Marching

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:41 pm

If you use an open holed flute, it'd be best to plug up those keys. During marching there's all the sweat, etc that can get to the keys, tarnish problems and lots of pad wreckage. Plugging them up will also prevent some liquids and other harmful things to get to the pads.

Another effective alternative would be renting a closed hole for marching.

I agree with piccolo as the best way to go during marching season, too. Unfortunately, my piccolo's suffered more abuse than most, hindering my progress on it. ^^; I get scolded by my instructors to switch back to flute because the piccolo's just really bad. -.-

flutegirlpro · Post by **flutegirlpro** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:08 pm

When i started marching i was told i needed 2 have 2 flutes-- one for concert band and one for marching. My flute teacher told me that having your flute out in the rain can ruin the pads-- so having an open-holed flute isen't a good idea! Plus i always found myself having to put my flute down on the cement to do push-ups or something and it does cause your flute to get scratched up. And i really don't think you want to be getting a really nice flute all banged up! So i think that it would be in your beat intrest to have a flute that you just use for marching!
~marie~

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:47 am

Piccolo is definately more comfortable to march with, but you should have your director's approval for this--most bands just sound better with one piccolo, for balance reasons, though two is usually ok. A full section of them often sounds really harsh, unless it's part of a HUGE band. Two flutes, one for indoors, one for outdoors, is certainly the way to go. I managed to escape six years of marching with very little damage, playing piccolo five of the years. The biggest problem was, once in a while, getting too much condensation in the picc due to cold but humid conditions. There's always a chance your flute will get bumped, whacked, or dropped, or that you'll get caught in a downpour. Late summer is a good time to find a decent used flute to play outdoors. Most retailers with any sense won't rent student flutes, or any other instruments, that might be used for marching (too much liability and potential for damage). Covering the holes wouldn't have concerned me, but, for bands that wear gloves, this is an issue.

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:18 pm

well, I marched with my open-holed flute, because I don't sound very nice on my student flute and it's a piece of poo. but having a student flute to march with DOES come in handy. I remember marching at a half-time show and it was pouring down rain, and I just remember my friend julie bringing her nice flute to march with and it got a little messed up, like the pads swelled a tad but it wasn't too bad, and it was the night before All-Region and I was just SOOOO thankful that I took my student flute to march with. so that's always something to think about. also if you are the type that gets bored easily during practice, I suggest taking a student flute because you'll want to "twirl" your instrument to pass time...
hope that helps
Leanne

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:20 pm

I resist the urge to twirl sooooooooo much

efhsBlueRegiment · Post by **efhsBlueRegiment** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:23 pm

my friend alecia and i, both of whom play the flute, sometimes get bored at saturday practices during the summer, and play laser swords with our flutes...so yea it's good to have a cheap flute to march with

cheer_annie_08 · Post by **cheer_annie_08** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 7:57 pm

Well from my personal expirience, it isn't that big of a deal. We were out many a time on the field when it rained. My advice would be to make sure your flute is very dry when you get done outside. The rain shouldn't ruin anything if you dry it off thouroghly. Or you can just ask your band teacher if it would be okay just to be able to put it inside your jacket to dry for a minute and it will be fine. I hope this helped! Good luck! And you'll love Marching band! I loved it so much it inspired me to be a band teacher!

savor the moments!