A question about marching band culture

[kcp]

Ok to all of you marching band folks, this question is for you. I got this last minute gig to mark the occasion of the Superbowl where I have to dress-up 15 musicians in marching band uniform (shako, plumes and all the frill-stuff) Got the musicians, got the uniforms, that problem is solved. It’s those shakos, this stuff is completely alien to me - You know with the metal chain that goes half way between the player’s mouth and chin? Many times that I’ve been in the States I’ve seen marching bands wear them in parades. But now it just occurs to me: How the heck one is supposed to play sax or brass with this chain on their chin? Are there any rules about how to play with this?

Thanks in advance for educating me :oops:

[mostly alto guy]

Kim, the shakos I've worn for marching band had a functional plastic or leather chin strap in place of the chain you describe. Without the strap, turning sharply could result in an accidental doffing!

If possible, and especially if any real marching is involved, I'd swap out the purely decorative chains for real straps--can always be reversed after the show.

[kcp]

I know this was kind of a stupid question, thanks for answering.
It does look like those chains are for decorating but now that I've inspected the shakos better, I see that the chains are adjustable... that wasn't very obvious. I guess I was miss-informed because I was told that the chains goes right above the chin and that just didn't make any sense to me. Still, I'm not sure that it is going to be confortable playing with those things.

Yes there is going to be real marching involved, but let's understand each other. "Marching" is kind of a strong word; we'll walk as we play but no fancy military-like maneuvres. The uniforms are really just for the look. So I'm thinking about removing the chain completely. I have a feeling already that many of the musicians are going to be annoyed by it.

[barelytone]

One of the popular effects that I can remember from my high school marching band days, was setting the music on the lyre aflame at an appropriate moment. Just a thought. . .

[pknight]

Marching band culture.

An oxymoron?


Seriously, I was a marching band parent for seven years (that's two kids, not one real slow one!), and got to see the country. And the band geeks are really the best kids in the school.

[kcp]

Marching band culture.

An oxymoron?

I kinda didn't quite know how to title my thread :?

Anyhow, did the gig. It went very well. Did wear the shakos with the chain after I found-out it was adjustable. again thanks for the advice.

[ALBRAZ]

Greeting to all.
I was apart of the "marching band culture" in high school and college. The time I spent there kept me out of a lot of trouble. 1965 - 1973
I rediscovered it in 1990 and boy has the world changed. It was hard to believe the great stuff high schoolers can play now. Check out Bands.org for video streaming with sound files.
I know a few jocks the discovered how high school band gives great opportunitues for kids who are not jocks when their kids chose music over sports. For myself, band taught me to be a leader more than anyof my friends in sports. For the pasted 10 years I have spent my fall Saturdays at HS band competitions.
At 51, I took up Sax again after not playing for 30 years and play in a community band just for fun. It only took about two months of practicing that old boring stuff I hated as a kid and most of my confidence is back. How many atheletes can still play as will at 50 as they did at 20?

I met my wife of 30 years in the "college marching band culture". She loves it that we go to band together each week. What do old jocks and their wives have in common?

It is OK to be a part of the marching band culture. :)