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As a companion piece to Jason Plautz’s College Football Traditions quiz, Steven Clontz is here to make sure the marching band gets its due. Here’s a picture of him with his trombone, to prove he’s qualified.
Over the next few months, he’ll be contributing a series of band-related stories, including the definitive list of celebrity marching band alums (Know of any? Make his research easy and leave names in the comments — rock stars, musicians, CEOs, politicians, etc.) His first story explores the seedy underbelly of the pseudotrombone world. Enjoy.
Talk to me for ten minutes, ten minutes tops, and I’ll probably mention that I’m a member of my university’s marching band. This is because we take marching band seriously around these parts, calling ourselves “band athletes” and running rehearsals until half the clarinet section is unconscious from heat stroke. But this aura of solemnity ends right at the edge of the field where you can find my own section warming up, the trombones. In fact, the only thing we take seriously is our dedication to slacking off. And I’m sure that more than once, our director has considered giving us the boot because of it. The highest organization of marching ensembles, Drum Corps International, doesn’t even include trombones on its list of approved instruments, opting for the more valve-centric euphonium.
I suppose, though, that we’re pretty safe in our inclusion on marching bands across the country. We are, after all, the only mainstream brass instrument that uses a slide rather than valves in order to change pitch. (Brass instruments in general change notes by changing the length of the instrument being blown through; the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch. Aside from the trombone, however, most do this by pressing valves, which then redirect air through extra tubing, before returning to the instrument proper.) So I’d argue we’re protected by some sort of bizarre musical affirmative-action.
However, we are not the ONLY slided instrument to grace God’s green Earth. So let’s take a moment to look over some of the lesser-known pseudotrombones, and I’ll thank my lucky stars that I get to play the real thing.
5. Sackbut
This funny-sounding instrument (at least its name sounds a little funny) is actually the great-granddaddy of the modern trombone. Alternate spellings include “sacbut”, “sagbut”, “shagbolt” and “shakbusshe”. (Gesundheit!) While its exact origins aren’t certain, we do know that it was being regularly used by the 1500s, being mentioned and illustrated in documents from the time. Those brave enough to play the sackbut in modern times experience the musical equivalent of “roughing it”. Many of the precious amneties we trombone players enjoy today were not present in the ancient sackbut. There was a smaller bore (the hole a mouthpiece is inserted into), a smaller bell, no lock for the slide, no tuning slide, and no water key (a nice way to say “spit valve” for those of you not in the know). While the range of a typical tenor sackbut is similar to the modern trombone, it produces a much more mellow sound. Judging from the loud, edgy tone many of my peers like to produce on the trombone, I’d doubt there’d be much of a market for the sackbut today.
4. Soprano Trombone
The poor, poor soprano trombone. This little bugger is, in many ways, identical to the typical tenor trombone played by most trombonists. The main difference being, of course, it’s so small. Created in the late 1600s, it was used to play the treble parts of chorales, which are typically covered by trumpets or cornets in modern orchestral ensembles. This is with good reason, as well. Soprano trombones often prove difficult to play in tune, as slight movements of the slide cause a much greater discrepancy in pitch as compared to the larger tenor or bass trombones. In fact, due to its short slide, it often has small gaps in its playable range, such as a concert B natural, which may require more than the full extended length of the slide in order to be played in tune. I’ll begrudgingly admit that a trumpet is often better suited for the job of playing the treble clef, as long as you promise not to tell any of my trumpet-playing friends I said so.
3. Slide Whistle
Okay, maybe this is more of a joke than anything. The slide whistle just isn’t given much respect; in my experience, it’s used mostly for gimmicky sections of marching band shows where a bit of a comic flair is needed, or as a sound effect on Wheel of Fortune. Actually, slide whistles are more closely related to recorders, flutes, and other woodwinds rather than the brassy trombone. Notes are played by blowing into a mouthpiece known as a “fipple”, which directs air towards a bladed edge, located at the big hole you’ll see at the top of most whistles. This causes the instrument to resonate, and produce a sound. Similarly to the trombone, the slide whistle changes notes by moving the slide out in order to lower the pitch.
