Are there oboes in marching band

Reasons vary, from added musicality to years of tradition. The Pride of California at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of a handful of bands in the country that still have a marching glockenspiel section. With the introduction of the pit into marching bands in the s, the marching glockenspiel became nearly obsolete along with other marching melodic mallet instruments due to their weight and bulkiness.

They could have been around even before that in the 30s. If we were to let our glocks go, our band alumni would throw a fit. They are integral to the band. The challenges of having to march glockenspiel are marked by the fact that the performer is only able to use one hand to play the instrument instead of two like on normal mallet instruments.

The glockenspiel is held in one hand, supported by a sling, rather than parallel to the ground. Similar to the pain issues faced by wearers of snare drums and bass drums, the harness for the glocks has its own stress points; it is worn similar to the harness for a flagpole.

Divina Magracia, a sophomore who plays the glockenspiel at Cal, made the transition from playing mallets in a front ensemble in high school and has adjusted to the fact that she needs to march as well as rethink the way she plays music.

I kind of had to reorient the way that I thought of the notes and how I read the music in order to play well. The glocks are considered a part of the drum line and do not have their own section leader; however, as the most senior player, Magracia guides the two freshmen players. New members have routinely been those with high school front ensemble or piano experience. Oboes and bassoons are more often seen in orchestras or in a concert setting, but the Apache Marching Band at Arcadia Calif.

High School incorporates them into the field shows. Recently, the band has become rather well-known for having double reed instruments, but there is a logistical and educational reason behind it. Using a plastic or resin oboe can aid with the temperature and humidity issues. However, that will not diminish the difficulty of physically playing the oboe while marching.

You might also need to create your own lyre for music. Oboe lyres are not sold in music shops because of the recommendations against marching the instrument. In short, it is possible to march the oboe, and some people do it, but many find that it is not worth the risk. Marching and playing the oboe is not good for you or the instrument.

Rather than attempting to work around all of the risks and challenges of marching the oboe, many players prefer to choose alternative options. Learning a new instrument such as flute, clarinet , or saxophone for the season can be fun and rewarding. Woodwind instruments such as the saxophone or flute are popular choices for oboe players due to the similarities in keywork and fingerings. Oboists pick up on saxophone embouchure rather easily, although the instrument is a bit heavier.

With flute, there are no reeds to deal with , it is low maintenance, and is lightweight. The pit and drumline are also viable options for a switch into marching season. If you feel reluctant to spend an abundance of time learning a new instrument, the cymbals are quite simple to pick up. Some oboe players are reluctant to learn another wind instrument because of the effects it might have on their oboe playing for concert season.

If this is a concern, percussion or colorguard are safe options. If you really love playing your oboe and hate the idea of putting it away for a whole season, there is one more alternative option.

With the approval of the director, you could play a resin oboe on the side-lines and remain stationary during halftime shows. Having a special oboe set-up in the pit percussion would be a way to continue playing your instrument in a safe manner during the marching band season. Table of Contents. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.

These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Of course, I could not hear the sound of those oboes and bassoons amongst the flutes and other brass instruments. Author: TorusTubarius Date: Another thing, when I think about trying to maintain the appropriate air support to play the oboe and march around at the same time in a hot uniform The paramedics really have better things to do with their time than resucitate oboists who were too thick-headed to not march with another instrument.

Please do not march oboe. The world will be a better place for it. Author: Lee Date: I disagree with you Melvin, it is a good thing to double when you are an oboe player. I play the alto sax in marching band, and it has vastly improved my oboe playing.

Just make sure you have enough time to double. Author: TorusTubarius Date: How exactly did playing the alto sax improve your oboe playing? Reply To Message Re: Can an oboe be march? Author: rutball Date: it is possible to march an oboe, however it is not at all good for the instrument or for you. Author: davidjsc Date: I used to be in an air cadet band and the only time we used an oboe was for one song, Amazing Grace, which we played at the halt. We would all be in a cirlce facing in, and the oboist would march on from the sides, stand in the middle, play their lead bit, and then march back off after the song ended and then stand off on the side of the parade ground - until the final marchpast when we would swing back past them and they would sneak and slot back into their vacant spot as we marched off the parade ground.

Some folks watching actually thought they were using a bagpipe chanter, not knowing what an oboe was. Author: Nobarquito Date: Ok, so, oboist here, it is possible to play oboe in a marching band I do it pretty often and no, it's not as terrible as people think, yes your reeds are in danger, but they won't break with proper training, you just need to practice playing while marching, there are also plastic reeds that won't break easily and don't sound bad at all.

Author: Nobarquito Date: Another thing, nah, it's not a bad idea to focus on two instruments as long as you keep practicing on the oboe, I also play clarinet and sax and don't have any problems Reply To Message Avail. Forums Need a Login? Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile. Search Woodwind. Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks. Accessories Accessories that every clarinetist needs - reed makers and shapers, ligatures, greases, oils, and preservatives