[deftones]

Hi,

I searched but I couldn't find anything really informative. I'm sure I missed something though. For the past 3 years, I've marched alto and tenor and played baritone for Symphonic and Jazz band. But this year we're getting 2 new baritones and my director wants me to march one of the old ones. I enjoy playing baritone much more than alto and tenor so I said I'd do it. Today while I was practicing, I tried holding it in the "locked in" position (left elbow out, horn perfectly vertical and perpendicular to the ground). Being a pretty small guy, this isn't easy for me to do. I remember seeing other bands with marching baritones and they held it to the side, like one would normally do when standing and playing. Is this really the only way to march with a bari? Would a harness help with that?

Thanks

 

[deftones]

Thanks guys
I'm going to the shop tomorrow to find a harness. It shouldn't be a problem, I can just have it under the jacket, we leave the jackets open(our uniforms are tuxes). One of the biggest concerns is playing in the stands. I'll probably end up standing most of the time because there's no way I'm letting the horn touch the concrete.

 

[deftones]

My local tech ordered a Neotech harness for me, and it came in today. I really like it, it'll take some getting used to as it feels slightly different using the harness, but maybe maybe I haven't gotten it adjusted quite right yet (there are alot more things to adjust). Also, I was told it looked quite a bit like a bra, but I'm sure I'll get used to that too.

 

[deftones]

My Neotech harness finally came in, just a few days before the start of band camp last week. It certainly takes some getting used to, but marching it at the side really isn't as bad as I expected. The biggest problem I'm having is with the thumb hook; it's brass and by the end of a practice my thumb is killing me. I guess I need to find some kind of soft fabric to tie around the top of the hook.

 

[deftones]

Well, after an entire football season, some stupid parades, and soon the Washington D.C. cherry blossom parade I'll finally be done with marching band; hopefully forever unless I have to do it in college due to scholarship conditions. Thanks for the advice guys. It did suck quite a bit marching the thing but most importantly, no injuries to me or the horn (which of those is more important, I still haven't figured out).

 

[deftones]

Disaster! The bari is missing. This past week we've had a few practices for the next parade, so I went to get the old "beater" marching horn and it is nowhere to be found. My only guess is that someone took it, but I have no idea. I think it would be hard to sneak out with a bari. The worst part is that the directors don't seem to care: "It's gone? Well, I guess we'll just send a search party after it." Sure, we have 2 brand new horns but that Yanagisawa was still a great one.