Marching Band Shows and Choreography

A Marching Band is a group of musicians playing different instruments on a wide variety of inspirational music, while performing different movements like marching or other types of harmonized actions. The complete performance usually depends upon the event’s theme, for example, it can be some sports event, inauguration of functions etc.

To move like a single unit on inspiring music notes is quite difficult. For an amazing show, the whole performance needs to be well choreographed. A beautifully choreographed marchingband field show using various shapes, forms, color and dance can easily spell bound the audience. So choreography plays a vital role.

It is the duty of a choreographer to understand each and every member of the group. And should plan moves as per their abilities. If there are some complex moves and combination, he should help them in learning easily by understanding the combinations and arrangements. Their important job is to improve the performance and to take out an outstanding show, marking the occasion.

Choreographers should be experts of their field; they should know which theme goes by the function or the occasion they are performing at. Then they should pick the most appropriate style and plan a show full of inspirational music with fabulous moves, lifts, beats and breaks. An experienced marching band choreographer knows which tunes are to be repeated and accordingly determine the steps. 

Repetition is a good technique; it helps to keep our audience intact and concentrated. Another important part is instruments, their positioning matters. For example, if we are keeping trumpets in one area, then should keep saxophone in another. 

These are small things which can help in making our show a big hit.  So while planning a marching band performance, a choreographer has a very big role to play. So should be taken seriously. 

High on Energy Marching Band Shows

You must have seen a marching band performing their show on TV or live at the sports field especially during the half time of a baseball or football game. These marching bands showcase their performance in professional matches or in a university sports day. Their activities include dancing, playing instrumental music while marching, performing exercise or a parade. These bands are in many ways similar to traditional military bands & have their own uniform, logo, caps, gloves or helmets. 

Marching bands are classified by their discrete style, gender, type of their instrumentation or even age group. Some shows may include both males and females but it could be hard to identify their gender since they wear identical uniforms. A marching band show may have as low as 3 members and as high as over 500 members. A single march band may have sub groups performing different activities.

Marching Bands music shows are common in various schools and universities in USA where students actively take part and enjoy their show. You will encounter websites of numerous colleges or universities where students fill in their application to be a part of their musical band show parade. Depending upon the number of applications received, interviews can be conducted.  If you have your own music instrument like brass, woodwinds, flute and percussion instruments like a drum & you play it very well, it is an added advantage for you. Alternatively, you can borrow an instrument.  Having said that, having or owing an instrument is not something mandatory. 

These bands with their lively shows bring passion and liveliness to the events due to their immaculate and flawless performance. Lighting effect (whether performed in a day or night) & type of music March bands choose can either make or break their show.

Craze for marching band shows

Ask any March band member or even an amateur, he will tell you the importance of the music and its composition for their events. A good composition matching your band’s style & performance is hard to find but it is not something that is climbing the Everest. You must have seen some exemplary & ideal march band shows recently & must be wondering how they selected the music or made the composition. Simply put, length of the music, level of difficulty & ability of your group can help you in selecting suitable marching band compositions. You must analyze your group’s capability & requirements while selecting a composition. Most Compositions involve percussion, pianos, keyboards, flutes or other instruments. A melody can also be a good idea for the show.

You can also go online and select tracks which have been used in the past by bands from other schools/universities use you tube or hire a professional to compose music for your band. A lot of companies and websites sell music and their compositions for march band shows.

Depending upon your budget size and requirements, you may even lookout for a professional company or director with a proven track record managing the music or percussion for you. Furthermore you can get your own track composed or mix already available tracks up to suit your concert.

Instruments meant for Marching band show

The members of a marching band play umpteen number and variety of musical instruments. The most popular ones however are percussion instruments, brass and woodwind. Since the instruments are not that heavy these can be easily carried and played during marching band show music performances.

French horn, Cornet, Tuba and Trumpet are some of the brass instruments that are included in a marching band.

·Usually pitched in the B flat, a cornet is pretty much like the trumpet. It is technically a transposing instrument and is broadly used in all brass bands.

·Having undergone a lot of changes with the passage of time, another transposing musical instrument used marching band show music performances is the trumpet. While the trumpet was initially used for declaring danger it is now a major instrument for jazz band members.

