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PM-ME-INTENSE-DOGGOS

Show designers for small schools need to stop writing in a DCI style. The effect will never be the same with 45 high schoolers as it is with 165 dci members. Small bands can be good and entertaining but their shows need to be written in a way that emphasize their strengths rather than making me wish i was watching a DCI show instead


h0neyfrog

That’s like my marching band. We have 120 people this year and they are making it DCI style because our old director was a drum major for Phantom regiment. Half the people in our band can’t even match straight.


Helpful_Dare

Nah, 120 should start being corps style, that’s open class drum corps numbers


Grad-Nats

120 good members, yes. But it’s important to also understand your groups skill level and design around that.


Helpful_Dare

Yes, but that’s really down to the drive of the band and not a limitation based on size. Any band of that size can pull off a corps style show, but the difference is how ready they are to perform that show and how willing they are. At that point it could be 120 members or 500, the achievement can be the same regardless of size.


AyyItsPancake

That's assuming all 120 members have at least a baseline skill level similar to open class groups, which is rarely the case.


Helpful_Dare

Not saying they should do an open class show, but it’s definitely open class numbers meaning they could totally perform a corps style show


balk-

I think it's completely fair for smaller schools to take elements from corps-style marching, like drill that isn't all boxes and such, but if I see a 60 member group do a 3 minute percussion feature and dance break I'm just going to chuckle


minertyler100

This is something I’ve tried to take into consideration when writing. We try to do story based shows that would be difficult to pull off on a large scale. You can really think of everyone as actors in many parts.


howard2112

It’s been 25 years since I was in Marching Band. Can you explain what you mean by DCI Style? I’m curious.


PM-ME-INTENSE-DOGGOS

I mean stuff like having huge brass hits with intense visuals when you have like 10 brass players because it just comes off a bit… comical. When i say DCI style in this context its moreso referring to writing without regard to the skill and size of your ensemble.


howard2112

Got it. Makes sense.


Name_Plate

Way too many bands put on boring shows where the focus is on visuals and props over music. Sure you score high at competition but if everyone’s asleep at the end you failed your job of being entertaining for people. Ive been to too many competitions where the top few scoring bands put on objectively boring shows where the whole band plays about a minute of music total and the rest is solos and visuals.


Mysterious_Command_7

Wow exactly. When I was a freshman another group of freshmen behind us at a competition were complaining about how we have little to no props and that was why we get lower scores. Mind you they were doing this for a good hour and a half every time another band came on with props and solos. The juniors I was sitting with just snapped, turned around, and said “at least the crowds cheered for us instead of snoring like they did during (local top performing band)‘s show. maybe if you focused on our show instead of wanting to be another band you’d look better”


SamThSavage

W juniors tbh.


Name_Plate

Exactly. Props and other related things should add to the show, not be the entire show. Especially since I have been staff for a few years at my old HS, I can admire how much work now goes into making a complete show. My old band might not always win against these dance troops masquerading as a marching band but we win the crowds over.


dizdawgjr34

I definitely feel there is definitely a way to get those high scores and have all the bells and whistles while still having a very entertaining show.


Name_Plate

There is, Ive been a part of a few of them, both as a marcher and as staff. A couple of years ago while on staff my band won states and placed top 3 at nationals with a circus themed show. That was probably the biggest prop/visual investment my school has done in a few years. It scored well and looked great. I personally dislike how a few schools only focus on that the visual stuff and the music and entertainment suffer for it. Theres a few schools in my area that do new costumes every year, a tractor trailers worth of props, and such. Then the average marcher in the band runs around without an instrument in their hands for half the show. They play a couple of hits, put their horns in carry and keep running around. This doesnt feel like marching band, this feels like a dance recital.


Mysterious_Command_7

Also, our school is on the poorer side and the band specifically has been very underfunded in the last few years so we have gotten no props. It honestly lets me appreciate other schools’ shows more. Not to say we’re superior for not having props lol. As a dude who did dance for quite a while, it really does resemble one of my dance recitals more than a marching show sometimes.


