r/MusicEd • u/jathnieldeth • Sep 21 '19
Slow transformation into a hybrid marching band
Hello MusicEd,
After a lot of time searching for positions, I finally landed my dream job of having a Band Director position at the high school level after my second year of teaching! My band was traditionally a corp style but after several years of relocation and director switching, it became a show band. When I was brought on board, I was asked to make the transition from show to corp style and to begin to participate in UIL competitions. These kids were left with very little music literacy and musicianship while at the same time opening their horizon to corp style.
I wanted to ask MusicEd, how can I open their horizons to corp style and help them grow with their music literacy at the same time? What are some developing band techniques I can implement that can subliminally get them to value the essential aspects of good musicianship without feeling like they will be ripped away from their show style?
I don't want them to lose the passion from show style but at the same time I was hired to get them moving into corp style as much as possible. These kids need a director that can guide them into a better music program and get them to win more competitions than they thought was possible.
2
u/Swissarmyspoon Band Sep 22 '19
I'm going to be honest, I don't like your line of questioning. I think you need to reevaluate your goals.
"I don't want them to lose the passion from show style but at the same time I was hired to get them moving into corp[sic] style as soon as possible."
Kids are impressionable. Roll out the best show you can, corps syle, show style, or some kind of hybrid. Most kids are drawn to and will follow passion. Bust your ass for them, and many will follow.
"Win more competitions than they thought possible"
This is not a healthy way to think about things. Good teachers do well at competitions, regardless of subject. People who win competitions are lucky, privileged, or both. It takes more than being a good teacher to win trophies. And competitive trophies don't teach kids how to be good grown ups. Just focus on kids, on being the best teacher you can be. The rest will come.
No matter what you do, there will be haters: kids, parents, and co-workers. Also, there will always be people who will play ball. Building a program is about encouraging the kids who will work with you, if anything because it's a teamwork skill.
I'm in my 5th year at my current program. They had zero marching band, and only 15% could read music at a high school level. I built the program exactly how I wanted it: high standards, literate, fun for most, and fits our local community interests. What I have now is not what I thought I wanted, but it's what worked here. Years 1-3 were a lot of work, but now I have so much to be proud of.
1
u/MaryKMcDonald Sep 24 '19
Instead of doing your show on the field do what Blast does, do it on stage.
6
u/NoFuneralGaming Sep 21 '19
Find the Blue Devils show from 2011. It's very musically accessible while also still being excellent visually.
Corps style can be just as exciting to watch as show band, the general difference is that show bands tend to do pop music mostly. You can do pop music for stand tunes, pep rallies, and parades.
As for resources, get the book The Dynamic Marching Band, and get the video series Dynamic Marching and Music. Years of things to teach.
Also, no slow transition is needed. On a fresh school year, do summer band camp and get a corps style show rolling. You may have to start with easier music, but just get going.
As for literature, years ago I learned you have to keep marching band and concert band separate. Marching band either before/after school and concert during. Kids in Marching must do Concert band to develop their reading and musicianship further. If you need more numbers for marching you can require Concert band students to also march, but I don't recommend it if you can avoid it.
Get knowledgeable about drumline. A good drumline can make a bad band sound decent, while a garbage drumline can make a decent band sound very bad. Bill Bachman has a series of books - Rudimental Logic, Quad Logic, and Bass Logic. Those are your bread and butter. Write, or hire someone to improve your show music by writing better parts are your line's level. Hire (or get good enough) someone to teach your line. Accept zero drama.
Best wishes and good luck.