·The largest instrument in a brass-wind family, the tuba is a deep sound producing musical instrument.

·Producing a very different musical effect with its bell point backward, the French horn is yet another very important instrument of a marching band.

Saxophone, flute, oboe and a clarinet are some other Woodwind instruments that are used in a marching band. Because of the uniqueness of its sound, a clarinet founds lot of use in band performances. The flute is a human-made instrument and the oboe is a two key instrument used mostly in orchestras and military band performances.

Music: The Soul of Life

Not every kind of music is pleasant to the ears, for music is subjective by nature. Produced by singers or musical instruments, music is an artistic form of auditory communication. The pleasantness however is solely dependent on the music band.
There are two main types of bands –

1.    Concert band – The kind of instruments involved in this type of band are bowed stringed instruments, percussion, woodwinds and brass. This kind of music can be performed at a particular area or location. One common example of concert band is an orchestra that is usually headed by a conductor.

2.    Marching Band – Mostly guided by a drum major, these bands usually perform while marching or making certain marching formations. Performing at outdoor events like parades or half time shows, there are several professional marching bands like inspire music marching band that put up great marching band shows.

While concert music band are the regular music you get to hear at every other events, it’s the marching bands that experiment a lot with compositions and music types. Music selection as they say is the key.

The inspire music marching band gives equal value to other things besides music too. For instance the drill including the color guard, the impact points, the audience response moments, the transition clarity etc. Similarly the effects like individuals, duets, ensembles, the tempo, movement, props and the 30-second rule.

When capturing the human emotions and reacting well to moments of sadness, surprise, excitement, silence, suspense etc, al of it contributes in making a good show, great. And lastly the details! From uniforms to body postures, feet, horn angles, hair jewelry and make-up, inspire music marching band knows just how to do it best.

Craze for Marching Band Show

The key to a great marching band show is the music composition selection. There are a couple of questions that you need to bear in mind when choosing a marching band composition.

1.    What’s your target audience? Community, football fans, you yourself, students?

2.    After your audience movies out, will they be singing, humming or whistling a part of the music from the show? In case of original compositions this is very likely to happen.

3.     Is your marching band composition going to make someone feel happy or excited?

4.    Will you have volunteers from the audience wanting to join you?

5.    Is the music composition versatile? Meaning does it have all elements of emotions for the audience to connect?

6.    Is the composition the most important part of your show, your band’s strength maybe? If so, then one has to make conscious effort to make the effect visible too.

7.    The instrumentation has to be balanced. Having the artistes to switch instruments to help the band ‘sound’ is integral. It is suggested that one sousaphone should be used for every two trumpets. Ideally saxophones make a great transition to sousaphone. Similarly flutes make a great transition to Melloney/French horn.

8.    Also, a balanced woodwind presence is very important. if the music also has a woodwind feature, then it is an added advantage.

9.    The bands that have their own arranger and drill writer, co-ordination with them is mandatory.
The stock arrangements from the ‘marching show concepts’ often offer different difficulty levels in both the music and the drill.

Arranging a Successful Marching Band Show

Marching bands shows has recently become very popular. The concept of marching bands is not new, from centauries many bands perform in various occasions and events. These shows are been conducted mostly by military concerns. They play inspirational music instilling passion and devotion in the audience. To make such shows successful the marching band arrangers have to work very hard. To compose inspirational music is not an easy task. There are many trials a music goes through before considering it finally for an event.

For composing and arranging inspirational music we need to consider so many things like the audience (students, parents, communities or players etc.). Then the second step is the event or occasions we will be performing at. If it’s some historic event, some recreational place  or some party or some sad occasions etc. We need to write our music according to it.

Selecting a music and notes to play is the “Key” to a successful marching band show. Our music should inspire and excite people. It should inspire students to be part of marching bands. If we are composing our music on our own then it should be a challenge for us. It should not be an easy one. It should represent a good level of difficulty to our band. Another thing that can make our shows successful is instrumentations. A well balanced instrumentation with perfect instrument switching can make it more elegant and glamorous watching. Our music should capture human emotions. Once we achieve this it means we are successful. So think many times before composing. Coordinate your team and then decide how to go about it so that when show ends up people leave humming your music.