The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JamaalCharles39
Date: 2015-08-10 21:44
This topic has bothered me for a while. If a band member is on varsity football then they shouldnt have to march, but every band I've watched has had varsity players out there. Now I am biased because I am a football player but unless they are a drum major, section leader, or it is a competition then their place is with the football team in the locker room.
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Author: runner
Date: 2015-08-10 22:39
I like it that students would want to participate in both. When I went to school we had the band nerds and the football players(jocks).
The football players I've seen so far are either percussion players or sax players. No clarinet players yet. My nephew played tuba at half time.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-08-10 22:52
I suppose it depends on how their marching activity impacts on their football in the second half. But I don't see what their position in the marching band has to do with it. If playing at halftime doesn't keep them from fully functioning on the field after halftime, why does it matter if they're the drum major or a member of the flute section? Competitions, at least in my area of the U.S., are separate from football games and shouldn't conflict with football at all.
Keep in mind that the importance of most of the band members in a marching show is much more their physical presence in the formations and movements than it is their musical/sound contribution. Any empty spot in the design compromises the look of the show.
Karl
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Author: JamaalCharles39
Date: 2015-08-11 00:43
Have you ever played football? Half time is not as much for recovery as much as it is for just giving the coach time to talk to the players about strategies or just inspiring them. I dont think competitions are at football games I just said that because I wasn't certain. What do you mean why does it matter if they are drum major? If one of our drum majors was gone it would throw off our entire band without a doubt.
Yeah Im really the only football clarinet I know, all my football friends see me as a percussionist or saxophone.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2015-08-11 01:00
Hi All,
A former HS band director here. During the 20 years I directed marching bands I never saw the need to have any band members who were also football players be part of the half-time activities. Nor did basketball players who also played instruments perform with the pep band.
Coaches need the time with their players at the half and the players need to rest. However, the football players did also miss the pro football game performances or out-of-town band festivals during the fall.
Several years, we were in the football playoffs even getting to the regional and state finals; still no need. We also had several cheerleaders that were excused from marching band as well. But after the season, all were welcomed back to the concert bands.
As I recall, the concert instruments these students played included oboe, bassoon, clarinet, french horn, trumpet, and trombone.
HRL
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-08-11 04:34
JamaalCharles39 wrote:
> Have you ever played football? Half time is not as much for
> recovery as much as it is for just giving the coach time to
> talk to the players about strategies or just inspiring them.
This is ultimately a matter for the head football coach and the band director to decide between them. I don't know anything about what happens in a locker room between halves. But you seem to be selectively OK with certain band members' absence to be in the band.
> What do you mean why does it matter
> if they are drum major? If one of our drum majors was gone it
> would throw off our entire band without a doubt.
But the importance of their being in the locker room during halftime doesn't depend on what they do in the band.
Karl
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2015-08-12 19:06
We had a very talented athlete in our band (he ended up playing for a few years in the NFL), and I don't think it would have been fair to ask him to march with us. We enjoyed his contributions during concert season and he was in the jazz band. I can't imagine the stress if he had tried to do both. I doubt he would have and likely would have quit band completely.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2015-08-15 02:09
My high school did not include football players or cheerleaders in marching band. It was logistically not feasible due to the need to be in two places at once during half time and often at practices times. The half time show was designed without them included. They joined the band when concert season resumed.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2015-08-15 03:01
I occasionally see football players and cheerleaders in marching band formations.
Its possible, if the coaches and fine arts staff are flexible and cooperate.
Plus, of course, it requires a lot of hard work and good time management skills on the part of the student. But it can be done.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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