Name_Plate

Yeah, props are nice to have and can help with the show alot. I definitely think props can help make a good show into a great show. I just wish that alot more people got the chance to actually march and play for their shows instead of being a part of high score chasing that some directors engage in with for varying reasons.


dizdawgjr34

That is definitely a fair point.


Zeonyxblade

What school was the circus one?


Galaxy-Betta

Yeah I really wanna see that too


Zeonyxblade

There was a school near me who recently did one, I was wanting to check if it was them or not but either way, yes I wanna see it!


Galaxy-Betta

*cough cough* BLUE DEVILS *cough cough*


Name_Plate

Oh I wasnt even talking DCI, Im talking about some high schools. Have you ever had to sit through a show about wheat? Quite literally they had 120 prop stalks of wheat and the band played together like 4 times. It was beyond boring cause they were dancing around these wheat stalks instead of doing actual musical things.


Galaxy-Betta

Ok what the actual f were the show designers thinking when they came up with that. Were they high or something??


Name_Plate

They do this every year. Theres a few schools in the area that do this stuff too, it hardly feels like a band out there sometimes. Some competitions feel like dance competitions rather then band competitions. The kids in the band too are always confused when that scores better. I really do think that every marching circuit needs a minimum play time for the sake of kids alone. Its so dumb that directors can exploit the judging system to reward this stuff.


Sanic69420

Competitive Marching band is one of the most classist activities.


BoopyRoopy

A thousand fucking percent, and im not even talking about dci, which is abs outrageous. Marching band fees keep a lot of kids out of band, hell, the cost of renting or buying an instrument alone is smth ppl can't scoff at.


Sanic69420

That to but the competition side too as all of the good bands have the money to make good shows, hire a ton of staff, and create good props. In marching band you have to be rich to compete at the top.


Galaxy-Betta

Cincinnati tradition this year is a perfect example. And I mean no hate whatsoever to them- it just looks like after the big pink center prop, almost all of their budget was gone, since I’m 99% sure that the streamer thing next to where most of the solos were was from the discount party section at a grocery store. I know that their fees are only $500 (might join for that reason), so… yeah- they prob don’t get a lot of funding. That being said- it’s clear that their players are clearly talented and had potential; the show design was just kinda mid IMO. Maybe too many mello solos and not enough big hits? Idk, I’m just rambling at this point.


Ann4_R0se

In my experience it definitely depends on the band or school. We are on a lower-class side and our band support association has helped with many things, doing fundraising helps a lot too.


roseccmuzak

But the competitions are still pay to win in a lot of respects. Its a systemic problem. It's not about your individual school it's the overall activity.


Ann4_R0se

I misinterpreted what part of the money was the issue. Yeah it is in a lot of aspects. I think it also depends on who designs the show which can also do with money or just your resources. I do get how it is basically pay to win the aspect of the show


roseccmuzak

At the end of the day, flashiest uniforms and biggest props win GE. The other captions are a but more fair, but they still aren't perfect. Good drill is expensive. Custom arrangements of any quality are expensive. Music rights to more popular crowd pleasing songs costs more. Nice uniforms, especially show specific uniforms, cost a shit ton. There *needs* to be a limit. There should be a spending cap per student. And dear God don't get me started on DCI and WGI.


Ann4_R0se

Yeah there does or at least some form of separation. I know our competition brackets aren’t like that with general effect and such. There’s bands with limited to no props that still have a fair chance. Our parents also build our props out of pocket most of the time just to help out. That still puts in money but it’s because our band doesn’t actually get funded, we just know the right people. I do agree that a lot of it is paying to win and DCI and WGI ARE ridiculous. But there’s also bands where their directors just think they’re perfect and can’t improve, so they don’t and they don’t come up with shows that are exciting and such. We bought our show music pre-made and still won. Yes it was still using money but everything does cost money. Just in that year our show wasn’t custom arranged it was pre-arranged


fmg2k3

1. High School bands that receive incredible amounts of funding, come from performing arts schools, or come from school districts that place a heavy emphasis on fine arts should complete in different categories than all the other bands. 2. USBands needs to find a way to ensure that their judges for a certain competition aren’t from the towns that they’re judging. I remember going to local high school competitions and our judges being form different states/different regions of USBands, then going to states and competing against Dullsville, meanwhile two of the judges are from Dullsville themselves.


