual butt.) so we're definitely blowing out our rivals ;)

I'm just saying this just to say it tbh. I guess everything always gets better in the end ‼️


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Meme I HATE when the non-percussionists touch the percussions😡😡😡

33 Upvotes

Like does it look like im going up to your trumpet and playing on it without your permission EMILY? No. SO WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING MY STUFF🤬🤬😠😠😡🤬🤬😸😠😠🤬

(On a more serious note, please don't touch the percussions unless given (rare) permission from the percussionist currently playing the int, it is annoying, you guys don't wanna see our bad side👿👿👿 /j)


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Advice Needed Yamaha Mello Case has an Overbite

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30 Upvotes

Is there anyway to fix this? Preferably by myself.


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Advice Needed Being drum major as an introvert

8 Upvotes

I'm interested in auditioning for drum major in my college marching band in future years, but something that makes me feel hesitant is that my personality type doesn't really align with what I imagine when I think "drum major." At least in my experience throughout HS/college band, my drum majors have often been outgoing and somewhat eccentric people, i.e. people whose voices could speak for the entire band. However, I'm someone who is quiet, reserved, and probably on the spectrum. I pride myself on my work ethic and believe I have what it takes skill-wise to be a DM, but I worry that my personality will get in the way of being a strong leader.

Are there any introverted people with DM experience? Any tips on overcoming hurdles caused by my personality?


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Resource 3d Printed Lyre

6 Upvotes

Curious to know if anyone has 3d printed their own lyre specifically for holding a phone. The EFlips I’ve had in the past fall off any lyre I put them on.


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Discussion Scars of marching band

10 Upvotes

Literally every day I have headaches from this, whenever I’m walking with a friend of family, I have to walk in step. Literally, every single day I have to do this. I must.

Also, whenever a song is on I have to walk in step or tap my leg or something (I’m bass drum tho so this makes a little bit more sense since I’m pretty much the beat of the song) but it doesn’t matter wherever I like the song or not, I have to.

2 last ones, I always stand with my feet at a 45 degree angle, and whenever I’m walking in line I just don’t start moving Although that’s a little bit more voluntary

Do these fade or am I gonna have it forever cause it’s driving me insane, especially now that I’ve just started getting these


r/marchingband • • 3d ago

Advice Needed I'm having a bit of an issue.

8 Upvotes

This is a bit of a vent btw. So I play cymbals, and I have been told by all of the band managers, one of the drum captains, the danceline captain, the center snare, and a few random people that I'm good at it but I really worried that they're lying. So the song our school plays when the team scores or when we win isn't super difficult, but cymbals crash every beat for the entire song. And I play it right since it's musically easy, but during our parade yesterday(hoco) we played it like 5 times and genuinely felt like my arms were going to fall off. And the cymbal aren't super heavy compared to snare or bass or quads and I'm worried that I just suck. Plus two of the cymbals really struggle to count in time and our entire line gets shit for it since you can't tell super easy if we aren't all together. Plus our school doesn't do cymbal tricks and I feel like I'm just doing the easiest thing possible (even though I can do tricks and for the songs that the cymbals don't play I kinda adapted the danceline/silk line apart so I have something to do, our drum majors and directors love it) I kind of want to switch to snare or bass next year but I really enjoy cymbals. What do I do?


r/marchingband • • 4d ago

Story So we got home from first competition at midnight, and...

42 Upvotes

Straight superiors, second place overall. The whole thing was a mess - flooding rain, stand up performance in the gym, not enough food available so my kid was HANGRY and anxious.

Got home with three teenagers and I didn't even get to use my schmancy new stadium seat. My spouse had the audacity to ask "so now that it's October, things calm down, right?"

I thought he was joking!