Being a member of a marching band is difficult. Marching while playing an instrument takes concentration and determination. Marching an 8 to 5 step size isn't easy, and fast tempos don't make it any simpler. If you seem to be struggling…
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Blue Springs High School Golden Regiment Marching Band was seeing stars in Hollywood this past Thanksgiving. Led by Dr. Tim Allshouse and Gateway Music Festivals & Tours, the 260-member band spent six sunny days touring Los Angeles
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Expectations for ensembles are typically communicated at the beginning of the school year or at the beginning of a new semester or concert preparation. What about creating expectations at the beginning of each rehearsal, in every measure,…
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Spring has begun to roll into summer and it is again time to begin preparing, in earnest, for the upcoming fall marching band season. This year's show design clinic features the Wyandotte High School Marching Band under the direction of…
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I should say this is the best way I have used to teach drill. There are so many ways to put a show on the field, and each director needs to find the way that is the most comfortable. However, I cringe when I hear of people placing students…
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As I have looked to raise the standard of excellence for this group, I found myself questioning my approach to several areas of my teaching philosophy, as well as the absence of "tried and true" techniques of marching band development.
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First, I think it's important to have a pre-conceived idea about what sound should be produced when the cymbals are brought together. We usually use the word "crash" to describe the sound, but I think a good cymbal sound has more "rash"…
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