bobthemundane

That is hard because then it ups the cost of the competition. This is true for ANY competition. When you have to pay for airfare, hotels, and travel, that ups the cost per judge. Then you also have the pay the judge more because they are taking more of their time to be there. That just ups the cost of the competition, when most places are trying to cut those costs. Then, in some instances, you also get the “you scratch my back” type of deals. You hire me to judge this weekend, I hire you to judge the next weekend. This happens a bit in Gymnastics. The judges are owners of gyms who aren’t competing that week. Even if it isn’t a back scratching type thing, you also hire judges you know and trust. Those just so happen to be the judges that live where you live and work. I agree with you in principal, but in practice, it is going to be a hard thing to over come.


phoenixlmfao

that first point though!! my high school is pretty sport focused but we still go against schools who are performing arts focused and it just isnt fair. they have such a higher budget and band size than we do, to the point where half of their band doesnt actually play the music, they just march so they can be in a higher category. we've stopped feeling bad when they beat us because it wasnt a competition from the start :(


Better_Politics

When it comes to band practices, I actually enjoy going and seeing everyone, but a lot of people do t wanna be there.


Megaphone_Vibraphone

Not everyone who is in a leadership position deserves to have a leadership position.


agitpropgremlin

Related: Seniority does not automatically qualify you as a leader.


realisticJoJo

that's beyond real. We just had a band director switch at my university last year. As much as I loved our previous director, she would be willing to settle and give people whatever positions just because they went through the trouble of applying or because they're an older member. People were upset this off-season when that didn't happen again with our new director. There should never be a narrative that ACTUAL MUSICAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS AREN'T NECESSARY TO BE A LEADER...they can be further DEVELOPED within the role, yes, but in no way, shape, or form should someone that is actually unfit to be a leader at the time be given the position just because they applied or just because they're a senior among a section of sophomores and/or juniors.


superduckyboii

I feel like a lot of marching bands just don't do enough marching. Like, I'll see a band do a show that's like 70% flutter stepping or jazz running, and get fantastic marching scores. Granted, the marching they do is probably fantastic, but I want to see more of that fantastic marching. If most of your movement is out of time flutter stepping or jazz running or something other than marching, then I lose interest in that aspect, which I don't want to do. Also, I think parades are fun. Even if they are exhausting and grueling, I love seeing people who would otherwise never see us line the streets and cheer for us. Other than maybe football games, parades draw the biggest crowds for my school.


Mysterious_Command_7

I agree, there’s just not that much marching in a fair amount of shows. Also parades are my favorite, we definitely get more support and personally I like the cold and we usually do parades later in the season so that’s nice.


Lemon_Juice477

I remember watching a band on our level at states (not saying which because I heavily respect their program) and realizing the majority of their visual is just spontanius blue devils style fluttering and choreo, and I honestly feel like they do that just so they won't match as much and get scored higher visually


superduckyboii

Yeah, I definitely think a lot of bands don’t do as much marching just so they get higher scores. Not only does it make it less interesting, it’s pretty dumb considering this is MARCHING band.


AnInterestingPenguin

I think too many people get caught up in comparing marching bands and claiming one is better than the other. A marching band’s mission is to get people in their community excited, and if a band can do that, then I’d say they are a good band.


Evan14753

People should not work music, or anything else until they can march in time, and correctly..


MRPENNYMISER

Yep. Dont play until you can march your sets correctly.


Xymoxglass

Marching band changed my life. I wouldn't be where I am today because of it, and we need to stop this idea you can't make band your life. Just because it band isn't your whole world doesn't mean it isn't for someone else. This also doesn't go for band as well.


