What Does a Marching Band Do?

Every marching band, whether high school or college, has the same set of super simple responsibilities:

1. Play fun and entertaining music
2. March in parades and for halftime shows
3. Bring the school spirit, pride, and passion to keep energy high

Towards these points, there’s a ton of breakdown, but here’s the basics.

Building the Band: Music and Instrumentation

One of the absolute most crucial parts of putting on a good show is having music that’s enjoyable to listen to for the public. Choosing your show’s theme and set list is an important part of building the magic of the performance’s atmosphere. A field show can be musically simple or complex, but the more familiar a tune is, the more likely the audience is to enjoy it. This year, the DR band’s show is based on tropical Disney, featuring songs such as “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from The Lion King and “You’re Welcome” from Moana.

A main make-or-break point for any band is its instrumentation, or the array of variety and volume in what instruments it is made up of. Low involvement often leads to worse instrumentation, which can make selecting the music’s theme difficult. Every band is typically made up of three of the four families of musical instruments: brass, woodwinds, and percussion. 

Percussion:

The main job of the percussion section is to hold down the fort for the band’s overall tempo, or the speed they play their notes at, and to set the pace that the band marches at. A standard drum line is made up of four separate lines: the snare line, tenor line, bass line, and cymbal line. 

• The snare line features snare drums, which are the most common beginner percussion instruments but are fairly difficult to master. DR’s current Senior Drum Captain is leader of the snare line. 
• The tenor line is made up of tenor drums, also known as “quads.” They are typically a set of four separate drums on one harness (hence the name “quad”), but are sometimes equipped with one or two additional drums or some semblance of a cowbell. DR’s current Junior Drum Captain is the solo member of the tenor line.
• The bass (pronounced like “base,” not like the fish) line is made up of bass drums of all shapes and sizes. They handle most of the synchronization for the rest of the drum line and usually are a main part of regulating tempo and pace. The DR bass line currently has four members 
• The cymbal line is one of the largest sections in the band this year, with some of the most new members as well. Their main job is adding the extra flair that makes the percussion section, and band overall, sound explosive and exciting. The cymbals are each pitched differently to create different sounds, which gives the drum line an added layer of independence from the rest of the band.
• Additionally, separate from the drum line, most bands also include a front ensemble, also known as a “pit section”. The pit is also percussion, but less focused on drums and more focused on mallet percussion. It is typically made up of mallet-based instruments, such as marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, and glockenspiels, as well as any instruments that are harder to transport, such as timpani, gongs, synthesizers/pianos, or electric guitars. In the DR marching band, the pit is the largest section.

Brass:

The brass section is notorious for bringing lots of pizazz to a performance, often playing the melody or holding down the bassline. Easily recognizable for their shiny metal appearance, typically in gold or silver, they are loud and proud, and able to project more than most other instruments. They keep the band heard and provide a lot of spirit to the group as a whole.

• The trumpet section is regularly the most heard in the band, as they project their powerful harmonies over the crowd. Currently, there are only two trumpet players in the DR band, so if you or anyone you know plays the trumpet, we’d love to have you!
• The trombone section, sporting a whole ONE member at the moment (JOIN MARCHING BAND!!), is considered by some to be a staple and leader of the low brass line. It holds the low voices together with its unique playing style and visual appeal.
• The mellophone section, though we don’t have one in the DR band, is the equivalent of a French horn, but marching-friendly. It vaguely resembles a trumpet but has a large, distinct bell. A middle-ranged instrument, the mellophone is often found in bugle corps and larger marching bands.
• The baritone, as well as the euphonium, is typically not a marching band instrument more commonly found in seated ensembles, but can be found in a number of marching bands across the country, so it is worth mentioning. Baritones and euphoniums differ, but in a very minute way, so they are frequently confused as being the same instrument. Baritones typically have three valves and a cylindrical shape, and euphoniums have four valves and a conical shape. These two instruments are similar to the trombone in the way that they help support the countermelodies and harmonies that make up the base of the musical sound pyramid.
• The sousaphone, or marching tuba, section holds a special place in the instrumentation of the band. They hold down the fort, taking responsibility for many of the lowest parts in the musical composition. The instrument’s natural deep resonance and unique style, along with its extensive range into the lower notes, assist the band’s overall sound and keep things balanced.

Woodwinds:

The woodwind section of the band is typically one of the most populated, due to the instruments’ beginner-friendly appeal, and yet still one of the least heard. Unlike the powerful brass section or the commanding percussion section, the woodwind section produces a sound that is often much more difficult to project. For this reason, they are typically assigned melody parts as a whole group or individually assigned countermelodies and small lilting flairs in between musical phrases.

