#drum corp

Yesterday we drove down to Lucas Oil Stadium for DCI semi finals, and then on the way home today stopped for some quick drive-by letterboxes.

*perks up* 

Marching band? You got it! (keep in mind these opinions are coming from 12 years concert band experience, 11 years parade marching experience, and 9 years of field marching experience. Also I was a music major. So. I know what I’m talking about, is my point.) 

Drum Major(s): Either a great leader of the band who takes the responsibility seriously, or someone who gets a bit power obsessed/catty with the other drum majors (if there are multiples), causing unnecessary drama. 

Flutes: (I’m biased, as I’m one of them, but) Really really invested in making sure the whole band is at its best. Emotional, take failure really hard. Sometimes can be a source of drama, especially if there are a lot of them. 

Clarinets: I’ve only ever met really dedicated clarinets who contribute so much to the group OR people who I sometimes really question why they’re in band, drama causing, not motivated/dedicated, very laid back at the best. There’s always drama in the clarinets, and there’s almost always a lot of them. 

Saxophones: Generally pretty dedicated, often their skills are based on raw talent (sax is easy to learn, hard to master), so sometimes they don’t have the best practicing regiments, but the ones who do, or the ones who are really talented…phew, freakin amazing, man. 

Trumpets: Arrogant Self-confident, LOUD, all think that they can play really high notes when really only like three of them can, but it doesn’t stop them from trying. No drama from this section, no, this is a shenanigans section (there’s a difference), and you won’t forget it. But a generally harmless, albeit rowdy, bunch. Now if we could just get them all to keep their bells at 10 degrees above parallel (IF THE EUPHS CAN DO IT YOU GUYS CAN TOO OKAY?) 

Mellophones: The confidence of trumpets with the dedication of flutes with the skill of saxophones. 90% are wonderful, hard working members who slay their solos and sometimes get the trumpet solos too instead of the trumpet players. One of them probably owns a flugelhorn. 

Trombones: Proceed with caution. Extremely unpredictable. Often laid back but extremely talented, though also often very dangerous to approach. At least half of the sections’ minds live in the gutter.

Baritones: What the hell is a euphonium? 

Euphoniums: There is inevitably that one who has to read treble clef and has to have ALL OF THEIR MUSIC TRANSPOSED FOR THEM AND NO IT’S FINE I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU GUYS IT’S NOT LIKE I HAVE UNIFORMS TO MANAGE HERE (I was on the logistics team for the last two years of my university band career, and as the only music major on the squad, I had to do all the transposing.) 

Tuba/Sousaphones: Shoulder pain. Dirty minds with hearts of gold. Stubborn. Always losing their damn berets. But good beans. 

Drumline: Like omg how. So impressive. Disciplined, dedicated, have more rehearsals than anyone else. But also massive goof offs. If it’s not common practice for your band to rehearse shirtless when it’s especially hot, it’s still the drumline’s practice.