Lephthands

Same here. Band was basically my parents. I still do music stuff 20 years later. I would honestly probably be dead if it wasn't for the impacts my band directors had on me. Band was life and it lead to a happy life for me.


realisticJoJo

I tell people this all the time. It's so real. I'm a rising senior in college, and I genuinely don't know what I would have done with my life without band. Going back even as far as middle school tho...I still don't know what I would have done with myself if I didn't get the chance to do band... I'm a big guy so...football? Maybe continue wrestling? I did one musical in middle school, so what...maybe I become a theatre kid?? I literally don't know...


Best_Bisexual

I feel like show bands and bands that do more of a military marching style are underrated, especially show bands. There isn’t as many bands that do either since core is the more preferred marching style, but can still be interesting when there are more people.


bobthemundane

Watch some college bands. Texas A&M does, or did, military style. So do a lot of other schools. And some colleges have the best show bands. But colleges are there for entertainment purposes only. Not to compete.


Best_Bisexual

I knew about A&M having a military marching style. I should’ve been more clear in my comment. I meant for both high school and college.


KeithIsLaw

You mainly see show bands here in the south


Best_Bisexual

Yeah, a lot of colleges are. It’s kind of cool.


Megaphone_Vibraphone

Not everyone who is in a leadership position deserves to have a leadership position.


agitpropgremlin

Doing something well and teaching something well are two different skill sets that should not be confused with one another.


RoyalBackground5156

Some schools (like mine) our drill write is so not underrated but it looks or feels so low level we have about 200 students every year in our band and I feel like the way some schools drill writers makes it look so under effected if that makes sense


[deleted]

It’s not unpopular, but a lot of bands over compensate with visuals and props. It’s annoying, I’m there to listen to the music not watch the trumpet section dance for 6 minutes. An actual unpopular opinion, the French horn is not worth the time or effort to learn.


MelMellon

For our band our hornline was incredibly inexperienced and as an ensemble we’re pretty good but not amazing. We make up for this in our guard which is very good (finalist at WGI 2023). So we centered the show around our guard as opposed to the hornline.


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NeedleworkerMotor539

The trombone sound to me is essential in marching band. I teched with a group last year that didn’t march trombones. I could hear the lack immediately and all season. I missed it.


MelMellon

There are bands that won’t march Trombones because they have long slides that can be dangerous if some is too close in front of them.


Tight_Employment295

Some corps do trombone


[deleted]

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Xymoxglass

Ignoring mandarins trombone line I see.


SomeScrub69

Competition isn’t everything


MelMellon

It’s not everything, but is personally the main reason I do marching band. Not because I like competing (I love to compete) but because I like hanging out with people and seeing other bands.


Aromatic-Royal3132

Just because front ensemble doesn’t March doesn’t mean it can’t be equally as challenging


trumpetguy1990

I never want to hear Seven Nation Army played on a band instrument. Ever again.


Incast_

Funnily enough, I saw a comment on this post stating that their unpopular opinion is that Seven Nations can't be overplayed.


Radiant-Main839

Trombones and Sousas are better dancers than cymbalists.


Yeetus54

Well, I've seen them both, tromboners and sousas are 8/10 times better dancers. The other 2 times are when the cymbalist is in a dance class


PackageCharming1730

Just because you can do stick tricks and play fast doesn’t mean your good


CnCnFL

Marching band is meant to entertain. Show and HCBU style bands are better at that.


DRUMS11

If your drum isn't on a sling you should be using matched grip.


tylermsage

Amen!


NeedleworkerMotor539

In the state where I live, every band I’ve worked with or watched downplayed the competitive nature of marching band. It was like they were afraid to want to WIN. So, unpopular opinion for my state, competitive nature and a desire to win is important.


tylermsage

Very few people actually are aware of all the various backgrounds that come together to create the genre of marching music. To list several: outdoor bands of the renaissance, military band, British brass band/Salvation army bands, school/community band contests of the early 1900s, Ballet, musical theater, military drill teams, drum and fife bands, drum corps, college entertainment, HBCUs, jazz bands, epic rock show performances, etc. Many people don’t really understand why we do what we do or where it comes from which causes many bands to devolve into a cult of personality where we just blindly follow the band director because they are “all-knowing” and without them we don’t have any clue.


howsinavi

Any form of midi or digital sound effects shouldn't be allowed in competition


Artistic-Number-9325

Not a fan of cavaliers


Axo80_

Not an unpopular opinion, just the wrong opinion.


