Marching band vs Concert Band.

[Bandmaster]

I grew up learning how to play tuba (sousaphone) in a youth band where we were always criticized for overblowing, but I thought we sounded powerful. Then I marched in the 250 member Long Beach State University Big Brown Music Machine in the mid 1970's. We had a reputation among the local high school band directors as having the sound of a marching symphonic band, yet I found that, as a member of that band, I was playing even louder than I did when I was in the youth band. So it may have more to do with maturity and experience! If only we didn't play on fiberglass sousaphones. Long Beach State's band was truly awesome in my opinion, I had never heard a marching band quite like that before or since. We had an arranger, Marvin Branson, that scored that band like no other arranger I have seen and a director, Larry Curtis, with extremely high musical standards. It made for a unique combination, but sadly the band was discontinued when Long Beach State discontinued their football program.

Ja Da - features the trombones and we played this arrangement in the 1977 Rose Parade
Cantina Band - from Star Wars, a very unique arrangement
Theme from Rocky - recorded in an auditorium

[GC]

A personal favorite from Long Beach State, and one of the most interesting choices of openers and music I've ever seen, considering where they were from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAp4PLNKXfw.

[jrobba]

Title is what it is, if you were in marching band, compare how you played in it as to how you would play in concert season. Any differences? Similarites, different mouth pieces you'd have to use? Differences in volume, note length and projection?? Basically, just compare you Marching Band playing style to your Concert Band style. I'm interested in what y'all have to say. Thanks.

There should be no differences between how you play in marching band compared to how you play in concert band. The end goal of each it to provide a quality musical product to the audience. Our most common role as tuba players in a marching band is to provide a solid foundation for the band's sound. As previously stated in this thread, using a sousaphone is the most efficient way for us to deliver that solid foundation. Having a large forward facing bell that rises above the rest of the band does not need any extra help to be heard. As a military bandsmen, I played quite of bit of the same music in a concert setting as I did on the march. Its easy to over play on a sousaphone since the sound is directed away from you, and you seemingly aren't playing as loud as you think you are. Someone mentioned warming up in front of a wall. I did that whenever I warmed up on my sousaphone. Its a good way to check and make sure you are making the best sound that you are capable of making.

In the end, that's what it boils down to. Producing the highest quality sound on whatever instrument you are playing, and providing the best support to the foundation of the ensemble you are playing with.

[Bandmaster]

A personal favorite from Long Beach State, and one of the most interesting choices of openers and music I've ever seen, considering where they were from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAp4PLNKXfw.

Yes, that the year after I left. They only took band members that could afford the trip and had the time off to go, so that was about half of the total band at Long Beach State at the time. That little Civil War band was the beginning of the Americus Brass Band that is still together and performing today with many of the original members. http://americusbrassband.org/

[Biggs]

Haven't been on here for a couple of days, found some time and decided might as well post something.

This ancient thought process is believe by many experts to be the very fabric of TubeNet itself.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Haven't been on here for a couple of days, found some time and decided might as well post something.

This ancient thought process is believe by many experts to be the very fabric of TubeNet itself.

Indeed -- something to do with the Post-Time Continue-'em, or so I've heard ...

[oldbandnerd]

I despised marching band and couldn't wait to get through the crummy Christmas music so we could start to play "concert' music. Marching was required if you were in band so I forced to do it. Which made me hate it even more. Being in any other activity like cheerleading, sports etc. was the only was to get excused from marching so I wrestled for 2 years. I liked that way more than marching.

[dsfinley]

Let me clear up why I hate marching: Overweight, pale, asthmatic and scrawny. Not a marcher. I found this out many sunburns ago.

[bearphonium]

Disclaimer: Hobbiest player of more or less average ability!

I really try and do the same things in concert band that I do in marching band. Keep the tempo steady and provide a foundation. I have used a Kelly 18 to march with simply because I kept dropping the mouthpiece...and because those summer parades can get warm.

Gonna try that warmup in front of a wall to check sound idea, though!