Military Bands

[mbui]

  Fortisimo said:

I think it would be cool to do a show that is primarily corp but also with some of those really cool military visuals (Like staggered turns and stuff), except, keep the horns facing front always (unless you're facing back field for effect)

Our 1999 show was just that. We mixed up the show by using both styles...military and corps.

[RMyers]

The 1st Cavalry Division Band is really good...however at one ceremony the Drum Major was trying to do some fancy Mace Work and dropped the darn thing right in front of 4 Generals, I laughed my **** off, but everyone around me didn't think is was so funny. He was trying to hard to show off for the brass.

[MisterNick]

  Fortisimo said:

I think it would be cool to do a show that is primarily corp but also with some of those really cool military visuals (Like staggered turns and stuff), except, keep the horns facing front always (unless you're facing back field for effect)

Well, we had a lot of discussion about this in my percussion methods class; essentially, corps-style marching today is a huge evolution from military style. Usually along the lines of:

 

One year: hey, let's try facing front the entire show

 

The year after that: hey, let's try doing a curve formation instead of a block

 

The year after that: hey, let's try playing something other than marches

 

and so on...

 

I'm kind of glad that this came up, because East TX is the only part of TX (possibly the country) that have high school bands march this style.

 

And I'm glad that Nac High was brought up (even though I'm not a Nac high graduate), but they're pretty much a prime example of a military band thinking outside the box (or block). Gate swings, wedges, triangles, stuff I didn't think you could do. I kind of wish they would go to NAMMB (the National Association of Military Marching Bands Invitational). Unfortunately, the farthest they go is UIL competition.

[LufkinSectionLeader]

Yeah, Nac is good, too, but don't forget about Lufkin! We do gate-swings, star-bursts, blockbusters, etc. Also, we did something awesome in last year's drill that no one had ever seen before - not even Nac! I'm not sure what you call it...but Lufkin's drill last year was the best military drill I've ever seen, and I've seen many military drills. (And I'm not being biased because I was in it; it was just plain awesome, and I have yet to see another military band do something that creative!)

[Fortisimo]

I think the coolest drill I have ever seen would have to be the Cavalier's Spin Cycle.

[KatzsTheQuadPlayer]

man, i've just got a a question, being in one of the military style bands, do you get like hidden desires to march corps style? just wondering...

[nnelsonbsn]

Military bands don't do much for me.... oh they are marching at a moderate tempo across the field in a block... hoo ray

[Fortisimo]

Lmao, they do do a bit more than that, but I have to agree, it all happens so slowly that I have a hard time getting excited about it. And I get enough 'march' pieces out of the one parade we do during the summer, at which we play Semper Fi.

[LufkinSectionLeader]

To answer your question: The only corps style thing I have ever longed to do was to run across the field screaming (I saw a corps band do that once). And actually, we got to do that for a play-off game...so I guess my corps desires have been fulfilled!

 

About the military situation: Yeah, some military bands are BOOORING, I'll agree with you there. Yet, not all of them are. I've said it a lot, but I'll say it again; Nac. always has a good, creative drill, and our drill last year (which I still can't find a video of) is hard to beat.

 

On that same note, a lot of corps drills can be incredibly boring and a complete waste of time, as well. I guess it just depends on the director and the band, and if they can pull off a completely awesome drill!