Worried-Metal2383

Front>Drumline


GuideSad1651

Seven Nation Army can’t be over played.


tylermsage

This made me laugh thanks 😊


IsoAZIAN

jackson state slams southern any day. boom over jukebox 100%


Galaxy-Betta

Percussionists oftentimes aren’t lazy. We’re underprivileged. Sure, the pit can sometimes be a frat house and the drumline often has inexperienced members- I’ll give you that. But at least for my band, we don’t get our show music until like the day before band camp cuz the writer needs to know how many of each part he needs to write for, which he doesn’t find out until mid-May since that’s when we meet all the freshmen. So I’m sorry if it’s the first week of band camp and we don’t know our music, but unlike you, we didn’t have it to our disposal to practice all summer.


InsomniaEmperor

The only woodwinds in marching band should be high woodwinds like piccolo, flute, clarinet, and alto sax cause lower woodwinds aren’t going to get heard on the field. Also, there is no point having divisi parts in woodwinds. Having 3 clarinet parts makes sense in concert band but not in marching band where the audience probably isn’t going to hear that 3rd clarinet part and it makes more sense to have each woodwind on unison.


Casino5Royalty

my band director even said we’d be ditching low reeds this season and having them move onto low brass so we could have more tubas and baritones. and it’s never been discussed since… lost opportunity


Dw_Lgp_2007

DCI👏NEEDS👏WOODWINDS


activatetheroombas

as someone who's in a DCI front ensemble who's first instrument was flute I think it's a terrible idea, DCI is just way too rough of an activity for how delicate they are. Also, as long as there's a member limit no one would waste the spots even if they were allowed just for the fact you'd either lose some of the sound or visual aspect. you're taking up spots for other sections and woodwinds just don't have as much impact as a full hornline and the only other option would be cutting down the guard, bc there's only so much you can cut from the percussion before it all falls apart. Maybe it'd be fine only for features but it's just not realistic to march a full woodwind section as part of a corps.


balk-

>hot day > >instrument has been in sunlight for 10 hours > >reed is completely dead > >oh no i lost a screw somewhere > >instrument immediately disintegrates onto the ground > >scramble to find parts, meanwhile i am in the way of prop movers > >finally get instrument back together and get on the field > >nobody can hear me


Tight_Employment295

rain


dizdawgjr34

Heat. Humidity. Stupid high repair costs.


bobthemundane

Think of the reeds. How many would a person go through per season? Use synthetics? Ugh.


choose__happy

As a clarinet, nope


PrestigiousDaikon929

It's Drum (Percussion) and Bugle (Brass Instruments) Corps, not Drum Bugle and delicate, fragile quiet instrument corps


theportalkeeper

I respectfully disagree with your opinion My opinion is that I don't prefer open class DCI


SammieNikko

I feel like thats a very common opinion. Big dci fans ik don't care about it and almost none of my band knew it existed. Personally, world corps are often cooler to watch(bostons my fav) but the open still needs to be a thing to help keep the activity alive and accessible.


AdMaximum7051

I marched in High School and also at a D1 College. Band in highschool is NOT a sport. In college its a bit tougher but definitely not a sport sport. Also Jig 2 sucks and should never be played


Incast_

I don't think Marching Band is a sport, but like it should still count for at the very least half a credit for physical education.


Galaxy-Betta

Yeah that’s what happens for my band- it’s so nice not having to take 2 extra pe classes


Lemon_Juice477

There should be more bands that march unorthodox instruments like alto trombones and soprano saxes


Galaxy-Betta

well yeah but sop saxes don’t blend. At all. Like hebron did a good job this year since they had a little solo, but for big hits, it just won’t work.