2. Electric Trombone
So, for all intents and purposes, the electric trombone is basically a pimped-out regular trombone. One of the biggest proponents of the electric trombone is jazz trombonist and bandleader Robin Eubanks. He describes the electric trombone as an “acoustic trombone [with] a microphone on the bell [run] into a bank of processors; usually a basic guitar multi-effects processor that’s been around for decades.” The result? Well, listen to it for yourself. Eubanks has a piece called Blues for Jimi Hindrex, which you can check out on YouTube.
1. Superbone
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Actually, it’s hardly either! The Superbone takes the precision of a slided instrument, and combines it with the speed and reliability of a valved instrument. Sometimes referred to as a “valide trombone”, the term “Superbone” was coined by the legendary bandleader Maynard Ferguson, who used it in many of his charts. At first, the Superbone seems exactly like a regular trombone, with a slide that is maneuvered using the player’s right hand. However, just past the slide comes a set of valves controlled with the left hand. In theory, the Superbone can be played like a regular slide trombone by ignoring the valves, or it can be played like your typical valve trombone by ignoring the slide. However, those who are true experts at the device can use both in tandem, providing many alternate positions to play a given note, and thus allowing for a greater combined speed and accuracy than your AverageJoeBone. The Superbone also has a cousin for trumpet players known as the Firebird, which is a valved trumpet with an attached slide. I am, tragically, not enough of a man to wield either with much success, but it’s good to know that somewhere out there, there is an instrument that can do it all. Just don’t try playing it near any shiny green rocks.
Comments (62)
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I believe the actress Jennifer Garner played the saxophone in her high school band.
posted by Melanie on 9-29-2007 at 5:43 am
I’m a big fan of the slide because I’m a parent. According to the Peanuts cartoons, that’s how I sound to my kids. A soprano trombone on some days but a slide whistle on others.
Nice article. I think all marching band alums get a little giddy when Fall rolls around.
posted by Kate on 9-29-2007 at 9:27 am
Awesome article!
posted by Courtney on 9-29-2007 at 11:26 am
GO BAND!!! Amongst my friends (band alumni and parents of band members), marching contests are referred to as “filet of football game” — all the good stuff and none of that filler.
posted by Larriann on 9-29-2007 at 1:42 pm
Awww… it’s Fall and shouldn’t I be stomping around a field somewhere? That Superbone is truly terrifying. And it’s nice to know that it isn’t just saxophone players who think trumpet players are too big for their britches. That Superbone is truly terrifying.
I’m pretty sure Trent Reznor was in marching band at some point.
Can we maybe have next week’s Happy Hour be about the most embarrassing thing we ever played in marching band? I think mine is “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” from my very first show in high school.
posted by Rachel on 9-29-2007 at 2:47 pm
Great article. Props to any and all Superbone players.
And Rachel, at my school it’s more us saxophone players who are full of themselves. The trumpets are modest…or nearly modest.
posted by Rachel on 9-29-2007 at 2:56 pm
I finally feel like I can comment on a mental floss article since this is my area of expertise. The trumpets are definitely the cocky people of my band, and I as a mellophone, attempt to live up to my instruments name. You should do an article on different types of french horns (my actual instrument I play in concert band which is so much better than the mellophone) they have had a long and interesting history, or maybe it’s just because I am a horn person.
P.S. My most embarrasing marching song would probably be When a Man Loves a Woman.
posted by Abby Crawford on 9-29-2007 at 9:18 pm
my cousin was a trombone player in the Auburn marching band too. small world..
posted by Rachel on 9-29-2007 at 9:37 pm
From the looks of these comments, I’m thinking an article about stereotypes might be in order.
By the way, I enjoyed this one!
posted by Stephanie on 9-29-2007 at 9:46 pm
Ah, to be amongst fellow band nerds! It’s a good feeling… The trumpets are definitely the cocky-pants in every band. I’ve dated a few a can say from experience, that nothing changes post-band! And, Steven, you say trombone are slackers? Well, I split my time between woodwinds (flute/picc) and percussion (the pit), and we percussors (in the pit, anyway) are waaaay better at it! While you guys are slaving away in the heat on the field, we sit in the air conditioning and eat (in my experience).
BTW, I just wanted to share this, I heard a high school band play a variant on Beethoven’s 5th Symphony this Friday night and it was AMAZING!!! Can’t wait to hear it again…
posted by Kelli K. on 9-30-2007 at 6:25 am
Great article! My son played the superbone in jazz band his freshman year, but I didn’t know what it was called until just now. Thanks! The first concert of his we went to, he came out carrying that thing; I leaned over & asked my wife how how long he’d been playing the trombone. She replied that she had no idea he was. In marching band, he plays the euphonium.
