A normal band setting, 6 p.m. on a Wednesday night in late spring. The band is in set one, block formation, awaiting a command from their drum majors, they are called to attention, arms up, an instrument in hands, stiff backs. The whistle is blown, the drums tap off, a cadence is played while the band marches forward. Suddenly, another whistle blows and yelling is heard, “Tubas! Can you keep in step?!”. He isn’t mad, he is just speaking so everyone can hear him clearly. The section leader takes a minute to figure out who was the one out of step when they find who it is (usually a freshman, occasionally a sophomore) they take them aside to work on keeping in step while the band practices marching. When the section leader feels the member has gotten it they will instruct the member to get back in line and continue with the band.
Practice is almost over, the freshman are feeling the burn of keeping their instruments up and the literal burn of fresh sunburn. They feel the pain but yet keep quite, sure that something bad will deal them in if they complain, pushups perhaps? The story of pushups is simple, if you do something wrong, you celebrate with pushups. If pushups are given to you, you do them and the person who gave them to you does half as many. Why you ask? The answer to that question is simple if they had simply taught the person not to do that they wouldn’t. Back to the original story now. The sophomores know how to joke, sometimes they push too far and are given pushups but usually, everyone is pretty lax with them, unless they screw up. The Juniors know the drill, they are usually slightly bossy but know how to have fun. The Seniors are all business, get things done and then we can have fun. The Super Senior helpers are an oddity, some are very rude and strict, others are calm and carefree.
“The Status Quo” Latin for the existing state, there is a status quo for everything. In our band, the upperclassmen always have a higher advantage than the rest of us. The status quo is simple; Band director, Assistant director, Guard Instructor, Senior Drum Major, Junior Drum Major, Section Leader (Usually a senior, but can be a junior or sophomore), Super Seniors, Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and finally Freshman. The band director has had, currently has and always will have the most power, the Assistant director falls just under, although they sometimes have to power to switch places in the lineup. The guard instructor usually doesn’t deal with the band unless we mess up drills with the guard. The Senior drum major holds a higher status over the Junior because of age and experience, although the Senior could possibly have marched the same amount of years, it depends on the quality of the players. The Super Seniors are a special case, they graduated the year previous but were allowed to march in the band, most Super Seniors just sit on the sidelines and give helpful tips. Seniors are the people who just finished Junior year and possibly are in the final year of there marching career. Juniors have finished Sophomore year and are marching, typically as there 3rd year. Sophomores are in their second year of marching and have just finished freshman year, not quite used to the workings of the marching band. Lastly, Freshman, in their first year of marching, they don’t know much, and they are the lowest on the status quo.
Although quite the ranks are self-explanatory, ranks have the capability to change. I know the way you may have read it was that status is brought upon by age, not skill, that is mostly how it works but with a few exceptions. For example, my director has two sons; his oldest was a super senior last year, helping out in places he could, his youngest son is a sophomore. If his older son was to come back and help this summer, although he wouldn’t have a placing, he would hold a higher status than Super Seniors, Junior Drum Major, and possibly Senior Drum Major! While it makes sense because he is older, and has marched many years, it still seems strange.
The following links are provided for your enjoyment.
The Litchfield Band Page: Litchfieldband.com
Our 2019 marching band piece: Puzzled
Tune It Or Die 