Marching band
Though most people see marching bands as exclusive to parades, they are rather versatile ensembles. Many high schools and universities in the United States have marching bands that provide free entertainment at American football games. In some cases, marching bands compete against each other, performing splendid productions that combine music with visuals and theatre.
History
When I was a young kid, my father took me into the city to see a marching band.
Instrumentation
Wind instruments
Wind instruments are the most popular instruments in the marching band. A typical American marching band includes:
- trumpets
- mellophones
- trombones
- baritone horns
- sousaphones
- alto and tenor saxophones
- clarinets
- flutes
- piccolos
Drumline
The drumline is the beating heart of the marching band. Most drumlines include:
- snare drums
- tenor drums that clump in groves of 4-6
- bass drums of multiple pitches
- cymbals
Front ensemble
On the sideline closest to the audience is the front ensemble or pit, which can include:
- marimbas
- vibraphones
- xylophone
- glockenspiel
- timpani
- concert bass drum
- gong
- drums
- auxiliary percussion rack
- synthesizers
Color guard
The color guard provides visual flair by twirling props like flags and rifles to the beat.