Scales & Theory
This is the distance between two notes, such as from C to D
Interval
This term refers to the precise physical position a marcher must maintain during a hold or set
A dot
Deaf composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
This brass instrument uses a slide instead of valves to change pitch
Trombone
This military group founded in 1798 is the oldest professional musical ensemble in the United States
United States Marine Band
Scale pattern for a major scale
WWHWWWH
This technique involves rolling the foot heel-to-toe to create smooth, silent marching
Roll Stepping
This composer, known as the “March King,” helped popularize American band music in the late 1800s
John Phillip Sousa
This woodwind instrument uses a double reed and has a low, haunting sound
Bassoon
John Philip Sousa led this military band before starting his own civilian concert band
United States Marine Band
This key signature has one sharp
G Major
This term refers to the precise angle at which a marcher’s instrument should be held while performing
Horn Angle
This English composer is known for The Planets suite, including the famous “Mars” movement
Gustav Holst
The marimba, xylophone, and vibraphone are all part of this percussion subgroup
Mallet Percussion
Modern high school and college marching bands evolved from this type of ensemble used to keep troops in formation
Military Bands
This is the term for a key that shares the same key signature but has a different tonic
Relative Key
This formation technique, often used during parades or field shows, requires marchers to form a straight line while maintaining perfect alignment both vertically and horizontally
Cover down / Dressing the line
This Austrian composer, known for his operas such as The Magic Flute, also composed a famous set of piano sonatas and symphonies, and was a child prodigy
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Small mouthpiece, very close intervals, key of F
French Horn
This Ivy League school claims to have the oldest college marching band in the U.S., founded in 1919
Harvard University
This term describes the set of pitches used in music that divides the octave into 12 equal parts
Equal Temperament
This term refers to the precise, synchronized movement where all members of the band step at the same time, with the same foot, while maintaining uniformity in both spacing and timing
Mark Time
This composer of Lincolnshire Posy was also known for collecting and arranging English folk songs, and for sometimes performing barefoot
Percy Grainger
This instrument is a keyboard percussion instrument with metal bars and is often mistaken for a xylophone
Glockenspiel
This 20th-century event caused many school bands in the United States to shift their focus from orchestral instruments to wind and percussion, laying the groundwork for the modern concert band
World ar II