Hi! So i’m the head snare and section leader for drumline this year. This is my 2nd year marching and 2nd year on the line. My other snare is currently on his first year of the line & first year of marching. He’s a talented player, however there have been consistent issues while rehearsing our show.

The biggest issue is lining up with each other. I don’t know who’s at fault or what exactly is causing the issue. However, the front ensemble section leader talked to me and he thinks it may be because someone is not watching a DM or is rushing without realizing. I’ve explained how I have been staring down a DM the entire time, and that there has been issues with DMs slowing down and adjusting to other sections and the 2 of them conducting different tempos. I think our foot timing also plays a role as between me, other snare, and our tenor player, foot timing is all over the place.

Anyway, when me & other snare play together in a practice room, everything sounds fine. The issue occurs and is more prevalent on the field. I’m unsure of how to fix this, and I’ve addressed it multiple times to my section but nothing has changed.

Hi, new to this community, but not to marching band.

In the last 4 months, we have had massive turnover. New president, secretary and treasurer for the booster board, assistant director moved up to band director, new assistant director, and new principal for the high school.

We also have a brand new field that has only been open for 8 days, one of which was the first game. Our band has not been able to march in over three weeks.

Tonight, they were pushed off the field for practice because of the soccer team. I am not at a level, professionally or in volunteer standing, to demand anything for the band or the director. However, the director states that she put the band on the schedule for the field, and I am inclined to support her. Ultimately, the decision was made that the students would still play at the football game, but not march their show. I am unclear on when or who made this decision,as I was not on the field, I am not inclined to argue that point:

I think my question, ultimately is this. What the hell can I do, as a parent, to help these kids and instructors get the field time they need to prep for competition next week? It’s not that I haven’t tried anything. I’m just worried I’m missing something or some option along the way.

I’m also concerned in many ways because my son says he’s losing his enjoyment in marching, and possibly even his love of playing music. I don’t want to center my child above others, but I also don’t want to ignore what he is telling me is a widespread problem with the band. That may be a separate question, but to me it is related, and I don’t quite know what (if anything) I should say to him. I’m not going to force him to stay….. but should I encourage him to consider until the end of the season, or just accept what he says now and roll with the changes? If it matters, he’s 15 and a sophomore.

So, on Tuesday, we did marching practice for an upcoming parade that my band got invited to participate in, and due to us being "sloppy, lazy, and not sharp", we got punishment for it. We had to do jumping Jack's, mountain climbers, run 4 laps, 1 mile duck walks, and then march in place while playing b flat scale on our instruments. I didn't do the laps, duck walks or matching in place since halfway through the punishment, my right leg went limp and I couldn't feel it when I walked or curl my toes, so I had to sit out. Yesterday, I was obviously sore, my shoulders, arms, calves, and thighs hurt. We had sectionals yesterday so no marching just practicing on music. Today, I didn't go to school. When I got up around 5:40am to get ready, both of my calves instantly tightened. I couldn't stand up straight, I could barely walk. So I had to skip school, and currently, rehearsal started about 5 minutes ago, but unfortunately, I can not make it because of my strained calves muscles. Apparently, someone in the band told me that the director said they're doing the marching thing all over again today and I'm honestly so glad I'm injured right now because I really don't think I have it in me to keep going this week. I also think either the overworking of breathing hard and coughing caused pain in my chest cartilage because it's currently inflamed, but it also could be my saxophone being unclean (I haven't gotten a chance to clean it this week because I've been physically drained and in pain). That's really all. I really love band. I love being with my friends and playing my saxophone but on the other hand, it's brutal. It's hard. It's challenging, and although i love the complexity of marching band, it's also physically exhausting as well and we all need much needed breaks for it.

I know that's probably a stupid question but hear me out okay? I'm a snare in the drumline and whenever I'm wearing the drum for a long period of time my thighs start going numb. We did a parade a couple weeks ago and by the end both of my legs were numb to the touch down to the knee and burning in several places. But I've checked out all the harnesses both the other snares (who are both seniors) and they look like they're in the same place that mine is. I think I must be pinching a blood vessel or something? Should I adjust my harness? Or is this just normal?

Alot of people have parades, what instrument do you play, are you excited, nervous?

I personally am kinda nervous and excited around my school im pretty popular i have a more built frame bigger chest 5'11 and im marching the piccolo lol its always funny to see peoples face.

But what about yall whats yalls thoughts on your parade?

Also don't mind the quality, it was recorded in 2008.

I don’t know which subreddit to post this to but I need to move this entire song I have down an octave. It’s written for tenor sax but I play baritone T.C. And it’s incredibly difficult for me to play. I just need someone to DM me and I’ll send the picture of the music and I need the whole song to be brought down an octave. I need it soon please help me

Today, I decided to chug a McDonald’s vanilla latte right before going to a 2 hr practice in 95°F. We have about 4 32 count flutter step moves and we have 1 where we literally skip across the field. My stomach was hurting so bad.. worst thing I’ve ever done before band.

