Fun on the Field, Part 2: Marching Madness!
Last month, part one of this article covered Football and Cheerleading. Today, we present more favorite fall activities:
Fun Facts and Trivial Trivia
Marching band
Marching band is near and dear to my heart because I was a piccolo & flute player in the Nottingham Northstars Marching Unit for my four years of high school. (Yes, I was lucky to play the tiniest, lightest instruments possible) I remember sweltering through band camp in August, only to freeze during the night games in late fall. Then there was my daily run from last period’s practice on the field, to my locker, to the bus - always good exercise! Figuring out the drill sheets was a challenge my first year, as were learning how to do precise roll steps and making sure I didn’t run into anyone as I tried to read music and march simultaneously. On a positive note, the excitement before each game was contagious, and I always drew the Nottingham “N” on my face in blue marker (sometimes backwards) and accessorized in blue and gold to convey team spirit. During the actual game, we had fun playing pep music and banging the bass drums. Watching other bands’ shows was always fun and interesting, both during regular games and at band displays/competitions. Nottingham always participated in the Cavalcade of Bands at Hamilton High West (Saturday, October 15th this year), Music in Motion at Steinert (Sunday, October 23rd this year), and an actual judged competition at Jackson Memorial High School that was well worth the long bus ride. It was always amusing to spot the kids who could not keep in step no matter how hard they tried … and then wore white socks to draw everyone’s attention to the fact! Finally, the most eagerly anticipated band event was the trip to Disney World every two years to perform in the Disney Magic Music days. It was so neat to see a bit of Disney’s “backstage”… and to go on all the rides, of course! But enough about me. On to the fun facts and trivia!
Marching Band
The marching band originated with travelling musicians who performed together at festivals and celebrations throughout the ancient world. It evolved and became more structured within the armies of the early city-states, becoming the basis for the military band, from which the modern marching band emerged. As musicians became less important in directing the movement of troops on the battlefield, the bands moved into increasingly ceremonial roles - an intermediate stage which provided some of the instrumentation and music for marching bands was the modern brass band, which also evolved out of the military tradition.
Most high school and college bands began in the early 1900s, when they started playing at football games. In 1907, the first formation on a football field was the "Block P" created by Paul Spotts Emrick, director of the Purdue All-American Marching Band.
Until fairly recently, college marching bands were typically a male activity; girls weren’t fully accepted as members until the 1970s.
The main types of marching bands are: traditional marching bands (most common at the HS level), drum and bugle corps, show bands, pipe and bands, comedy bands, circus bands, scout bands, and scramble bands.
The three main marching styles are: traditional military, drum corps, and high-stepping show band.
The more unusual/specialized marching band instruments include the mellophone, marching baritone, and frumpet (not in common use anymore, but still neat).
Some bands do a new field show every week, but only practice the show for two or three hours immediately before the performance. Other bands can practice a single show upwards of 20 hours per week (or more, for some competitive drum and bugle corps, who have been known to practice as much as 16 hours a day) for an entire season. This amounts to an average of 400 hours spent rehearsing for every minute of a competitive show in a season!
Band members can include those who are blind, one-armed, and in wheelchairs. Disabilities are not an automatic disqualifier for marching band.
Color guard and Drill/Dance Team
The concept of a drill team began in 1929, when Miss Gussie Nell Davis started the first dancing pep squad at Greenville High School in Greenville, TX. However, color guard and drill teams are fairly recent additions to most high school field shows, becoming widespread in the 1980s and 1990s.
Color guard vs. drill team
Color guards typically use flags (although also sabres, rifles, ribbons, batons, and scarves may also appear in routines)
Drill teams usually uses pom-pons (although they may use a host of other props)
Smiling is theoretically not allowed unless it is specifically called for in the routine because not smiling helps concentration. Similarly, one can’t turn one’s head unless it is part of the routine.
The main types of flags are: swing, chain, regular, half-and-half, and butterfly flags.
Weights are placed in the flagpoles to help flags rotate properly when tossed; the more weight added, the higher the flag will go when tossed
Performance rifles’ straps make a noise when the rifles are spun, letting guard/drill members know whether everyone is spinning in unison.
Winter guard is a color guard that continues performing in winter after the football season is finished.
Books, Movies, and More
Books (fiction & nonfiction)
Notes From an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne (on order as of 9/9/11)
Marching Band Competition by Judy Garty (Y 784.8 GAR)
Techniques of Marching Bands by Judy Garty (Y 784.8 GAR)
The Going to College by Doris Valliant ( Y 791.6 VAL)
Notes the benefits of pursuing cheerleading, dance teams, color guard, and marching band on the college level.
Techniques of Color Guard by Karyn Sloan (Y 791.6 SLO)
Movies
Drumline (PG-13) – not owned by the library system, but worth renting!
Band Videos
- Jennifer P.
What a great blog! Lots of facts that I never knew I was interested in until I read this. It's fascinating! How amazing to think that music was once an integral part of the battlefield. The topic is obviously very near and dear to your heart. I bow to your musical ability, your coordination, and your writing skills! (I was in a band in high school too, but it was a sit-down band. No coordination involved, thank goodness. Wish I'd played the piccolo instead of the saxophone...)
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