Re: Why has marching band gotten so boring?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:08 am
Bring back the days when bands played the theme from Budweiser and formed a beer can! No, we should go back further and replace the modern guard with the American party and make all of our pit march with their mallet instruments. Maybe we should go back to the time when everyone was playing swing versions of the classics or playing Chuck Mangione tunes.
My point is you are remembering the best parts of old school marching band and not the bad or even average. Every performance genre has developed over the years. Even parade has changed.
What has happened in marching band is that the shows are being designed for a more idiomatic approach. Music is no longer being arranged but now it is written specifically to match the ability level and integrate well with the visual element.
Marching band will continue to evolve and like everything else it will be cyclical. Some group will amaze everyone with a show that is retro in style and then everyone will try and recreate aspects of that show.
Meanwhile, I would suggest relaxing a bit and enjoying some amazing performances by a couple of the best bands in the state that you help create.
My point is you are remembering the best parts of old school marching band and not the bad or even average. Every performance genre has developed over the years. Even parade has changed.
What has happened in marching band is that the shows are being designed for a more idiomatic approach. Music is no longer being arranged but now it is written specifically to match the ability level and integrate well with the visual element.
Marching band will continue to evolve and like everything else it will be cyclical. Some group will amaze everyone with a show that is retro in style and then everyone will try and recreate aspects of that show.
Meanwhile, I would suggest relaxing a bit and enjoying some amazing performances by a couple of the best bands in the state that you help create.