Low Brass vs. Percussion

[Deleted]

It always seems like those are the two biggest screwaround sections; I'm curious as to what similarities and differences you've noted with the two.

[tubachick11]

I'm not honestly sure there are differences....

Hmmmmm. I'm the odd one in the low brass.

[tromboneking87]

I do see what you mean, but I do have a couple theories on this one...
For starters, there are very good reasons for trombones and percussion to screw around. Percussion are always in the back, far away from the prying eyes of the director, and the low brass...well...they never have an interesting part to play. Do they get the melody? Maybe every once in a while, but most of the time a trombone part consists of a tacet with a couple random fff accents. So what do you do? Find ways to entertain yourself.
However, there are very big differences in how trombones and drummers screw around. Trombones will tend to come up with amazingly intricate inside jokes that no one understands except fro them. Are they annoying? Sometimes, but generally they are the section that you just shake your head at and wonder "Why?" (trust me, I know, I'm a trombone, I've gotten that look before, and it is VERY satisfying)
Drummers on the other hand will do just about ANYTHING, even if it means disrupting rehearsal. For example, there was a period of a couple weeks last season where the drumline was stealing our zero points (we use colored washers to mark our zero points when we are in the stadium). Very immature, but they just did it for the lolz.
And I wrote way too much. Sorry. Oh well, this is just my view on the issue.

[Deleted]

^It's true. Wagner did once say not to look at the trombones, because it only encourages them (you). And I think you're right that low brass are more methodical in our screwing around...haha

And you should read my rants.

[malletgirl]

Ah yes, the low brass and percussion. My band, low brass is really quite normal save the trombone section leader, who's the weirdest person imaginable. They keep to themselves and don't cause much trouble.

But percussion, in my band we're LEGENDARY for being goof-offs. It's true, we sit in the back and hardly ever have anything better to do, which means we're left to our own devices.

And that usually involves pranks on others in our section and other sections, mostly the trumpets, our arch-enemies, along with cracking dirty jokes all the time and

Of course, it does help that the associate B.D., who takes over when concert season starts, is a percussionist and pretty much lets us get away with most of it-the trumpets are the ones who disrupt band constantly.

There's definitely a difference, but the low brass are more low-key about it, and percussionists are rather vocal and upfront.

And there I go again with the overly long explanation. Oh well.

[bandman001]

It depends on what season it is as to who goofs off the most.

During Marching season the drummers are kept in line by the drum tech who busts them for anything that disrupts rehearsal (or makes them look silly).

During concert season the trombones get the most grief for goofing off (even though the trumpets definitely disrupt rehearsal more.