MUSIC: Mix it up!
Posted in Brass, Color Guard, Drill & Display, Percussion on Dec 18th, 2009
By : Tim Hinton
I think it’s great when a band or a band program has a style or look that is its own. Many marching bands perform a certain type of music well, usually driven by the interests of the director. This sense of a particular “identity” can be a strong plus for a program.
However, I want to encourage all directors to take some chances and “mix it up!” Even if you have a certain genre or style of music that your band performs well or traditionally is known for, I suggest that you stretch those boundaries and try some new things.
In the genre of classical music we have everything from Haydn to Stravinsky and beyond. Jazz can be Dixieland or Pat Metheny, and Broadway shows range from “Mame” to “In the Heights.”
Allow your band, your staff, and yourself to grow. Try challenging yourself to take a different route, or at least stretch into something a little out of your comfort zone. Your audience, fans, and students will benefit and appreciate something different.