My alma mater is a small rural school, and had no marching band. So I was totally unprepared when my daughter hit high school & joined the marching band. Had no idea there was such a thing as “competitions” for marching bands. What an education that was for me!
The school my kids attend is well known for it’s band program; they went undefeated the last two seasons, and are always in the sights of the other area bands. My daughter played flute for three years, and was a drum major her senior year. The college she attends doesn’t have a marching band; she’s still in withdrawal.
I guess that probably makes me the old timer on Floss.
posted by Dave on 9-30-2007 at 8:38 am
I vaguely remember Tommy Lee being in the marching band. I think it was on the Motley Crue behind the scenes, or something.
posted by Tara on 9-30-2007 at 10:41 am
I play the trombone in orchestra and love every minute of it. Marching bands aren’t common where I’m from, but I’d have loved to take part at some point.
posted by Britt on 10-1-2007 at 12:05 am
Tommy Lee!! Yes, I remeber that too! It was this television show a couple of years ago where he went back to college, and among other things, he joined the band! I want to say that he did this at the University of Nebraska, and more specifically I think he played the tenors (drums, not saxes). !
posted by Lindsay D on 10-1-2007 at 8:07 am
I also have to testify to the greatness that is marching band. Without it, football season would just not be the same. It too, like football teams has many great traditions. For example, at Iowa, we have a lot of songs (some of them not family appropriate) that we sing in the tunnel underneath the stadium before we go on for the pre-game show. And we also turn our hats backwards when we win (while playing and dancing to our victory polka), but I think that a lot of other bands do that too. And I have to also testify that the trombone section is filled with the biggest slackers of the band (they’re really everywhere, but somehow the bones just seem to have some kind of slacker gravitational force to it)…And I just have to say that piccolo sections rock!
posted by Lindsay D on 10-1-2007 at 8:17 am
I also played trombone in the marching band. No offense to all the wind instruments, but what is with the clarunet and flute players always passing out? I never understood it, as my instrument weighed twice as much and needed twice as much air.
posted by Kristina on 10-1-2007 at 8:58 am
Here in Central Indiana Marching Band is the king – They take competitions seriously and you can often find 1 or 2 going on at different high schools any weekend. They start practicing in the middle of summer for 6 – 8 hours a day and the whole band will go to camp. We go to the local high school games to watch the bands play.
I loved Marching Band – I was a drummer who both marched and played in the pit. We were always the first on the field with music. It was the best part of High School. Sad to say I went to college that didn’t have a marching band (because we didn’t have a football team) but we had an awesome 100 member basketball band.
Here is a suggestion for another topic on music. Explain to me why there is a difference in conducting styles between band and orchestra. I currently play with a local Symphonic Orchestra (because there is no marching band for adults) and trying to follow what the guy up front is doing is always a challenge – there is no down beat and since when can they take the easy way out and just conduct everything in one.
posted by Beth on 10-1-2007 at 11:31 am
although i got irritated with marching band toward the end of my high school years, i miss it SO SO much … i live vicariously through my little brother!
& DITTO to the comment about trumpet players! as a french horn (mellophone in marching band) i feel everyone’s pain. my band director was a trumpet player so that added to the problem – part of the reason for my irritation. a mellophone solo was nearly given to a trumpet player my senior year!!! ohhhhhh did I fight hard about THAT one!
posted by sd on 10-1-2007 at 3:47 pm
A trombone, heavy? Please. I marched for four years with a tuba/sousaphone on my shoulder (My school didn’t get my sousa until my last year). And I was lucky enough to avoid the embarrassing music. We played, in order from freshman to senior year, Pictures at an Exhibition, a Gershwin collection, music from the movie First Knight, and and variety of Danny Elfman pieces. For those of you that don’t know, Elfman has done the music for nearly all of Tim Burton’s films, so we played Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and some others.
Also, I was a Horn Line Captain my senior year, and got to do a really cool tuba/piccolo duet. It was…interesting, to say the least.
posted by Casey on 10-1-2007 at 4:37 pm
P.S.
How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?
10. One to change it, and nine to say how much better they could have done it.
posted by Casey on 10-1-2007 at 4:39 pm
Did someone really, in complete seriousness, use the words “high school band” and “Beethoven’s 5th Symphony” and “AMAZING!!!” sentence? I know there are many talented kids out there, but the best high school band in the world is hardly going to pull off an “AMAZING!!!” Beethoven symphony. I don’t mean to be personal, I don’t even recall (now that I’m down here) who posted it. Just… a little perspective, please?
posted by Eric on 10-1-2007 at 7:37 pm
A parade in an amusement park featured a high school band playing “Walking On The Sun” by Smashmouth, I loved it, I wish I had a recording of it.
When I was 11 and in 5th grade I decided to try the trombone, Alot of kids were playing trumpet so I thought it was more interesting. I was small for my age and had trouble with low notes, the slide slipping to the floor, and carrying the thing around. I gave up after a couple months.
[It's funny how it didn't occur to me until just yesterday. The teacher, a full grown adult, was only as tall as me, and I was about the size of an 8 year old. The guy must have been short enough to be considered a little person (dwarf, midget.)]
posted by Tdave on 10-2-2007 at 2:00 am
How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?
One. He just holds it up, and the whole world revolves around him.
posted by Tenor Drummer on 10-2-2007 at 2:14 pm
I played (still play, just not in a marching band) the flute in marching band in HS (the last two years anyway, no marching band in France). I’ve played the flute since about age 8, and I can tell you that it actually takes considerable arm strength to hold that sucker up for an hour or so. (Note: all the other instruments get to rest their arms in some way, with the flute, you’re holding the thing up ALL the time. It’s light, but you try holding your arms up like that and see how long you can stand it.)And, the flute requires quite a bit of lung volume. Also, we were never allowed to have any kind of music stand on our flutes- they tend to make you cross-eyed anyway, so we had to memorize all of our music.
posted by greenstrawberries on 10-3-2007 at 4:23 am
For all you serious trombonists out there (like me), may I suggest the Trombone Forum.
Just type in tromboneforum.org.
You will learn all kinds of things about the trombone from beginners to pros.
I’m an old fart that started playing the trombone again after 34 years, and after only one year now belong to two community bands.
There’s no other instrument like it.
posted by NCMike on 10-4-2007 at 7:06 am
Also, I was a Horn Line Captain my senior year, and got to do a really cool tuba/piccolo duet. It was…interesting, to say the least.
I was in the marching and concert band in high school. I don’t remember the name of the piece, but there was a tuba/piccolo duet that we played, too!
I was on the flute line, but there were 4 tubas and 5 pics. Way cool.
BAND NERDS RULE! Class of ‘79
posted by Debby on 10-4-2007 at 7:29 am
Hey, you forgot about the tromboon! It’s a trombone with a bassoon reed instead of a mouthpiece. It comes to us through a likely source: Peter Schickele, AKA PDQ Bach.
I was on the drumline in high school (class of 1980), and I’m dedicating this post to my niece, who, as far as I know, is the only female sousaphone player in the San Diego area!
posted by Mike on 10-4-2007 at 9:35 am
I went to a military school for 4 years of junior high school. We had an all brass band (modeled on Ohio State) and I played an instrument called a Trombonium, which has valves and is wrapped up and carried in front of the chest like a baritone horn. But the tone is sharper than a baritone horn — a Trombonium sounds like a trombone due -apparently- to the fact that its tubing is parallel or straight, rather than the tapered tubing of mellower sounding instruments like the baritone horn, alto horn or cornet. And you get the t-bone sound but don’t have to put them in the front row — when you march with a trombone the slide makes turning a challenge (especially to whomever is in front of you!!).
posted by George on 10-4-2007 at 12:15 pm
I played tenor and bass trombone in high school. My mom played trombone when she was in high school. If I have a daughter, you bet she’ll play too.
I also played in “University Band” for a semester. It was basically for people that didn’t want to put down their horns yet or music majors learning new instruments.
I got hurt one time, and not the normal roll your ankle on a sprinkler injury. We were marching backwards and the tubas were taking too small of steps. The people ahead of me were taking their normal steps. My toes got stepped on and I was trampled. The director ran up to me so fast. My mouthpiece was firmly nailed into the ground and it took me awhile to find it. I just blew out the hunk of dirt and limped back in to formation.
posted by Katie on 10-4-2007 at 4:17 pm
My former father-in-law, (don’t worry we are all still friends), was at UConn before WWII, he and his best friend werei in ROTC. Bud hated the daily very early AM formations and marching. His friend told him he to join Marching Band as they were excempt from Formation and practiced late in the day. Problem is he played violin. No matter the band was a little short of bodies to look good so Bud marched for two years “lip synching” a trumpet.
posted by Richard on 10-6-2007 at 8:30 pm
Former Band Nerds Unite!
