Why Your Band Should March Trombone | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyles

Marching Solely Baritones At Trombones' Expense Is The Cowardly Option

Marching trombone can be messy and difficult, yes, but limiting your band's instrumentation is not the answer.

685
Marching Solely Baritones At Trombones' Expense Is The Cowardly Option
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alliance_2011_Baritone.jpg

One of my biggest inspirations for going into band was seeing the Atlanta Symphony in the fifth grade. The extent of my music experience at the time was playing the recorder, but upon hearing and also seeing the Symphony I knew my destiny then and there.

The shiny brass instruments were calling my name.

The trombone was, by far, the most unique instrument I could have chosen. Its play style is so much different than any other. I regretted nothing coming up through middle school.

Then eighth grade night rolled around.

Eighth grade night is where local high schools invite kids from their feeder middle schools to come and experience a home game from the marching band's perspective. The high school ensures to make it one of the best experiences to draw in middle schoolers into the appeal of marching.

It was indeed fun, but I was forlorn to see no high schoolers playing the trombone.

We were put with the baritones: the marching instrument that trombones are made to play. They were nice and all, but it was scary to think that they were going to have us march a different instrument.

I got to march trombone by the skin of my teeth. Our high school had switched directors, and our new director was more favorable towards marching trombone than the hardline stance of the director before him.

He would have stuck with the previous stance had we not had a prospective fifteen marchers hoping to join the baritone section and only eight functional instruments. At the time, I was just grateful to not have to switch over.

I almost faced the sole-baritone reality. I've seen this reality play out in one of our local high schools. I've also led our trombone section with the ever-present thought that if we were to lose enough in numbers, we would switch back.

Maintaining a trombone section is necessary to a diverse marching sound despite the logistical drawbacks of marching the trombone.

Some of the obvious drawbacks that bands hope to avoid by eliminating the trombone section revolve entirely around our slides.

Playing through a slide means that horn angles when marching are a nightmare. It's infinitely more obvious when a trombone is below angle than when a baritone is due to our length. This is increased when playing in further positions.

Tuning and intonation is also difficult when on a slide. When in front of a tuner, it's easier because we can just fine tune and adjust manually. When marching, however, it's a lot harder to pay mind to it when also trying to march with proper technique, be in the form, watch the drum majors and listen to balance.

A minor preference for the baritone might be that the vast majority of marching baritones are already silver rather than lacquer, and so it would hence be easier to have all the brass instruments be silver.

Despite the perceived drawbacks to marching trombone, we're a necessary component to the marching band.

Trombones can provide a punch that cannot be so easily achieved on a baritone. I say this part from experience, as once you learn to balance your breathing and marching (harder than it sounds), you too can play to the true potential of the Ever Too Loud Trombones.

Smears! Smears cannot be done so well on any other instrument. By far, it's the best aspect of playing trombone if done loud and proud.

Trombones are needed in the marching band above all else because of the unique sound we provide.

While baritones and trombones are mostly equivalent in our range and uses, trombones are often written as a higher part when marching because we can provide a better sound in the higher range.

We usually aim to have a darker, more rounded sound when playing and balancing the marching band. A brighter tone is necessary, however, to combat those with dark tone. We have the bass instruments in the sousaphones and baritones, but it can be matched with the brighter colors provided by the trumpets and trombones.

My message to band directors across the nation is to keep your spread of marching instruments varied by maintaining your trombone section. Don't fall into the trap of wanting the logistically easier way out and hence sacrifice your instrumentation integrity.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

198278
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19698
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461514
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28666
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments