➡️Advice Post FAQ
This page contains frequently asked questions in subreddit advice threads.
How can I be a good section leader?
The following comments by subreddit users have outstanding advice on how to be a good section leader! These are comments from throughout the last few months on various submissions.
u/Blue_Llamar, Drum Major
As a former section leader of low brass in a small-medium size band, I would heavily encourage you to go for the position. However, it is important for you to remember that the position of section leader is merely a title, and the most important things a section leader does can be carried out by anybody who is truly invested in the well-being of their section. Unfortunately, no amount of advice or leadership training can completely prepare you for being a real leader, only experience. With that being said, here are a few thing that I learned the hard way:
If you have to yell at your section you have already failed to convince them. Yelling only ever works if the person you are yelling at respects you enough to know immediately that you have their best interests at heart, and even then there are usually better ways to go about things. You will probably be tempted to yell a lot as a section leader and there may be plenty of times where you will. Despite this, I would encourage you to go ahead and try to think of some better alternatives to yelling or getting angry at people.
Not everybody is going to be completely invested in band, and not everybody is going to be good at their instrument. Some people will be flat out terrible. That's just the way it is and getting frustrated over it will never change things. Some people will never get better, no matter how much you encourage them. There are, however, people who will surprise you with their talent if only you give them enough encouragement. Therefore, it is important to never count anybody out or assume somebody will always be the weak link in the chain. There is always a chance that they can get better.
Sometimes you just need to be friends with people, even those who are the least deserving of it, and especially those who have no one else.
Punishments are a short term answer to a problem, and often can create even bigger problems themselves. There is nothing worse than having someone injure themselves trying to complete a punishment you assigned to them, and more often than not punishments really don't do much for you or your victim. Anything someone does to deserve a punishment usually will have it own consequences, and the best thing to do is to try and show people these consequences and how to accept responsibility for them.
As for getting a good sound out of your section, the thing you need to focus on most is balance and blend, much more so than individual virtuosity, something that is much less important than most people think when it comes to producing a strong, unified sound. For balance, you should remember that low brass should typically be loudest ones on the field during big hits (assuming you march competitive shows), but that they also should be able to quiet down when other section have the spot light. Low brass is often the loudest section playing, but very rarely should they be the ones who are heard above all else. Low Brass is a support role; if the high winds are the bite to an attack, the low winds are the volume. In order to get a good tone during these extreme dynamics you should focus on taking in good, full breaths, and breathing out through the instrument with an open oral cavity. Breathing exercises, while tedious (and dangerous if you go crazy with them), are one of the best ways to practice this and will always produce good results if practiced correctly. As for blend, you should strive for the best possible tone above all else. The only difference between a player in a symphonic band and a marching band is that the marching band player will be more extreme with their dynamics. Tone should stay the same between the two. Generally, if you can get two or more players to match tone, they will probably be able to match intonation as well. This requires listening, and once you have players listening to each other as a section you should have them listen across the ensemble as well. The other, most important thing to remember when your are trying to get a good sound out of your section is patience. The sound you are trying to achieve probably won't come in just one or two weeks, and sometimes it can take a whole season before it comes. By setting smaller, achievable goals that lead up to a larger one, you will set your section up for success.
I wish you the best of luck for you and your band, and I hope my comments were helpful. I was in your position not so long ago and I can tell you that in the short time since then I have learned so much and would do it all over again if I had the chance. Whatever you choose to do, remember that you are going to make mistakes, and that is okay. The important thing is that you learn from them and use what you learn to make yourself and others better people. Also remember that you do not have to be a section leader to lead or to take your section in the direction you want. There is great power and humanity in leading others even when you are not obligated to, as it shows that you are leading out pure interest in doing good, something that I assure you will not go unnoticed.
u/A7XfoREVer15, College Marcher
Here's some advice for any leadership position.
attitude is the most important thing. Be grateful for the opportunity to try out for a position, and tell your band director thankyou.
Learn that there's a difference between leading and being a boss. A boss tells people what to do. A leader asks for help and assists with the task. If you aren't helping with the task at hand, you aren't leading. For example, if you're stacking chairs in the band hall, help out! Don't just tell people to do it and do nothing yourself.
Be the first to enter the band hall, and the last to leave.
Before you leave the band hall every day, ask your band director if there's something they need done.
When trying out for a position, don't think of it as me vs whoever else is going for the position. Instead of focusing on being better than the other person trying out, focus on being the best leader you can possibly be.
Be nice and respectful to every student, even the kids you don't like.
If you're teaching freshmen how to march, hop in some reps yourself.
PSP. Praise, suggest, praise. People won't be happy if you're just telling them what they're doing wrong. Tell them one thing they're doing right, one thing they're doing wrong, then another thing they're doing right. For example, "Hey [student], your form looks really good! You need some work on rolling your step, but you did an awesome job keeping in step. It sounds silly but it goes a long way and it leads to respect for you.
On the topic of respect, respect is earned, not given. Don't expect to be respected just because you got the position. Be a good leader, be kind, and help people and you'll get respect.
Before you go into your tryout, wish your rival good luck!
After your tryout, shake your band director's hand and thank them for the opportunity.
Brush up on your marching.
Lead by example
What you say and do matters in and out of band. Be careful about what you post on social media. It's best to avoid posting offensive things, cursing, or pictures of you and your friends drinking alcohol. Yes it's not supposed to play into it, but it will.
Learn how to lead different people. Some people in my band could focus and work hard no problem. Some people in my band were problem kids, so I had to find another way to lead that group. What I found works best is going to them during a break and saying something like "Hey, I know you can do this. I believe in you. Show me your absolute best."
If you have a problem with your student, try talking to them one on one. Talk to them about either resolving your problems, or keeping your problems away from band. They will respect you for trying to work things out.
If there's a major problem, don't hesitate to let your band director know. Somethings can only be dealt with by them and that's ok.
Write everything your band director asks you to.
COUNT AND COUNT LOUD IN REHEARSAL!!!
If you're trying out for DM, go in the band hall during lunch and practice. Ask your band director if you can play JWPepper recordings and conduct to it. Ask your band director to watch you in a song or two, and ask what you can improve. If it's improved by tryouts, it goes a long way.
Even if you're not trying out for DM, learn how to conduct. It helps a lot.
Last but not least. Good luck!!!!
u/Kamarag, Director
The most important thing to remember is that while you may be applying or auditioning for a leadership position now, your evaluation started the day you first walked through the door of the school. I can't tell you how many applications I've seen round-filed over the years because of things students have done in the past.
Your "try out" stuff might happen in May, but rest assured everything you did last fall...or the fall before that...is absolutely on the table. You might be able to overcome past issues if you've shown growth, but don't be surprised if questions are asked in your interview.
How you handle rejection is even more important than how you might handle getting a position. I've always looked at how students who were not chosen deal with that diversity, particularly in a public setting. If you're not going to be a senior, this will play an important role in your application in future years. Don't forget to ask for feedback on what you can improve...and then implement that advice.
In many cases, what you think your director is looking for is very minor, or not even considered. Don't answer application questions in any way other than honesty. Give your answer, not an answer you think someone wants to read. Many times I'll ask questions that I couldn't care less about what the answer is...it's about how you answer. Never assume anything.
Take your interview seriously. Dress like it's a job interview (it is). Sit up straight and be confident, but don't be overconfident. Be professional. Feel free to repeat the question as you formulate your answer...it helps you think more clearly.
Show up prepared, and never take anything personally. If you succeed, that's on you. If you fail, that's also on you.
u/Pineapplebro6
Recognizing that you’re not above your fellow members is one of the biggest things I can suggest. Your job is not to command them and tell them what to do all the time and to dish out punishment for being bad. It’s more like being there to solve problems and answer questions. There will be times when you may need to lay down some law and order but it shouldn’t be your go to.
Best thing you can do is always be a good example, never forget your rehearsal gear, always have your dot book water jug or whatever u battery bois need, just always have it.
More important than knowing everything is knowing where to go to get the answer to anything. Know when you should go to a DM or a tech or the band directors for any questions you don’t know.
And if you really want to be a BDE leader then you’ll take responsibility for your sections mistakes. If a couple people forget to bring something they needed, then it’s your fault that they didn’t know they needed it, even if it isn’t. Always look at situations through the lens of: I can’t control what anyone else does, I can only control what I do. It’s not about barking orders, it’s about informing everyone what needs to be done and doing your best to get it done right.
And again, biggest part of leadership is YOU ARE NOT ABOVE YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS. If anything you are not successful unless they are.
As far as working with another leader is that both of you share all information with each other and both agree on what needs to be done and work together well. Ideally you two are close friends but it’s not needed. You both need to sit down and discuss how everything that needs to get done will get done. Make sure you’re both clear on all aspects of what needs to happen.
Comment by a deactivated user
Be firm but fair. Don't make exceptions to the rules for anybody. But don't be a hardass.
Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Freaking out at people for making small mistakes is going to alienate everyone.
Communicate with your section. Have a group chat and give them a way to contact you one-on-one.
Lead by example. New members will look to you for what to do.
Help anyone who needs it. Don't let people fall behind or not do their best.
Mediate conflicts when they happen. There are two sides to every story, and when conflicts happens (don't worry, it will), you need to hear both sides to make the best decision.
Remember that you're not perfect. You will make mistakes, even if you're President. What matters is that you learn and move forward from your mistakes.
Get to know everyone in your section. You'll be spending hours upon hours together, so make it less awkward. Talk to everyone, even the kid who hangs out by themself.
Be professional. This ties into being an example, but I had a section leader who yelled, "Fuck you!" to students at another school during a football game. And she was in uniform. No matter what, handle yourself professionally.
Section leader tryouts advice?
u/A7XfoREVer15, College Marcher
For the marching, definitely brush up on your marching and make sure it's very clean. Don't be afraid to ask your director for advice. If you ask them what to improve on before your audition, and you do what they taught you before your audition, it'll go a long way.
For the teaching part, be sure to go at their pace. Don't just demonstrate, ask them to join in. Clap with them, count with them, sing with them, etc. Also being a pencil to your audition so you can mark stuff while teaching them, as you would with a freshman.
For the interviewing part, speak clearly. When they ask a question. Speak confidently as well. If you legitimately don't understand a question, don't be afraid to ask. Smile!
Also just a little extra advice. Don't ask when you'll know if you got the position. Don't even mention the results. It might sound silly, but before you leave the room, shake your director's hand, smile, and thank them for the opportunity. It really goes a long way.
Good luck!!
Should I leave marching band?
This depends on your situation. Your justifications, your reasoning, and the context of the problem is unique to you. The following comments have great advice, but if you feel that your situation doesn't fall under these categories, feel free to submit an "Advice Needed" post on the subreddit!
u/Megafrogybub, Euphonium
It's all about how you'll remember it. If you look back on it as a horrible time where you were just drained by these people, as opposed to a great time performing with friends then maybe it's not worth it to continue.
I'd hate to tell you to quit band, hearing that you enjoy performing, so I'd say leave that as a last resort. If the only problem is with your section, then I would say talk to your director about maybe learning an instrument. I know it sounds like a bit much, but if it could help you stay in and enjoy band, then I think it's more than worth it.
Talk to the friends you have, assuming they play instruments (correct me if I'm wrong), ask if they could help you out with learning.
I'd really hope to hear you stay in band, but if leaving is really what it takes, then do it. But please weigh all options, band is an amazing thing with lots of different ways to experience it. And I hope guard isn't the only one you can enjoy.
Good luck!
Advice for a new marcher?
Here are some threads from the subreddit that contain lots of great advice for a new marcher!
u/Face_of_Harkness, College Marcher - Baritone
Here’s what you should bring to band camp/practice: Sunscreen Ice water in a quarter or half gallon jug A hat Sunglasses Extra reeds/valve oil depending on your instrument A light jacket in case it gets cold at night
Do some exercises before you start band camp. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just 5-15 minutes of quality workout every day to get you used to exercising and using your muscles. Go for a run once or twice before band camp starts. That will give you an idea of what it feels like to do a band show.
Hydrate frequently. When you have an opportunity to drink water, you should do so. When I was a new member, I almost blacked out from dehydration. Don’t be like me. Drink as much water as you can get your hands on. Your body will thank you.
Show up 6 minutes early for everything. Practice doesn’t start at 8. It starts at 7:54. 12:00 is 11:54 and so on. Being slightly early gives some wiggle room for unplanned delays and gives you some time to relax and collect your thoughts before rehearsal. That time is also great for visiting friends in other parts of the band.
Marching band is an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience. There’s nothing quite like it. If you do all of the things I suggested above, you will be the most prepared new member when you walk into your first day of band. I hope you have a great season and enjoy every minute of it.
u/xspoopyz, Trumpet
Good luck your first season! You’ll enjoy it a lot!
1.) For learning the show, you’ll have a specific number of sets you must learn. We got a drill card that has our set numbers, our placement on the field, and how many steps it will take to get to that spot. I’ll use my most recent season’s drill as an example- Set #1, move 0, left: on 35 yd ln, 8.0 steps in front of home hash. Confusing? That’s what I thought when I first saw it. It looked like a different language to me. It’s basically telling me that on set 1, I will be placed on the left side of the field (looking at it, also referred to as side 1) on the 35 yard line, and I will be 8 steps in front of the home hash mark (the hash mark closest to the home side/ announcer box). It will take me zero steps to get there (because that’s where I start). If it was a different set and it said “move 16” I would take 16 steps to get there. The staff and fellow marchers will help set you up too. They’ll also explain all the field markings and tell you how to read drill. Once you get a hang of it, it’ll be as easy as reading a kid’s book. My drill had 68 sets in it. Depending on the show, you’ll have specific segments in which you’ll play different parts of the music. We had 4 segments, and we broke it up so we did 1 segment at a time (for us it was about 20-25 sets in a segment, give or take a few).
You’ll also need to learn how to march. Our band did a heel-toe roll (so basically you would step starting with your heel hitting the ground first and then rolling to your toe so that your entire foot will be on the ground. We do this to absorb the impact so we have more control and we don’t shake). We marched 8 to 5, so we take 8 steps to get 5 yards. Your directors will show you this, and it’s fairly easy. It’s kind of hard to explain it in words, but when you see it you’ll know what I mean.
2.) I March trumpet so I can’t really tell, but from what I heard when marching our show, the sousaphones had really cool underlying parts that laid the foundation for the rest of the band. It just depends on what the theme of the show is and what music your directors gives you.
3.) Most likely. Our school hasn’t moved up a division in a while, but you’ll still be more advanced. You’ll compete against higher tier bands so you’ll have to bump up your own show. So yes, it’ll most likely be a more advanced show. Our school is in the New York State Field Band Conference (and they’re not the most fair), and I think there’s division 4 to division 1 (which we are in), then there’s national class (the really big bands). I’ll have to double check how many divisional bands there are, but it’s just a fancy term for how many players and the level the band is at in terms of performance. (Hopefully you’re in US Bands because they’re very fair in how they score, and when we go on our band field trip to other states we usually have them judging us).
4.) Our band camp was 2 weeks, 12 hours a day for 5 days a week. After that it was every Monday and Wednesday 5:30-9:00. In band camp you’ll get an hour or so break for lunch and (I think) a two hour break for dinner. Band camp will work you hard, so be prepared. Bring lots of water, and stretch those leg muscles! Don’t talk back to upperclassmen (even though they can be annoying as hell sometimes). You’ll improve your skills greatly, and your time will be fun! There will be many people willing to help you at band camp. Remember, no matter how hard it’ll be, you’ll always come out of it a better musician, and a better person. And believe me, your first performance feels awesome! And don’t forget, you’ll meet lots of great people, and make lots of new friends!
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