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Post by jazztastic on Jun 12, 2009 22:30:15 GMT -5
This is a shout-out to all guard members. In marching band, I am a Drum Major. I have been attending a local marching academy called the Summer Marching Academy, hosted by Scott Lang along with the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps. One of our activites today was "role reversing." Everyone, didn't matter if you were wind or pit, drumline or drum major, or guard, everyone got the chance to try out being a drum major, and a member of the drumline and guard. When I got a chance to try out guard, I was absolutely amazed. The guys (yes, MEN! they were outstanding) that were teaching basics led a pretty intense session. I'm a conductor, and flipping that flag made muscles in my arms and shoulders hurt that I didn't even know existed. We only did this for about 35 minutes, but I was exhausted. It takes a lot of physical and mental strength, concentration, poise, patience, and dedication to be a guard member. I never realized how hard the girls at our school work. All of them were brand new and this was the first year we had guard, but with their dedication and amazing director, came to be one of the best guards in the state at our division within 5 months. So before you yell or nag at your guard for being tired before you are, just remember that their job is a lot different than yours as being a musician. Just wanted to spread some love to my guardies...
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KUguardgrl13
Band Nerd
I'm a sister in the bond of this kinship I am fond[F4:687065693]
Posts: 442
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Post by KUguardgrl13 on Jun 13, 2009 0:38:19 GMT -5
yay finally a non-guardie who understands!!!! this is something that every guard member has tried to explain at some point. any instrument smaller than a mello can't understand. flutes and clarinets are not very heavy. you couldn't pay me to march with a tuba though.
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Post by NinjaBaker on Jun 13, 2009 20:41:54 GMT -5
Thanks Jazztastic. you have no idea how great it is to hear that. I love those "role reversal" things. (I got to play bass clarinet, play in the pit, and march tenor drums the three times my band did that)
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Post by jazztastic on Jun 14, 2009 0:10:05 GMT -5
I march an F-attachment trombone (when I'm not conducting for that portion of the show), which can get pretty heavy, but it is NOTHING like spinning and flipping that flag, or the rifles or props. I was amazed at how much physical strength and precision through trusting yourself and your space to be able to do those things! We had a very well known and incredible guard instructor come work with us and do wake up/morning stretches. She led us through a water-downed, basic warm up routine and I could barely get through it. The intensity (if you warm up w/ music) and the instruction is outstanding! And I'm the type that works out and does warm ups with out band, so that's saying something. So, you may not hear from your drum major, but you're hearing it from this one: I appreciate everything you do and respect you guard.
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Post by trumellotonium on Jul 14, 2009 23:44:54 GMT -5
I've basically given up trying to compare difficulties of various things, whether between hornline (I march mello) and guard (spent a season spinning rifle and flag in winterguard), between band in general and soccer, etc... they all work such different muscles and are exhausting in different ways for different reasons. Just as a flute would have a hard time doing 100 drop spins on a flag, a flag would have a hell of a time running around the field with a flute, not getting to use their air to breathe.
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Post by twirlgirl on Jul 17, 2009 15:02:53 GMT -5
Well I'm in guard and I can't believe how hard it is to march with an instrument I only did one parade and I practically died on my saxophone! I'm use to leading the parade with my baton... I twirl all equipment though.... and personally I don't like flags normally a guard person is started on flags and go from there to things like rifles and sabers... I started in 5th grade with the high school marching band and guard because I had training and my mom is the director. idk about your guard but for mine we have to have private lessons for baton anyway.... I think that marching with a instrument is WAAAYYYY!!! harder then what I do.
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KUguardgrl13
Band Nerd
I'm a sister in the bond of this kinship I am fond[F4:687065693]
Posts: 442
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Post by KUguardgrl13 on Jul 18, 2009 0:59:24 GMT -5
yeah, my high school marching band didn't have batons. just flags, rifles, and sabres. my college band has flags and a solo baton twirler. we're hoping to have rifles this season though.
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$@M1K1N$!
Band Nerd
I'd rather be at band
Posts: 149
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Post by $@M1K1N$! on Nov 29, 2009 0:38:30 GMT -5
ahh very nice to hear someone that understands, i actually didn't understand until a few weeks ago when i tried out for winterguard, it was six hours of spinning and dancing oh my goodness....... very difficult.
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