Marching Band is Turning into Show Choir.

What comes to mind when you hear the word marching band? Most people think of band nerds marching around a football field at halftime with their strange uniforms and loud music. They think of the catchy tunes the band plays during pep band. What they don't think of is what is commonly associated with show choir: bright costumes, tons of props, and flashy choreography. In the past few years, these concepts have been slowly integrated into marching band shows throughout the country.

One band in particular that applies show choir concepts to their marching band is the Irondale Marching Knights* from Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota. I've been to their hosted competition, Music of the Knight, for the past two years and our band has competed against them at Valley in West Des Moines. Last year their show's theme was the Seven Deadly Sins and this year their theme is How to Survive a Zombie Attack!  Both shows included costume changes, choreography that extended traditional marching band choreography, and tons and tons of props.

So here's my question: what caused the change from traditional marching band to this new show choir marching band combination? Over the years, marching band has slowly but surely left its traditional military style. The purpose of the marching band has changed from leading a military to entertaining a crowd. And yet many traditions have been kept, such as uniform styles, commands, and formations. Another change that has influenced the modern style of marching band is the addition of a color guard during the time of the American Revolution. A color guard adds visual appeal to a marching band show by wearing colorful costumes (as opposed to military style marching uniforms) and incorporating choreography using flags, rifles, and other props. Because audiences love the color guard choreography so much, it has become a general practice to have the marching band members do choreography as well. Another factor in this change is the audience itself, as it has become more of the general public. Because the audience is becoming less and less marching-band associated, they are also becoming less interested in traditional marching band shows. To most marching bands it makes sense to add visual choreography and flashy costumes if they want the audience to enjoy their show.

Whether its flashy costumes, using props to create a story, or sychronized choreography, marching band is becoming less like marching band and more like show choir. This can be viewed as good or bad, but perhaps we should slow it down a little and save show choir for the winter season.

*To learn more about the Irondale High School Marching Knights visit their website.