Why are flutes marching bands

[MvAuMsPrInCeSs06]

Why are flutes in marching bands; you can hardly
ever hear them. Is anyone here in a marching band?

[Crazy]

My son's in marching band but he plays
percussion. I hear the flute but maybe that's because I'm listening for them.
They'll be marching again in March (2 mile parade) I'll try to listen again.

[MvAuMsPrInCeSs06]

lol, were i live bands march in parades,
that are like 2 miles long everynight, and they march everynight.... sometimes
bands go out-of-town to New Orleans, where they march for like 5hrs to 6hrs none
stop. Sometimes they march 2 consecutive parades no shorter than 2miles each. My
cousin played the flute in a marching band, and she said that it's not really
that bad, as long as the band director is not around, they dance, and talk, and
just have fun to keep there mind off of how long the have been marching. I
don't think i would be in a marching band unless i got to play snare drums
[:halo:]

[embum79]

I guess it depends on how many
flutes/piccolos you have in your band. If there's only flutes, and only a
couple, you probably won't be able to hear them. But piccolos are usually
heard. This can be a good thing or a bad thing! It was always my pet peave when
I played piccolo in marching band when the other piccolos were WAY out of
tune!

[Goddess of Flute]

Im in marching band- and i think flutes
are just there to help make a fuller sound. I know that at my very small school,
if we had an all brass band, we would have about 20 people in it. So, when you
add quieter instuments like flutes and clarinets you get a fuller sound.
*shrugs* I play piccolo though, i like to be heard. [;)]

[MvAuMsPrInCeSs06]

the flutes down here are never heard in a
marching band unless it is a very soft song that they play... Piccolos are
heard, but there is usually only 1 or 2 in each band

[dancingflutist3000]

[quote] ---------------- On 2/5/2004
6:53:03 PM Why are flutes in marching bands; you can hardly ever hear them. Is
anyone here in a marching band? ---------------- [/quote] Actually, piccolos are
quite sufficient for marching band (can be heard from far away and are loud). In
a school band, flute my be in marching to give all instuments and students a
chance to play. Also, you can hear flutes if they have the melody, though I
agree with you, if they don't have the melody, you can forget about. I played
in marching band and I could barely hear MYSELF play, much less people around
me.

[flutietootie85]

I'm in marching band. And flutes can be
heard when they play things in the higher octaves and yea the piccolos are heard
too. My band has about 5 pics and the other 6 play flute. I do know a band
however that had one picc and you could hear it above ALL the other players...it
was kinda odd because out of our 5 flutes we don't even sound as loud as that
one did. I do know that if a band has little flutes sometimes they all play
piccolo for marching band. I guess it depends on the situation. I also thought
it was awesome how one band's street beat (the beat the walk ontot he field
with) had a piccolo playing along it was cool! O yea and piccolo do hurt when
they're out of tune..haha my poor ears! lol cuz in ym band we have this one
girl who is always incredibly sharp cuz she over plays so when we hit a high
note its like WOW! hahaha. But anyway flutes can be heard in marching bands.

[MvAuMsPrInCeSs06]

I went to a parade last night, and i
listend for the flutes, and i didnt here them at all. It's 1 highschool band
witth 24flutes, and none of them were playing... Also when i went to there band
pratices, they really don't know how to play well...They can't even read on
staff notes, let alone the high notes