Marching Band

[johnhadden]

I'm an undergrad right now studying tuba performance. I'm having some mild success, and I also play in marching band-I always have, and probably will for as long as I attend a university and am able. What is everyone's thoughts on doing marching band while studying to try and make a career out of the tuba?

[Jason Roamer]

Go for it. Strive for a full relaxed tone and deep, even breathing. It is good for internalizing subdivisions, and if you truly learn to separate your upper and lower bodies, there should be no extreme technique interference.

[johnhadden]

Go for it. Strive for a full relaxed tone and deep, even breathing. It is good for internalizing subdivisions, and if you truly learn to separate your upper and lower bodies, there should be no extreme technique interference.

That's what I figured. There is (at least I believe this) ways that playing sousaphone greatly would help tuba playing. Control is control no matter the brass instrument. And at the very least, playing sousaphone well will tuba players like myself some gigs while we're waiting for the dreamjob in the sky :')

[Biggs]

Where do you go to college? If sports are big business at your school, that dictates the marching band experience more than anything.

I wouldn't call marching band, at the D-1 level or otherwise, a musical experience. But it is a super fun experience and, more often than not, a socially and personally rewarding experience. So stick with it by all means for as long as you enjoy it. Just don't let it keep you from practicing, studying, and excelling in all other aspects of your life.

[Reptilian]

Marching is cool, unless it's in South Florida...

[johnhadden]

Where do you go to college? If sports are big business at your school, that dictates the marching band experience more than anything.

I wouldn't call marching band, at the D-1 level or otherwise, a musical experience. But it is a super fun experience and, more often than not, a socially and personally rewarding experience. So stick with it by all means for as long as you enjoy it. Just don't let it keep you from practicing, studying, and excelling in all other aspects of your life.

University of South Florida. I work extra hard to make time for tuba practice, but I still can't believe that trying to play sousaphone well does NOTHING for my tuba playing. Same mouthpiece=facetime. I spoke with a bone player recently and I told him it doesn't matter what kind of tuba I'm playing or what kind of music, I'm always going to be improving somehow, and I think this applies to the sousaphone.

[Biggs]

Where do you go to college? If sports are big business at your school, that dictates the marching band experience more than anything.

I wouldn't call marching band, at the D-1 level or otherwise, a musical experience. But it is a super fun experience and, more often than not, a socially and personally rewarding experience. So stick with it by all means for as long as you enjoy it. Just don't let it keep you from practicing, studying, and excelling in all other aspects of your life.

University of South Florida. I work extra hard to make time for tuba practice, but I still can't believe that trying to play sousaphone well does NOTHING for my tuba playing. Same mouthpiece=facetime. I spoke with a bone player recently and I told him it doesn't matter what kind of tuba I'm playing or what kind of music, I'm always going to be improving somehow, and I think this applies to the sousaphone.

That's a good attitude to have, and a productive one so long as a majority of the other band members share it. Go Bulls.

[johnhadden]

\m/

[Bandmaster]

Playing in a good, well directed marching band well definitely help your chops! Not to mention that your breathing will be improved. Nothing will push the limits of your lung capacity like marching demanding drill while playing demanding music! Go for it and have fun while in college! I did the same thing in college and was lucky enough to have Jim Self as a private instructor provided to me by the college (Long Beach State). He never once complained about his students playing in the marching band. But then he was in the Army Band for several years, right?

[johnhadden]

Playing in a good, well directed marching band well definitely help your chops! Not to mention that your breathing will be improved. Nothing will push the limits of your lung capacity like marching demanding drill while playing demanding music! Go for it and have fun while in college! I did the same thing in college and was lucky enough to have Jim Self as a private instructor provided to me by the college (Long Beach State). He never once complained about his students playing in the marching band. But then he was in the Army Band for several years, right?

Cool! I'm looking to audition with Self hopefully for grad school at USC. Maybe marching band will help me get in!....

[NCSUSousa]

Have fun traveling with the MB. I enjoyed my 4 years in the MB at NCSU. It was like a really big frat.
Good technique always translates in the music. Good pitch blending actually amplifies the sound to the audience's ears.
Both are worthwhile whether you're on a field carrying a sousaphone or sitting in the back row of a wind ensemble.

One suggestion - if you have time, try to memorize your charts for Marching and for the pep music in the stands. It makes the whole game more enjoyable if you don't have to take your eyes of the field to find your music. It also helps you keep rhythm from 30+ yards across the field when you're only having to watch the DM (and the turf on rainy days).

One more suggestion - When I was section leader, I always had 1 sectional per week with another section of the MB. It helps both sections to learn the music if they can hear what another section is doing during their repeated sections and rests. It also helps socially to get to know folks from other sections.

[johnhadden]

I like the sectional idea! Gonna have to suggest that to the director here.

I've memorized everything for marching band for the past 7 years, an I agree wholeheartedly. I think that it helps in general with memorizing stuff on the tuba too. I've done a few solo performances from memory now and the feeling is very rewarding.

[NCSUSousa]

If you also want to lighten your load as section leader, invite a DM to come conduct the sectional every so often.
It gives them conducting time in a smaller group setting while also letting you relax and play.

[euphoni]

Im grateful for marching band because it instilled a lot of important playing characteristics in me.

It was marching band that helped give me a full sound, a controlled fff, a great high range (although I wouldn't recommend playing everything up an octave and last notes up three octaves like a lead trumpet player on tuba..), taught me how to play loud without edge ('blowing from the gut'), taught me how to play loud with edge, helped learn how to memorize music, showed me how to stay disciplined, etc.

Have fun and stay hydrated out there.

[Tuboss2]

Full sound and a controlled FFF eh? Nice man. I can play at FFF volumes as well. But it pisses off my directors and band mates haha. So I have to tone it down. It the stands...I let loose a bit. But ya. With a Sousa since your should is directional you kinda have to be careful when playing loud because FF can sound like FFFFFF to the flutes or something lol.

[saktoons]

My advice is the same that I give to my daughter (sax and tuba player). Take any opportunity to play. It can only help to keep in shape (especially when it comes to breathing and marching band). Of course, playing well, whether in marching band or any other ensemble, is always required. But one doesn't need to march in order to play badly. (I should know!)

[tubajoe]

It's all good. Another aspect is by getting the experience of being part of a good marching program, you also open up doors later on to work as an instructor.