Some Common Marching Band Facts and Terms

TOB: Initials for Tournament of Bands, which is the organization in which we are members. Members of this organization can host or attend competitions of their choice.

Chapter: The TOB circuit is divided into regional areas called Chapters. The particular chapter to which we belong is Chapter 9. Almost all of the schools that we compete against are public schools. Each Chapter holds a Championship competition at the end of the season.

Group II: Within each competition, you will see the bands divided into groups which compete only against each other. The groups are divided according to the number of band members. Our group, Group II, has bands which have between 36 and 55 band members participating (this number does not include color guard). Competition Scores: As we march on the competition field, judges are grading us on many areas, such as quality of musical performance, marching skills, difficulty of music, general visual and musical effect, ensemble percussion, and sometimes flag work. A perfect score is 100. We must run a program that is at least 7 minutes long and no longer than 9. Infractions on time allowed cost us big penalty points, so you can be sure that the pit crew and other will be rushing to get us on an off the field as quickly as possible. The Golden Eagles Marching Band were the Chapter 9 Champions from 1998 through 2003. We were second in 2004 and 2005.

Atlantic Coast Championships: These are held at Lackawanna Stadium outside Scranton, PA, and are attended by invitation only. The 25 top scoring TOB bands are invited, as well as all Chapter Champions. This is the last competition of the season. We only attend when invited every other year, since the day of the competition alternates from Saturday to Sunday every other year. We have qualified for seven years in a row, and have attended three of those competitions.

Drum Major: The Drum Major is the leader and conductor of the band on the field. On the field of competition, he/she is important to watch. He/she will lead the band onto the field and give the salute when the band is ready to begin its performance. Squad Leaders: Each type of instrument has its own squad. Student leaders of those squads are chosen to provide encouragement, leadership, and accountability. Squad leaders report to the Drum Major.

Competition Hosts: Member TOB schools with the proper facilities host competitions during the season. Bands compete against other bands in their group size for scores. These competitions are done as fund raisers for their particular band. It is very appropriate that we support their efforts by purchasing refreshments, programs, airgrams (messages read over the loudspeaker as the band enters the field), T-shirts, and tickets.

Proper Performance Etiquette: It is very proper to cheer all bands and their efforts during competition! The audience has the power to turn a mediocre show into a fantastic show by turning the kids on with its applause. Do not be a distraction while a band is performing, since there may be people around you whose child is marching. If you must leave the stands or enter late, wait until a band is finished marching before you move in and out of the stands. We have found a real opportunity to be a testimony to others in the stands by being friendly with other parents. You will find that while there is a spirit of competition, there is also a very healthy camaraderie with everyone involved in marching bands. Being a part of the crowd is a very enjoyable experience! After our band marches, they will change, pack up, and then sit together in the stands opposite the audience until the competition is over.

Transportation to Competitions: Students must ride the bus to competitions. They may go home with parents, but they must inform the parent chaperone on their bus if they intend to do this!! Parents often carpool, since some of the competitions are held far from Annapolis, from 1-2 hours away.

Terms

Auxiliary: Another name for the Color Guard, the students who work with the flags, usually only heard at competitions.

Band Front: Another name for the Color Guard.

Band Proper: All members of the marching band who play an instrument.

Basics: Basic marching techniques learned and reviewed at the beginning of the season. Includes proper placement of feet when marching, how to be in step, and marching a block.

Battery: Another name for the drum line that marches on the field. Includes bass, snare, and multi-toms.

Block: Marching a certain pattern in unison.

Caption Awards: Special awards given for the best score in a particular category. Not all competitions give out caption awards. The most common ones given are: Percussion, Auxiliary, and Drum Major, although sometimes they are given for Visual and Music. Color Guard: Students who work with the flags. They are an important part of the visual program, as they incorporate their flag routine and dance moves into the drill that the band proper marches.

Drill: The movement of the band on the field. Written as pictures, it tells each student where they are supposed to be positioned at any given point in time during the show. The students learn it in "pages," and it usually takes them the time at band camp, as well as practices through September to put it all together.

Drum Line: The students who march with the drums on the field. Considered part of the percussion. Included are the bass drums, snares, and quads or multi-toms.

Flags: What the color guard uses on the field. They add visual beauty and impact to the movement of the band proper. There are more than one set of flags used during the show. Flags are designed by the guard instructor and guard and sewn by band parents.

Guard: Another name for Color Guard.

Group: Each competing band is classified according to how many band proper members there are. The classifications are divided into 4 groups, and a band only competes against other bands in their group size. AACS is in Group 2.

Percussion: A category of band that includes the drum line and pit.

Pit: Those band proper members that play percussion instruments on the side of the field, directly in front of the drum major. Usually comprised of instruments that cannot be carried on a field, such as kettle drums, mallets, bells, xylophone, marimba, etc. The pit is considered part of the percussion of a band and is judged in that category.

Pit Crew: The band Dads (and Moms) that bring the pit instruments and Drum Major stand onto the sideline of the field at a show.

Sections/Sectional: Band proper is divided into sections according to the instrument played. There are major sections (such as woodwinds, brass, low brass) and each of them id divided into subsections of individual instruments. A sectional is when the members of a section get together either during practice at school, or more commonly at the section leader's home and hold a music practice (among other things).

Section Leader: The leader of a section is the highest chair playing that particular instrument.

Sideline: Another name for pit percussion.