I miss marching band so much! It was the best 8 years of my life (high school and college). I miss the discipline, workout, teamwork, tradition and friends. I didn’t care it was only for 1 credit hour and put in 10 times the hours as for other classes. It’s what kept me sane!
Our high school marching band didn’t do anthing embarassing, in fact I was jealous of the Styx show they did after I graduated where the finale was the entire band disapearing behind a screen and marching out the other side in a completely different uniform. Talk about a Grand Illusion!
*sigh* I miss being a band geek.
posted by Elaine on 10-10-2007 at 5:14 pm
Played tenor trombone in HS, tenor and bass in college, and baritone and euphonium in drum corps. Still having withdrawals after 20 years, which are especially bad during the summer and fall. What’s the Springsteen tune about “Glory Days?”…
The studied slacker image is dead-on. Had a great conversation with a friend, a professional French Horn player, about the personalities associated with different instruments. Amazingly, even though she and I grew up on opposite sides of the US, our observations were totally uniform.
Speaking of uniform, the most embarrassing part of my career as a trombonist was the fact that the “hat” of our HS uniform was a straw boater. Yes, just like the old Shakey’s Pizza guy (maybe you had to grow up in the 70s to know that reference.) The quality of our performance was the only thing that kept us from getting mugged at the football games and band contests.
posted by Kenn on 10-22-2007 at 8:42 am
I played trumpet for all of a year. I stunk. Really stunk. Even my instructor said “maybe music isn’t for you”. So I took painting classes instead. Practicing that was much more fun since there are no spit valves involved.
On the topic of unusual instruments, I found a Double Bell Euphonia in my grandmother’s basement. If you’re unfamiliar with the instrument, it looks like a baritone, with an extra bell and valves. The idea (or so I’m told) is that it can sound like a trumpet OR a trombone. When I tried playing it, it sounded more like a dying cat.
posted by Maggie on 10-22-2007 at 1:30 pm
Went to school with Kenn (#32) above. Every time I hear drums cranking up on Thursday nights at the local high school in the Fall, I get ‘homesick’ for the 50 yard line. I played t-bone all through junior high, high school, college, and even at church for several years. No other feeling like the ‘park and blow’ at the end of a killer half time show.
I tried the Superbone mentioned above and found there to be a decent amount of backpressure. I like the bigger horns. Got to play a Bach marching baritone on one Spring trip and thought that was the best. You couldn’t really overblow it and it was the closest I would ever get to being in a drum corps (although there is a drum corps in metro Atlanta for us older folks…the CorpsVets).
The DCI South show in Atlanta is one of the highlights of the year for me and my buds from band. Funny how music ties us together almost 25 years after graduation. I don’t like country but i must borrow a line from Willie (even though I’m in ‘corporate world’ most of the time)…’the life i love is makin’ music with my friends’…ain’t it the truth!
posted by Frank on 10-23-2007 at 6:29 am
I’m with Casey – no matter how long you have to hold your arms up, it doesn’t quite compare to the exquisite pinch of 37 pounds of metal resting awkwardly on one’s left shoulder. I was a music major at IU (a big ol’ school for that kind of stuff), and I felt the need to *really* goof off senior year – so I switched from baritone to Sousy. We Marching Hundred kids “high-stepped” – read:pranced – with those things. We did this strange step, name forgotten, that resembled jumping on one leg and polkaing. I tied a bow on my horn – it was the best year of marching ever. My years on clarinet and baritone were fun, but not the same. . .
and to Mike – I was one of TWO girls of the twelve on the sousy line. . .I’ve heard there are more than three of ‘em marching for IU now! Such fun . . .I miss band : (
posted by Liz on 10-26-2007 at 1:36 pm
I checked – there are SEVEN girls on IU’s sousy line this year. Out of 23…that’s HUGE.
posted by liz on 10-26-2007 at 1:45 pm
I am also a trombone player. The difference between me and most of the posts above is that I’m still in high school, playing my last year of marching band. We’re a show band, so we don’t compete, but the crowd loves us. We play more popular music (and no, it is NOT embarrassing to play Iron Man by Black Sabbath – especially when the audience gives you a standing ovation.) I’ve been first trombone for 4 years in a row and can say from experience that the Drumline are goof-offs. The t-bones are slackers. There’s a difference. Also, I would dearly like to know where to get a superbone. Sometimes in Jazz band, an F-key just doesn’t cut it, even though it makes it easier.
