Modern Marching Bands

1. Modern Marching Bands

2. For hundreds of year, marching bands have been in existence and in UK they are generally connected to the Military. By buglers, drummers, or pipers, troops would be led into battle. Here for retreating; these instruments were utilized to give signals. Indeed, a piper was used to lead off the WWII fighting platoon up the beaches of France and to the landing crafts, during WWII. In present arm force, Military bands play an important part, but especially for ceremonial purposes, as often seen on Trooping the Color, Beating Retreat or the Edinburgh Tattoo. Now there are numerous styles of marching bands in existence. Traditional marching bands tend to be present in the UK. Apart from tuned instruments such as bugles, valve trumpets, bell lyres, these bands consists of brass and woodwind bass drum, tenor drums, snare drums and cymbals. Such bands are often used by organizations including the air training corps; sea cadet corps, scouts, etc use such bands. These are also familiar sights at festivals and parades in British towns.

3. Originated in Scotland, other major part of marching Music Composition Programs comes from Pipe bands. With many top bands coming from the USA and Canada, these have become popular all throughout the world. The bagpipes play the melodies and the drum corps has a very important role. 6 or more snare drummers play complex rudimental phrases on high tension snare drums. There are Kevlar drumheads on these drums that are tuned up to a very high pitch. So, to bear the huge forces put upon them, the drums have to be extremely strong. Under both the bottom and top heads there are snare wires, which gives a clean and crisp tone. This facilitates the picking of even the softest of grace notes. Tenor drums of various pitches and sizes are used to add complex mid-range tones. Tenor drumming has been taken to a latest level by some tenor players. From the American style show bands or Drum Corps, a huge growth area in the world marching scene comes. Apart from the numerous sized bass drums and snare drums, the drum corps also has cymbals, multi - tenors / quads, and a pit. This pit located at the forefront, features a range of tuned percussion such as marimbas, bells, xylophones, etc. The rest of the band is made up of brass players. In USA, these band systems form an integral part of the music education system and tends to play the completed Marching Band Sheet Music.

4. Marching snare drums have changed dramatically over the last 100 years or so, from rope tuned calf heads on crude drums to today's high tension and finest maple, birch, or even carbon fiber made models. Their hardware manufactured and drumheads are made from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum. There are some avenues for the drumming lovers who are on a look to start playing with a marching band. With the possibility of performing too many varied audiences, youths can apply to their local Army Cadets, Air Cadets, Sea Cadet or Boys brigade band, which will provide an instrument and tuition.