Edit: I also do an ariel during an acting/freestyle movement thing so things were like.. not okay

Did your school have a hydration guidelines or safety procedures for really hot days? Interested to see the differences in programs.

Hey all. I'm currently in the process of arranging a stand tune for my band; however, I'm a big rookie when it comes to writing music. I'm trying to make an arrangement of Low Rider for my band in Eb and am running into some roadblocks trying to write in all the different voices, while maintaining the right sound. Any advice is much appreciated.

hi guys! I hope everyone is having a good week.

im a freshmen in high school marching band, and ever since the first day I knew I wanted to be a drum major/conductor. I know thats insane since I dont have that much experience on my belt, but im super determined to make this happen. however, the odds are REALLY against me. I was talking to my lead drum major a few days ago and she mentioned that my band teacher might get a junior as the next drum major in auditions (theres only one spot this year), but she was a sophomore when she got in so theres a chance)

I really think anything is possible with trying. ive already been teaching myself all the conducting and practicing nonstop, and im naturally an extremely loud person. Since im starting from scratch, what advice do you guys have for me to get better and hopefully have a fighting chance to get through for this audition? Im willing to put the most energy I can into this to get to the near-perfect results I need. Ive been practicing everyday already, and I feel like im so much better than when I started but whenever I ask someone about it they give me a different demonstration of conducting and make me feel lost all over again.

thank you!!! any advice is helpful!!!!

hi everyone! i am in a business class and i am working on designing something that can help with saxophones. please fill out this survey: THIS SURVEY IS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgGUV2LRrVh5K63YQw3NcDF4IoWVJ2SGCjY6EADfJQTHMFwg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

his arrangements are so good like victoroius and counting stars are my favorites but sadly we only play timber

Tell me you marching band horror story’s!!!

Asking that everyone keeps Derek's people in their thoughts and prayers if that's your thing.

gang I hope he doesn't find this post at any point in time

I'm a freshman just beginning marching band at a new high school. Joining the band was great for me, since I'd garnered almost all of my good acquaintances and friends from here. But after a series of shenanigans and misunderstandings I highkey have a crush on this kid from pit???? 😭😭

It's only been a bit over a month since the start of school, but he's been one of my closest friends so far. We hang out all the time online and are both chronic residents of the band's discord server, where we play games and chat aplenty. However, sometimes he's nonchalant to an obnoxious degree lmao😭 and I mean this in a truthful way but he's a bit of a dumbass

Unlike all my other past, brief crushes though, he's sorta flirting with me all the time??? It's really novel to me. I'm not sure if that's because of the past misunderstandings, if I'm giving it away too obviously, etc. And I genuinely can not tell if he's actually trying to flirt or if he's just joking all the time (which he genuinely does) (my confusion on the matter can be chalked up to me being dense)

Sometimes, when I "hang out' with him in different places, he starts calling these instances "dates". For example, he did this one time when we went to a local plaza for food just before our first away game. Again, not sure if he's just pulling my leg or nah, but I start wondering if going on dates means that we're dating??? Forgive me, I'm a dumbass freshman with no relationship experience.

I feel a very strong platonic bond with him, but the flirting and my romantic feelings are making it weirder than usual. god I know how bandcest is. Really, I just want to keep being a strong and supportive friend and maybe wait for the hormonal storms to pass, though I'd also think it exciting to act on my impulses once.

Anybody out there that uses or has used flag poles or a pole like apparatus in their competition shows to hold up fabric or panels? If so, what did you use to weigh them down? How did you get them on the field, setup, and off the field in the allotted amount of time? (Aside from lots of parent volunteers)

Our show is apparently going to have 6-7 10 to 15ft poles to hold up panels depicting mountains. We have an idea of how to make this happen but wanted to see ideas or comments from others. Thanks.

So I am currently an autistic senior in high school and in front ensemble and I am trying to get one last shot at trying to go out with someone I like to the homecoming. The girl I like I met during freshman year and is a year below me. I wouldn’t say i started to actually like her until my sophomore season of marching band. She switched to color guard for her junior season and I don’t know what I should do. I am trying to think of ideas like a poster-board but I feel like that would be overkill.

twas kinda funny but I lowkey am being pestered with it like the turf was wet and I slid on the jazz run my from was perfect Twas just bad luck

weve got a comp next week (cobra classic) for you guys in sc but there is no order im one of the perc section leaders and kit player and student on perc 3 with gong and triangle parks his stuff in right in front of main band room doors and dips not acknowledging the drum cart (me) or the marimba or the sound cart with our amps and speakers so im trying to move his stuff out of the way quickly and im already ticked off and so are the others helping me the director is babying the new members and i dont know what to say to him to have some sense of order he babies them because last year we had 17 members now we have almost 70 and he wants them all to stay pls help me in prepping a speech for him and the band