Oh, and what’s the range of a trumpet?
About twenty yards, if you’ve got a good arm!
posted by Luke on 10-26-2007 at 6:01 pm
Ohhh, I miss my band years. Actually I played the Tuba….yep that’s right, the Tuba. At one point we actually had an all girl Tuba section. I started playing the flute/piccolo in 4th grade, but by 8th grade was bored with it. When our one and only Tuba player graduated, the band director wanted to know if anyone was interested in taking over the job. Well, I decided I’d try it out. I excelled with the Tuba, we ended up with four female Tuba players. I went on to obtain first chair Tuba player in the OSU Honor Band, which totally insulted all of the boy Tuba players. I was first chair in the PSU (Kansas)Honor Band and NE Oklahoma State Honor Band more than once. I’m 38 now and actually miss playing in a band. So enjoy your years while you can, and try to never lose your talent, because if you don’t use it, you lose it.
Very interesting article, I never knew there were so many different types of Trombones. It’s nice to see that there are soo many “BandNerds” out there…young and old alike. I think “Eye of the Tiger” was the most embarrassing tune our band ever played, but the best tune we ever played was “Championship”. In case no one remembers that tune, it was a 1970’s lead-in song to “Monday Night Football” I still hum it from time to time :)
posted by Lori on 10-26-2007 at 9:13 pm
In all the ensembles I’ve been a part of, the trombone section has always been the section of goof-offs and misfits. In high school, we called ourselves the “Wandering Trombones” and even had shirts made. It was all well deserved, though.
The trombone is my favorite instrument, due to it’s wide range of tonality. It can play many styles very well, from a sweet soft sound to a ballsissimo brass boom. I enjoyed playing euphs in drum corps, but I always missed my axe.
posted by Josh on 10-31-2007 at 10:44 am
Hi,
Its interesting.I am a trumpet player.So i love this Marching to the Beat of a Different Slide Instrument post.
posted by adam on 11-9-2007 at 6:29 am
It is indeed a pleasure to be amongst band geek friends. I have to admit, I was “only” in a front squad, never having had the opportunity to learn in instrument in my private elementary school… But my sons play the marching trombone/euphonium; there are no slide trombones in their marching band. My younger son got whacked in the head with a tuba during one competition this year, so imagine the dmage the slides can do!
Anyway, marching season is certainly the consolation for the end of summer… Even though now that I’m the parent, it translates into lots of money and time spent for the cause!
BTW, my high school band’s most embarassing song was probably “Love Potion #9″ although McArthur Park is weird, too, if you listen to the words (which of course we didn’t have to do).
posted by Therese on 12-14-2007 at 10:26 am
Ah band. There are times you miss and times you’re glad you aren’t the one drilling in the heat and frost. I was a flute player and a bassoonist, but several good friends were trombonists. Ah they fun and the slacking!
posted by Sarah on 12-20-2007 at 3:53 pm
Ahh the trombone. The perfect pitch instrument. As a recovering trombonist, semi inactive, and watching my lips cease to function, it was very interesting to see the various forms of trombones, and the antecedents. The superbone looks amazing, and more so amazing to play.
posted by Bo on 12-22-2007 at 11:04 am
If we’re talking about who had it the toughest in the marching band, look no further than the Sousaphone. (And yes, it’s a sousaphone, not a tuba). I was in the Marching Illini Sousaphone section for 4 years and we had to do all those “Prace Steps” and high kicks with the horns on. And if you don’t believe me, check out Sousaphones in the Marching Illini Run-On routine.
We never understood why there were so many complaints from other sections about steps and drill designs. We were specifically told not to transport our Sousaphones to rehearsals in cars. So we always had to meet a half hour before rehearsal and then walk the horns over the rehearsal field (which was usually about half a mile away). However, we never complained and we never had rehearsal stopped on our account because we couldn’t get it right. We just did our jobs.
