PIT. is it where the 'un-talented' kids go?

[RedJoker25]

Yes, pit is where untalented people go. The people who are already there have talent, but the people who go there because their instrument doesn't march are usually less talented than those that have been playing pit instruments for a while. Doesn't mean they can't learn, just that they start out with less experience. That also means that they could easily be talented on their concert horn, just not percussion.

Edited January 13, 2011 by RedJoker25

[clarineticorn]

I seriously disagree. Our pit is pretty awesome, they're outside slaving in the sun along with the rest of us (though they DO have a 'tent' that covers part of them) during band camp and practice. At contests, I've heard their warmups played by other pits at half tempo (and I may be biased but I think I liked ours better!). I dunno, I really love them. They work nearly as hard as the rest of us. Plus, they have to handle all that equipment.

At my old school, drumline was where all the talent was. At CTJ, not so much.

[drummerjoe]

  clarineticorn said:

I seriously disagree. Our pit is pretty awesome, they're outside slaving in the sun along with the rest of us (though they DO have a 'tent' that covers part of them) during band camp and practice. At contests, I've heard their warmups played by other pits at half tempo (and I may be biased but I think I liked ours better!). I dunno, I really love them. They work nearly as hard as the rest of us. Plus, they have to handle all that equipment.

At my old school, drumline was where all the talent was. At CTJ, not so much.

 

Really? even all the rack players are considerably more talented than the pit members in other high schools? Can the rack parts only be played by the kids on rack because they are just SUCH difficult parts?

 

And also, do the pit members run back in forth across the practice field and then keep their entire upper body flexed for the duration of the rehearsal? Do the pit members carry 20-30 pounds on their front during these rehearsals too?

 

Sorry, I've been on rack, on marimba and on tenors, so I know the full range of difficulty, and although Marimba was pretty difficult, rack was incredibly easy. And compared to Tenors, the Marimba part was equally as difficult, but the physical toll was MUCH greater.

 

Sorry, don't mean to sound like an ****, just trying to prove a point.

[CPFrntEns]

CTJ!! Our high school loves you guys, partly because our old old percussion director works there. I've heard your pit play, and they're really good. It's no wonder they're good though; Maldonado is a great percussion director.

 

In response the overall thread, while at some schools pit's where less talented percussionists and even wind players go, a pit doesn't have to be like that. Pit parts can be incredibly more difficult than any part on the field, simply because we don't have to march. And yes, rack is often where the bottom tier percussionists go, but their parts can be challenging as well.

 

Side note, if you look back at the first page of this thread, somebody suggested a marching marimba, like where two alternates would push a marimba around a field while someone played it. I would really like to see some school do this, even if it's just for a short period of time (i.e., they move it out for the ballad, then play a ww/marimba duet, then the marimba is moved back).

[clarineticorn]

  CPFrntEns said:

CTJ!! Our high school loves you guys, partly because our old old percussion director works there. I've heard your pit play, and they're really good. It's no wonder they're good though; Maldonado is a great percussion director.

 

In response the overall thread, while at some schools pit's where less talented percussionists and even wind players go, a pit doesn't have to be like that. Pit parts can be incredibly more difficult than any part on the field, simply because we don't have to march. And yes, rack is often where the bottom tier percussionists go, but their parts can be challenging as well.

 

Side note, if you look back at the first page of this thread, somebody suggested a marching marimba, like where two alternates would push a marimba around a field while someone played it. I would really like to see some school do this, even if it's just for a short period of time (i.e., they move it out for the ballad, then play a ww/marimba duet, then the marimba is moved back).

Aw, thanks >.< Maldonado is AWESOME and smiley and just a good-natured sort of guy and his son is super-cute too!!! omg.

 

I think there was one school I saw this year who had a moving marimba, can't remember though. I know one of the schools in my district had pit out in the middle of the field. O_o And listening to the front ensemble throughout practices and everything I honestly think their parts weren't exactly easy. Nobody had easy parts in our show, and even the guys with the 'easy' parts were running around between instruments.

At one point, our trumpets were playing so loudly that the pit couldn't hear the battery so the brass got a dressing-down for messing with the tempo because it was having a domino effect with the pit. So I wouldn't say that pit's where the least-talented go...they've got to be able to listen and that's pretty hard sometimes, especially when you have 20 trumpets playing triple forte behind you.

[red oakian]

  MaverickBand15 said:

I am in the PIT at McNeil, and i am PIT Captain. I hope to one day be Drum Major. I am extremly offended by statements like this. I think the reason so many people in the band don't have much respect for the PIT is because we dont march, and yes we may not march, but what we do requires just as much talent as every other instrument. I know some of the Drumline kids who cant play our book. The PIT and the Colorguard are also a lot of what general effect falls on. We have an award we give out every Friday night called "Marcher of the Week" and our band gets so mad when PIT kids win it, but the PIT is as much part of the marching band as any other instrument. I honestly would never want to be anywhere else but the PIT (except Drum Major) I think every PIT at every school goes through discrimination. My advice and how me and my PIT deals with it. Is juts to ignore them, and to know the truth about what you do. Choose a good mallet solo to impress them by in concert season.

 

 

The "marcher of the week" thing doesnt make sense....because, pit doesnt march. Obviously, they are about of the band, but they dont march therefore, making pit a "marcher of the week" is void.

[Cookie_MonsterSR]

Often times drumline members start out in the PIT so i would say no its not where the untalented kids go, although it is the easiest section to be a part of.