Marching Band hierarchy?

Question

Does anyone who is involved with marching bands (or anyone else for that matter) know whether there is a hierarchy within marching bands?

By that, I mean, is there a snobbery over which instrument you play? Do percussionists look down on brass players, is the xylophone considered the pinnacle instrument to play?

What I'm sort of thinking of is like with rock bands, where (generally) everyone wants to play lead guitar and noone the drums.

Who are the geekiest type of the marching band performers (who are already by some considered to be dorky anyway!)?

Anyway, any insider information would be appreciated. This is for a story that I'm writing.

Answer 1

I'm not saying this is always the case, but here's how things are in my band.

Drummers are annoyed at wind players because the wind players can't hold a tempo without us.

The rest of the band looks down on the drummers because we practice inside (if we tried to practice outside we'd just mess them up because they have the attention span of a gerbil on crack) and we don't march (we can't because we don't have enough PEOPLE to march).

Second and third parts are generally looked down on as being the weaker players.

First trumpet players think they are God's gift to music.

Guard members are looked down on quite a bit because they don't really take anything seriously and they don't really work that hard and they care more about their hair and their makeup than the drill and the routine.

In beginner band, everyone wants to play drums or trumpet, but in high school everyone is happy with their own instrument.

In public eyes, any male color guard is OBVIOUSLY g*y.

And of course, freshman are NOBODY. Can't play, can't march, it's just AMAZING that they can even remember their own names, haha.

I guess that's about it. Hope I helped =)

Oh, and as far as "Band Heirarchy", it goes like this:

Band Director

Assistant Director

Drum Major

Band Boosters/Chaperones

Section Leaders

Seniors/Juniors/Sophomores (by Seniority rule)

Marching Band rookies who are seniors, juniors, or sophomores

Band Bus Drivers

Directors of other bands

Other bands' drum majors, chaperones, etc

Members of other bands

Random people

Hobos

Assorted stray animals

Flagpoles/drumsticks/instrument cases

Stinky used band shoes that have never been cleaned or sanitized

Seven-year-old tuna sandwich found in the Tuba Room

"Everybody Else" (aka freshmen)

lol, have a nice day =)

Answer 2

Every instrument definitely has its own stereotype, but everyone generally gets along.  The flutes are the "snobs," the trumpets have delusions of grandeur, the low brass just stays away from everyone else...it goes on and on.  If you're looking for an actual hierarchy, it goes something like this:

Director=God

Drum major=Jesus

Section leaders=disciples

Everyone else=just regular people

Drummers=a whole other world

Answer 3

lets see trumpet think they are the greatest in the world at my band our horns go with trumpets but they're cool

um flutes and clarinets r at the bottom cuz no one can here them

um low brass r like the chillest group to hang with and

everyone hates percussion cuz they never have their music and just never know anything.

oh guard hates band except drummers and vice versa

Answer 4

there is a common command structure in all great marching bands, but i think what you are actually looking for is a certain prima donna attitude. i gotta say that while there is some truth to every single musician joke-most members of marching bands appreciate every other musician in the group (the exception being if a member is lagging it & letting the group down).

geekiest? real wierdos occur in all sections of a band, but each section can be percieved to have a stereotypical nature. here are some common jokes to give you an idea about these stereotypes,....

1. what is the difference between a flutist and a tailor? well a tailor tucks up the frills-while a flutist will ----up the trills.

2. how many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb? at least 3! one to change the bulb while the other 2 keep telling you they could do it better!

3. why do clarinet players put their cases on the dashboard of their car? so they can park in the handicapped space.

4. how many trombonists/baritone players does it take to change a light bulb? dont matter-they'll do it too freekin load!

5. what do you call a drummer who just broke up with his girlfriend? homeless!!!!

6. how many sax players does it take to change a lightbulb? one----he/she just holds the bulb up and the whole universe revolves around them.

Answer 5

I am in the marching band, I play the Clarinet. We do have our steriotypical people but overall everyone appreciates the other instrument. Though, Trumpet's usually have the weirdest guys and so do Trombones. And Sax's are just self revolved. Clarinets can be s****. while others are just hyper freaks. Flutes.... No comment.

Answer 6

There's always groups with different views. For us:

clarinet: pretty laid back, dramatic, think they're better then they really are. believe me i know. i am a clarinet!

flutes: s****., stuck up.

lows: stays to themselves

percussion: think they're gods.... annoyed with winds and brass because we have some issues sometimes  :)

sax: laid back, social, carefree

frontline: quiet, serious

drum major**!!: serious, funny, laid back, loud!

if i missed any, i apologize. it's late and im tired!