So to all you marching martyrs out there, just think of how much worse the Sousas or even the drumline had it (you ever carry the tenor drums?) Count your blessings and be happy about your marching band experience. I know I am, which is why I teach it now since there are no adult marching bands.
posted by Benjamin on 12-27-2007 at 12:33 pm
Ahh, but that’s where yoou are wrong… there IS a market for the Sackbut! I am happy to inform you that the sackbut is alive and thriving. Check these out (add www. before each): hmsc.com, waits.org.uk/york/, les-sacqueboutiers.com/, lincolnwaites.com nd there are tons more.
posted by Al on 1-12-2008 at 5:36 pm
Great article! Add choral conducting to your survey of orchestral and band conducting styles, as we’re the only ones I know who regularly get away with conducting in a circle.
Marching band is great. I had wanted to play the flute from childhood, but my mom had this weird thing that girls didn’t play wind instruments. My soon-to-be husband gave me a flute in college, and after we graduated we joined our fine community band. Husband played in the tuba section (on his own rotary-valve tuba), while i joined the flutes. We’ve done that duet for tuba/picc, but I can’t remember the name of it either. Anyway, I finally got to march … but had to wait until I was an adult to do it. I could kill my mom for all the years I missed in HS and college.
Sackbuts are great!
posted by Kim on 1-22-2008 at 1:40 pm
Hmmm…the only tuba/piccolo duet I ever did was in Holst’s 2nd Suite. It was rather short, though, so that’s probably not what you mean.
I played pic for three years in H.S., Section Leader for two of those and then D.M. my senior year. I’m a music major now in Flute Performance, but there’s no marching band at my school!!! I’ve never fully recovered.
To answer a question above, the reason that orchestra conductors are different from band directors is because of the strings. Because strings are often choreographed to move in sync as well as bow in sync, the conductors attempt to make their motions more circular and in one beat to aid that. They’re conducting the phrase, not the beat, if you will.
posted by Vanamali on 2-10-2008 at 12:09 pm
Yeah, I’m a sophomore in high school and I’ve been playing trombone since 4th grade. I’m the only low brass girl in my school, and I think I may switch to sousa just to prove that I can do it. Our trombone section is ful of slackers, but doesnt it seem like trombone players are more accident prone as well?
And holst’s 2nd suite owns. We played it this year in band. My best friend had the tuba solo. But I like Suite of Old American Dances so much better.
posted by cindy on 2-21-2008 at 9:56 pm
Loved the article. I played trombone at least 2 hours every day for about 9 years of my life and participated in at least 2 marching bands. Even though it has been more than 35 years since I stopped playing every day, I still pick up my trombone (still have the same one that I used as a senior in high school) to play at local events once a year (I have no pity on those that have to hear me, I just enjoy playing!).
I didn’t know anything about the history of the instrument. Thanx again for the information … and keep on sliding!
posted by Marc on 4-30-2008 at 12:48 am
the tenor saxophones carried the band!!!
WOOOOHOOOO!!!
i enjoyed marching band in High School, but when i went to college, and went to one of the few schools that don’t force their underclassmen to play in marching band, i bowed out in favour of jazz band and wind ensemble.
posted by the creature on 5-13-2008 at 10:42 am
Actually, the piccolo takes more wind to play than any other instrument… imagine how much wind it takes to make a note on a bottle… it also makes their tummies like bricks. I actually saw a tuba guy, on request, punch a little piccolo player in the stomach and she stood there and took it.
Pawning my trombone is one of my biggest regrets…
posted by Richard on 6-4-2008 at 4:31 pm
Marching band is amazing! I’m drum major for my senior year, after marching clarinet for 2 years.
To the person who asked for perspective – Eric, I think:
True, there are high school bands that are not very good. I’m sure you’ve heard them from your opinion on them.
