POLL - 3 Favorite Types of Performance Ensembles!

[ken k]

probably my favorite is playing bass bone in a killer big band, not some hokey oldies swing band but a more contemporary type band.

i play tuba in a NOLA type street band which kicks major butt, very cool, love it!

I also enjoy quintet playing because of the soloistic nature of it.

next would be brass band. concert band

[Arkietuba]

I have to say that Dixieland is BY FAR my favorite ensemble. I don't know if it's the atmosphere of it being pretty easy going compared to any other ensemble or that I really can just have fun and play whatever (as long as I still provide the bass line) or that our instructor lets me sing sometimes. I can't do that in any other ensemble that I'm in. I find it to be an escape from my 8+ other ensembles that I'm "required" to be in (I'm not joking about that number either, last year I did 11 ensembles on top of my lesson requirments). Plus, not much beats the shout section of an up tempo New Orleans tune while marching down the hot/humid streets!!!

Now, I also voted for Tuba-Euph Ensemble/Quartet since our quartet this year was great and it looks like this next year will be even more fun. I didn't place it higher since it kills my chops since we played a lot of USCG Tuba-Euph Quartets that our professor arranged (Dr. Denis Winter) and the first tuba often plays higher than the first euph and I play a Sam Gnagey CC...not too fun to play high F's and Bb's above the staff for an hour on that horn...lol

I also voted for brass quintet since I love how when we "click" together, amazing things happen...however some of our past trumpet players (lead jazz guys) think that they can't practice more than once a week since their "chops hurt" as if mine don't hurt after playing 8-9 hours a day... lol

[bearphonium]

Old guy's (and gal's) marching band...One More Time Marching Band (and drill team) is a hoot. 2nd is Dixieland, although I don't nearly do it justice...yet.

[imperialbari]

Any wheel chair bands out there yet?

K

[David Richoux]

Any wheel chair bands out there yet?

K

Closest I can think of is the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band - they NEVER march - even the baton twirler does her act sitting on a folding chair.
http://www.sedentarysousa.com/
(don't believe the picture...http://www.sedentarysousa.com/image/edith2.jpg )

[Mark E. Chachich]

Other:

Circus Band

best,
Mark

[Wyvern]

Blaskapelle.

There are no opportunity to do in the UK, but one I would very much like to try. Have and enjoy a number of Blaskapelle CDs I have picked up on holidays in Germany/Austria.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I would be interested in the experiences of people who play in brass choirs....

• Do you rehearse year-round?
  
  Do you play with varying instrumentations? (It seems that the literature is not standardized)
  
  How are rehearsals scheduled? (extra people come & go?)
  
  What venues do you perform in?

Please share any other experiences that might be unique to participating in that type of ensemble!