• The flute section is not for the weak. While often associated with being gentle and melodic, the flute requires good breath control and arm strength in order to get the notes out right and keep the instrument parallel to the ground. They commonly assist the band with high harmonies. The DR marching band currently has three young but very talented flutes.
• The piccolo section, or rather the piccolo alone, has a very distinct and powerful sound. Higher than the flute section, and recurrently much louder, the piccolo’s crisp melodies float above those of the brass and percussion sections in marches, especially traditional or patriotic songs. Commonly found in colonial fife and drum bands, their ear-penetrating sound is strong and clean but definitely of an acquired taste.
• The clarinet section is clearly the best section of all of them. I’m slightly biased because I am a part of it, but it’s a great section to be a part of nonetheless. The instrument itself has a very wide range, spanning nearly four octaves when played by an advanced instrumentalist. Due to its large range, it can play a wide variety of styles of music and parts within said music. In marching band, the section is typically given the melody when assisted by another section or the harmony or countermelody.
• The bass clarinet section, while not conventionally a marching band instrument, can be attached to a saxophone-style strap and played similarly to a marching sax. It has a very low voice and is given parts grouped together with the low brass section, so typically the low harmonies and bassline.
• The alto saxophone section is the most common form of the saxophone. Every band has at least one, and they are a very important part of the band’s overall sound. The highest-pitched saxophone of all of them, the alto is a common instrument in jazz music, often used to freestyle. Its beginner-friendly nature makes it more frequent among younger players, and it has a charming sound when played well. It is frequently grouped with either the clarinet or the trumpet with its parts, typically differentiating from other saxes.
• The tenor saxophone section is the next most popular type of saxophone. Slightly lower than the alto, its tone is typically more resounding and full and less naturally sharp. It is also a significant instrument in building the instrumentation of the band, often grouped with the trombone or other kinds of brass because of how well the sounds blend together.
• The baritone saxophone section, while one of the less common instruments, is key to providing another unique low voice in the music. Usually grouped with the low brass rather than the woodwinds, despite it being a woodwind in nature, the bari sax is utilized for low harmonies and countermelodies. In a marching formation for a parade, called a parade block, the baritone saxophone sometimes marches in the front right corner, one of the most difficult spots to be in. All band members base their positions off the person in front of them and the one farthest to the right, which, in this case, the baritone sax is both.

How Does the Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band Operate?

Here at DR, we consider our band community to be one big family. This largely trickles down from our fantastic band staff. While I won’t name particular people, I will say that our director and the rest of our staff are all wonderful to work with, and many have volunteered simply due to the community aspect. The staff is largely built from alumni, usually former members of the band, who still carry the “Power, Pride, and Passion” with them, helping to pass it on to the future generations of Falcons. Every Tuesday and Thursday, from six PM to eight PM, they are at the school: teaching, guiding, and giving feedback of all sorts, all of which make us tremendously better. Whether indoors in the band room, or outdoors in the parking lot or on the football field, we are constantly learning and growing, letting the show evolve until it’s the absolute best it can be.

Another extremely important part of our band is our color guard. A group of largely talented individuals, they are definitely some of our visual frontrunners, keeping the show appealing even when there isn’t a lot of motion going on with the band. Their dazzling flag work, jaw-dropping rifle skills, and more attract the attention of even the most distracted toddler or bored grandpa. They lead us through our parades, clearing the way for the band to pass through and proudly representing Dighton-Rehoboth before Band Proper even gets a chance to walk by. They run all things with strength, discipline, and grace.

Last, but certainly not least, is a core part of our student representation in the band staff: the drum majors. The DR band currently has three—two senior drum majors and one junior drum major. The main responsibilities of these individuals are keeping the band organized and on task, leading us through parades, competitions, and even warm-ups. They act as a representative for the band to other schools, crowds of football enthusiasts, and collections of parade-goers. An indispensable part of the band’s composition, they serve as advisors and leaders, as well as occasional instrumentalists in performances. Auditions are held annually for this position, as it is one of great responsibility and requires a dedication to attendance and integrity.

Who’s Allowed To Be in the Band?

Do you attend Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School? Or perhaps Bristol County Agricultural High School? Or even Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School? If so, then you’re in luck! The band accepts students from all over Bristol County, giving all kids the opportunity to be in a music program, even if their school doesn’t offer it. Actually, they can join us even if their school does have a music program. Such is the case for students of Dighton Middle School and Dorothy L. Beckwith Middle School, who are also accepted into our program, starting in sixth grade.

There are very few prerequisites for joining the band. When many of our members began, they had a very limited understanding of music, sometimes having to be taught how to play an instrument. Some of our band do not read sheet music, but that’s alright because the music gets memorized! While that may seem daunting to some, it’s actually much easier than you’d think. With enough repetition and practice, memorizing music becomes very simple.

Another very large perk of our band is its practice schedule. As aforementioned, it’s every Tuesday and Thursday at DRRHS from six to eight PM. This is very forgiving of athletics and extracurriculars, so a large number of our members are additionally playing sports, joining clubs, or working a part-time job. Section leaders, drum majors, and band staff are often flexible schedule-wise, so if a sectional or one-on-one lesson is requested, those are always an option.

Where Does the Band Go?

The marching band attends a number of different performances over the course of the two-part season. The fall season, typically from late August through December, consists of events such as UMass Band Day, the Big E, DR football games, and other assorted parades. The spring season, which usually starts back up in May and runs through to roughly the end of the school year, features more parades but also competitions at other high schools. While we personally do not compete against other schools, we perform for the crowd and receive feedback from judges, so we do have our own rankings in our category. It gets us out in front of people who might not have seen us before, as well as exposing us to different schools and their well-put-together shows. The events overall are what make the season so much fun. Being able to showcase individual talents and the group effort that goes into making the show so interesting is a really fun experience that is similar to playing on a team. Overall, the community aspect is what makes the band what it is.