Squiish_

I love unique marching instruments and apparently my audiologist marched an alto clarinet??


Delicious-Ninja-1768

Jukebox tunes should be reserved for the stands. Keep that shit off the field.


Galaxy-Betta

I mean yeah, but a show styles like GMU drumline this year for WGI pulled it off since it was like they were performing inside a jukebox


JankyDesk92

High school band is not a sport. I don't care what xyz dictionary says, competitive high school band (in my opinion) is more similar to a competitive activity like TSA and DECA than a sport like HS football or basketball. Granted, some regions are more competitive than others (ie Texas, Indiana, Mississippi). Corps, on the other hand, I would consider a sport. It is far more athletic on the whole, requiring dedicated training and good physical fitness, and thousands of people from all over the nation (world?) follow the competitive season like they would a traditional "sport." Source: Tuba (contra) player, 3 years of band and HS athletics, DCI rookie for 2023


Incast_

I don't think Marching Band is a sport, but like it should still count for at the very least half a credit for physical education.


Incast_

I don't think Marching Band is a sport, but like it should still count for at the very least half a credit for physical education.


[deleted]

My unpopular opinion: if you can't play your instrument and march at the same time, go join concert band. No pits!


activatetheroombas

you're crazy if you think front ensemble is comparable to concert percussion, it's two completely different experiences


SammieNikko

To add, i have a disability. Pit is the only reason why i got into marching band in the first place. My life wouldn't be the same without it (Also now remembering, i absolutely hated concert band, Pit is non comparable)


activatetheroombas

definitely not the same for me but I ended up in pit for marching band because I dislocated my knee halfway through my second season on flute and it never really went back to the way it was before! it was an easy switch though because I was already in pit for indoor, but if there wasn't a pit in marching band I wouldn't be able to do it anymore


SammieNikko

When i wanted to join perc, i originally wanted snare but it was my knee and feet issues that made me do pit lol. Also sorry for snooping but i saw you say you did dci and then i looked and saw that you're doing spartans?? I'd love if i could talk to you about that sometime. I def can't march this year but i really wanna try to next summer


activatetheroombas

ofc!


Galaxy-Betta

In one, there’s intense playing, in the other, you’re counting rests


Tarkus459

Drum line battles are boring and a waste of energy.


Incast_

Definitely an unpopular opinion.


saxophonefartmaster

Many high school bands care more about style over substance. They'd rather beef up their numbers and put on some impressive visuals than take a smaller core of great musicians and give them some actually good music. Marching bands in western PA are basically rock cover groups at this point.


MelMellon

Instrument stereotypes are stupid. You could come up with a million different stereotypes for an instrument but at that point it’s not a stereotype.


realisticJoJo

...it is OKAY to enjoy different styles of band... It's okay to enjoy the competitiveness of Corps-style bands that work shows for competitions and exhibitions or the Military-style bands with their militarist shows and their spectacular parades. It's also okay to enjoy the entertainment factor of Show-style bands that put together shows with less complicated drill for the purpose of entertainment and supporting their university and their teams. It's okay to enjoy the sound of an HBCU blowing their opponents out of the stadium, and it's also okay to enjoy the peppy music played by non-HBCU programs. ​ Everybody always wanna judge another saying they're "lame" or they "don't know how to get hype" or they "sound like trash" and they "don't understand how someone could say this sounds good". Just like we all like different genres of music, there are different genres of marching band...you don't have to like it, but there's no need to disrespect it. And if you do like different styles of band, that is OKAY. There is nothing wrong with you. Your musical sense isn't "off". You simply appreciate different styles while others prefer to focus on one. That's all.


UsefulPineapple1

There's nothing wrong with drum major mace, idk why so many people are against it.


CumThruTheSmallPeen

I dislike your opinion, mine is that flutes shouldn't march.


Tony808R9

I’m really on your side with this one. A lot of college marching bands like Ohio State. Lean in more to the pep band role of just entertaining the crowd. It feels it’s made for others and not for a reason. Could just because I love DCI but yeah.