RufusTheBandGeek Posted February 27, 2002 Share Posted February 27, 2002 I normally play bass clarinet, soprano clarinet, and tenor sax for my high school band, and I switched to mellophone for corps. There are quite a few kids in my corps that have done the same thing. It really wasn't that hard. I admit that playing brass is a lot more fun than woodwinds are, however a lot of times, woodwinds are more exhilarating musically. Personal preference though and it is all subjective. Playing brass for corps has lead me to french horn now, as well as trumpet and baritone, and next year in college, I am going to play sousa for marching band. So, my instrumental knowledge and ability has shot through the roof because of that one little switch. And I love being able to blow the heck out of that thing and that being what is desired, when in band it is always, back off, back off. I LOVE IT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTBeck1 Posted February 27, 2002 Share Posted February 27, 2002 I was also a saxophone player in High School. But durring the summer of 96, i saw my first drum corps practicing in my HS stadium and i thought to myself, wow, i'm playing the wrong instrument. I had never realized the power of a brass line until then, the brass line in my HS band was kind of weak. So durring my senior year i hooked up with a Div 3 corps and they taught me the ways of the brass. I cant thank them enough for giving me the knowledge i needed to become a member of a top 6 Div 1 Corps. Although i love the Euph, i still miss playing my old ratty HS bari sax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBcontra Posted February 27, 2002 Share Posted February 27, 2002 I'm also a Bass clarinet player this year i decide to march contra and i agree that Brass is a lot better then woodwinds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spcbrass Posted February 28, 2002 Share Posted February 28, 2002 I switched way back in 1993 to brass from saxophone to help out my HS marching band. Soon after that I got into drum corps. I have played contra all but one year of drum corps in which I played euphonium. I find it is easier to get a woodwind player to switch to Mello or Bari simply because the parts stay in the middle of the horn most of the time. That has been my experiece both as aperformer and as an instructor. Shawn C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerFred Posted March 3, 2002 Share Posted March 3, 2002 Two of the most memorable players I was around in DCI were not brass players. I knew a saxaphone player who told the '88 VK brass staff that he could play. He wound up playing flugelhorn for them without having tried it before. Turns out he was pretty good at it. I knew another guy in '93 Regiment that played soprano. He actually was a violin performance major but he really poured himself into it and turned out to be a really good player. S. Hildebrand Sky Ryder 1989,1990,1991 Phantom Regiment 1992,1993 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenegadeBaritone Posted March 8, 2002 Share Posted March 8, 2002 I was a clarinet and Bass Clarinet player for years, then picked up a baritone and marched Cavaliers. Now, Renegades! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CozyChopsCom Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I'm a percussionist who switched to brass. I marched a few years ago with a phenomenal mello player. At the end of the summer, he asked me to play trumpet in a musical for which he was playing. When I walked into rehearsal, I was shocked to see that he was the woodwind specialist, not on brass. He played clarinet, alto sax and flute for "42nd St." He got a kick out of surprising me. I'd never known about his reedy side. Cozy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GmenBari78 Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I was a clarinet and sax player in elementary thru high school, then switched to baritone when I joined corps (Guardsmen). I agree with others, made a mistake when I first chose woodwinds! Wish I had been a brass player. Jim Forsythe GmenBari78 Guardsmen baritone 1978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HonkyToast Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I played alto/tenor sax from 4th grade through 8th grade, and then i switched to euph. 2 years later I was in a Div II Hornline... this year Div I! Beatty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumstix909 Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 I played clarinet in middle school and my first two years of high school. I switched to the drumline for marching season during my sophomore year of high school, and permanently into the percussion section for both marching and concert seasons during my junior year. I was in the pit for my rookie year of drum corps, but I decided to learn to play a brass instrument for my second year. I currently march baritone. Crazy, huh? By the way....Low brass kicks @ss :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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