Marching band?

Question

Can you guys just give me as much info as you can. For example, like how many people sections there are, like theres flutes, saxes, color gaurd, etc. Whatever.... anything that can help

Answer 1

With most marching bands (excluding drum and bugle corps) there is color guard (which includes the banner guard), woodwind (saxophone, flute, clarinet, sometimes oboe), brass (trumpet, trombone/baritone/euphonium, tuba), percussion (usually cymbals, snare drums, bass drums, quads and/or quints-sets of 4 or 5 tom-tom drums). As for numbers in each section, it is completely dependent on how many people you have, and what instruments they play. I've seen sections be as few as even one person on an instrument, and then as large as 15 to 20. It all depends. There is no "standard" section size. Obviously if the group is an audition only group, the instructors can decide how many they let in, but again, this is a matter of personal choice. It isn't like there is a teacher's manual that says you have to have X number of students per section.

Answer 2

The size of your marching band is all dependent on your school's size, or if it is an audition process, it is dependent on your band director.

The band is made up of 4 large sections: brass, woodwind, percussion and auxiliary (colorgaurd). The auxiliary is partially optional, yet it is a portion of your score at most competitions.

Brass includes trumpets, mellophones (marching F horns), trombones, baritones (euphoniums) and sousaphones (marching tuba).

Woodwinds include clarinets, flutes, a sax section (made of alto, tenor and bari saxes), and optional piccolos, oboes, bass clarinet, and soprano sax

Percussion is grouped into two sections, drumline and sideline. Drumline is usually made of snares, quads/quints (mounted toms), bass drums and cymbals. Or you can substitue both the snare and quads/quints for a group of quads that also have a snare attached (as in our band). Other things may be included as well, I have seen marching bongos. Sideline is made up of all instruments you cannot march, such as marimba, xylophone, bells, gong, drum set, timpani etc.

Colorguard is usually wearing a different uniform than the rest of the band (usually more colorful) and may have flags, rifles (plastic or wooden, not real ones), dancers, and props (though I despise props with a passion).

You march, with the left foot starting on beat 1, and the set unit of marching is 1 8-to-5 step, which is 22 1/2 inches, or 8 steps for every 5 yards. You may also march double time, with your left foot on the beats and your right on the off-beats. There are 4 basic styles of marching, forward, backward, flanking and sidestepping. Flanking (may be called other things) is when you keep your upper body towards sideline, but feet are pointed a different direction. Sidestepping is the drumline version of flanking, where you move side-to-side with your entire body facing forward.

Those are pretty much the basics. I could go alot further detail if needed!

Answer 3

Okay this usually depends on what size of school you have, how much your school gives the band, and the people that play the instruments choice.

First their is the band their is the woodwinds, brass and percussion sections.

-A break down of the woodwinds.
*clarinets
*marching bass clarinets
*flutes
*piccolo's (maybe and would have atleast 5 members)
*saxophone
*tenor saxophone
*bass saxophone
*oboe (maybe and would have atleast 5 members)
*each section usually has 10-20 members

-brass
*trumpets
*sousaphone (or a marching tuba)
*melophone (marching french horn
*trombones
-each section may have up to 10-20 members depending on the instruments.

-percussion
*this can included any land bass percussion instruments like xylophone, symbols, tambourines, and etc.
*marching percussion which are strapped on to the body are
~snares
~basses
~quads
~and others can be named

Second their is the color guard which may include people holding or throwing:
-flag which are colorful and usually match the marching band's theme.
-plastic guns
-their are 2 hand hold flags which are also used
-props which may used to show the effect of the marching band's music
-some marching bands have 100's of people doing colorguard and others have 5 (like my marching band)

Third some marching band's also include their high school's cheerleaders whom stay behind them an do routines.

My highschool which is realativly small includes clarinets (9), flutes (about 10), piccolo's (3), saxophones (atleast 5), tenor (5) and bass saxophones (1), trumpts (10), trombone's (10), susaphones (2), melophones(1), bass drums(4), snare drums (2), quads (1), and colorguard (5).

Answer 4

well it matters how big your school is but I think there is usally 10 people per section.... good luck! =0)

Answer 5

the sections are usually brass, woodwind, and percussion. if there are enough, they might be broken into subsections of upper and lower brass or woodwinds. color guard isn't part of the band but might perform with the band playing. 8 steps to every 5 yards. guide right. a lot depends on the band director and how many people are in the band.