However, there are really amazing high school bands out there. Go look up Carmel HS, LD Bell HS, Avon HS… there are many, many high school bands out there that work very hard, and could probably pull off Beethoven’s 5th just as well as a professional orchestra. I’m sure that person was absolutely serious. And I’m a little offended, and also shocked that you would take your time to insult high school students’ hard work.
posted by Case on 6-17-2008 at 10:57 pm
I play 1st trombone on an F-attachment horn at my HS. I’m gonna be a sophomore this year and I love band. A lot of people are quitting though. As far as trombone variations go, look up the buccin. It’s a normal tenor trombone, but the bell is shaped like a dragon head!
posted by Isaac on 7-4-2008 at 11:45 pm
Bb clarinet and bass clarinet all the way.
posted by Kendall on 7-18-2008 at 9:26 am
In my high school marching band, we had two seniors who were close friends: a saxophone guru and a trombone player. The saxophone had a jazz solo in the middle of “Rockin’ the Paradise,” but on senior night, the two friends conspired to make it the best solo ever. They took the saxophone mouthpiece and put it where the trombone’s mouthpiece ought to have been. Thus, the solo was played on the “saxobone.” The rest of the band could scarcely play their background music; they were laughing too hard at the offensive notes coming from the saxobone.
posted by Reba on 8-2-2008 at 1:17 pm
I played trumpet, and I don’t think I fit those stereotypes. But only because the rest of the trumpets did, and I hated them. The lead trumpet (he is a proffessional now, go figure) would dress up in green for concerts (no marching band, sorry) and purposely play down a half step. The rest would pretend to touch themselves an every oppurtunity. Clearly you can guess why I didn’t want to associate with them.
posted by Will on 8-13-2008 at 8:44 am
Once a boner always a boner. and like our band motto WITH PRIDE.
I always liked to freak out the woodwinds and pour a little extra water in and then empty the spit valve out in front of them.
How about some songs with trombone solos in them.
Rack Em Up by jonny lang,
Sweet home Chicago by Blues Brothers
Saints Come Marching In, Louis Armstrong
anybody know anything else
posted by Dbus on 9-10-2008 at 10:48 pm
I learned to play trombone in HS in 1959 and eventually qualified for the concert band (no marching band, no football team either, so we got to practice in rehearsal hall only). We did all the Broadway medleys and concert band material. Then I got to spend my entire 2 years as a draftee during the Vietnam war at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in the 282nd Army Band, thanks to the trombone. Most draftees cannot say their entire 2 year Army stint was fun all the time- I’m very fortunate. Although never being embarrassed by any music personally- I’d have to say the worst piece of music for marching band would be ‘Louie Louie’ played in the ‘Naked Gun’ movie.
posted by Ike on 11-7-2008 at 8:17 am
I have to say that Marching Bari Sax would have to be one of the hardest… to have not only the weight of the horn on your neck, but to march in in front of you with the weight resting on your thumb… I haven’t marched in about 12 years now, but the muscle at the base of that thumb is still easily twice as big as the other… my husband makes fun of me all of the time for it..LOL.
Most embarrassing song ever for marching band… Purple People Eater… was completely ridiculous.
Props on the article… time to check in on all of those sax variations now!
posted by Bari Girl on 12-12-2008 at 11:38 pm
I would like to give a shout out to all clarinet players, mello players, trumpet players, baritone/euphonium players, tenor sax players, and finally (of course) TROMBONE players. I have played all these instruments in various ensembles in high school – they are all awesome. Though I must say that trombone/euphonium/baritone was my favorite for marching band.
MARCHING BAND RULES. Enough said.
posted by David on 2-19-2009 at 12:32 am
How do you get two piccolos to play in tune?
Shoot one of them.
I love playing my clarinet. Marching band is the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. I don’t want to leave high school- leaving marching band is going to suck. My boyfriend plays euphonium and he might try out for Carolina Crown soon…and I might try to find something to switch to so I can do it with him.
Trumpet players are most certainly the cockiest of the instruments. My best friend is a trumpet player, and he thinks he’s just king of the world every time he plays a note. But I have to say, I am pretty cocky myself (because I know I’m good- case in point) and my boyfriend is too. I think it just varies with your level of talent…that is, if you’re not on the trumpet.
And I have to argue with the trombone slacker theory- I believe that the most irresponsible section is the percussion. At an All-County band clinic recently, the director made a joke- you can tell how hard a percussionist is looking for something by the length of their “uuhhh” when they respond to your question “where is it?” Example- “Tyler- where’s your music?” “uuuhhhh…” “Tyler- where’s your brain?” “uh..”
posted by Julia on 5-6-2009 at 9:45 pm
Why all the trumpet hate? Every trumpet in my band is pretty humble. In fact in my band it’s the sax players that are cocky. It changes from band to band I think.
posted by Paige on 10-15-2009 at 5:23 pm