A Noob's Guide to Marching Band

For those who weren’t in band themselves, understanding how awards and contests work can be just as confusing as football games and wrestling tournaments are to us former band kids. Parents, siblings, teachers, staff, and even community members can benefit from knowing more about what is often the largest music-related program at any given school.

Various Marching Band ImagesPhoto byMelany Love

During marching season, bands choose to either compete against other bands of similar school size, or against bands of similar band size. This can make a difference--a large, well-funded school that rolls out a brand new band program of only 30 students still may have the advantage of newer instruments and a better student to instructor rate against a small school with a small band. The large school with a small band might choose to compete based on their band size, rather than against other bands with a hundred members or more, depending on their circumstances and goals.

The vast majority of bands have a director, colorguard instructor, and percussion instructor, at least. Assistant directors are not uncommon, and some also have a brass instructor, woodwind instructor, choreographer, and marching instructor (or various combinations of those, such as a “music instructor” and “visuals instructor,” meaning they cover anything not music-related).

Bands perform a show that they craft and perfect over the course of the summer and fall. The show has a theme or story, sometimes with costumes and/or props, and it usually runs in three segments and lasts around 10 minutes total. Examples of shows might be “Color,” which would include vibrant costumes and selections of pop songs that mention colors in the title, “Perseverance: The Story of Sir Edmund Hillary,” that tells the tale of a mountain climber, trying to climb a mountain (prop) to heroic classical pieces, or “The Phantom of the Opera,” starring a student vocalist duo as characters from the Broadway Show, backed by segments of the musical score. Each band has a unique show, and even in the few instances where a band performs a show that another band performed in past years, they will undoubtedly add their own unique elements and changes. A student (or sometimes 2-3 students) will direct the entire show, with the various adult instructors staying on the sidelines, a unique departure from usual band activities. The student director, or "Drum Major" is a respected and often highly-coveted position of honor that lasts the entire season.

Each show is evaluated and scored using a point system; several judges record their feedback “tapes” to send home with each band to use in improving from week to week. Bands are graded on their ability to play the music well (with more points given for playing music of a harder difficulty well than for playing easy music well) and their ability to march together (“in step”) and move in sync. Members move around the field in a well-timed manner, trying to keep the spacing between members even; the “sets,” or pictures, made by members standing in specific points at specific times also need to make sense. Bands are graded on their “effect,” or the ability to convey the theme of their show/the ability to stir emotion in the audience, as well.

The color guard of the band shines in this category, as their purpose is to provide effect through elements of color in their various flags, “set the stage” in their costumes, and provide any dramatic elements through acting, dance, the incorporation of props, and sometimes through spoken word, or even song. Of course a band can mimic some of these dramatic elements as well, but having a dedicated visual group certainly makes things easier, adds to a band’s overall numbers, and allows the wind players to focus on playing and moving well. The cooperation of the distinctly different parts of the band also helps students to understand the concept of respecting and appreciating differences--while musicians and color guard members do not have the same duties, they are each necessary and valuable for different reasons, and they work toward a common goal. In the competitive world of marching band, the difference of mere tenths of a point can sometimes mean the difference between going to state and going home, so picking up points wherever possible is important.

Nearly (if not every) Saturday throughout the state, dozens of bands perform at several locations, all day long, gaining feedback for improvement going forward and scoping out the year’s competition. While awards at each of these competitions are given, improvement remains the main goal until the season’s end approaches. At the Regionals and Semi-State levels, only the highest-ranked bands continue on, with only the top ten bands in each category, or “Class” continuing on to state.

If you have or love a student in a band, you might wonder how best to support them. Obviously, helping out by participating in their fundraisers is a great help. Band fees each year can run between $150 and $500, with some additional fees along the way, for things like shoes, uniforms, and field trips. If you can’t help monetarily, don’t give up--attending at least one competition and cheering loudly for their band means so much more than you can imagine. Even something as simple as asking them to tell you about their favorite past shows and/or what changes or improvements their band has made this week can let them know that you care. Most bands are also usually in need of more dedicated “band parents” to help fundraise, chaperone, and “fix everything,” from props broken in transport, to last-minute uniform malfunctions, to anxiety attacks.

One of the most important things to remember about marching band is that while it can be competitive, marching band is meant to be friendly and foster encouragement. All the band members work so very hard on their shows--not only those who win awards. At the end of the day, most of the adults just want the students to improve, have fun, and grow into the kind and compassionate people we know they can become, because that’s far more valuable towards making the world a better place than trophies and awards that sit on a school shelf for a decade or two and then get closeted or trashed. If you do find yourself at a band event, please make sure to follow the etiquette: don’t enter or exit the bleachers during a performance, and if you must talk, make it as quiet as possible so as not to distract from the show or disturb others. Make sure if you have anything negative to say that you don’t do it around others--think of how your child would feel if they overheard things like, “I can’t believe how terribly that kid sang,” “I’m so glad our school isn't one of the losers who didn’t score high enough to continue,” “The judges must be stupid to give that band an award,” or “Well, at least we know we weren’t the worst band here today!” (Unfortunately, I’ve heard these actual statements made, often by adults, at events). Band provides a unique opportunity for adults to influence students for years at a time, for better or for worse, so try to help set a positive example and hold students accountable that you see misbehaving. Sometimes it takes a village to help kids understand that what is wrong is not “only wrong when mom or dad isn’t looking.”

With thousands of students performing in bands throughout the country, marching band continues to be a growing school activity. For more information about performances and schedules, check with local schools or your state's official site (for the "big and important" contests). The Indiana site is ISSMA.net