Any reason not to have a cymbal line? Are programs moving away from them nowadays?
Re: Marching Cymbals in the Show
Posted by Tim, TYB Host on 1/18/2025, 10:19 pm, in reply to "Marching Cymbals in the Show" Edited by board administrator 1/21/2025, 11:50 am
In my opinion, cymbals are an important part of the marching band. This is a personal issue for me, and here's why.
Brynn (yes, the Brynn of BrynnPark) played oboe in middle school. She did pretty, but we moved to a large 6A suburban HS right before her freshman year. I contacted her future BDs and told them that she could play tenor sax as well, and could probably do that in marching band.
Their answer: we don't march tenor sax (don't get me started on that).
So she goes to band camp not knowing what she's going to play, and she was told she could play cymbals - and she wanted to. All marching cymbals were played by double reeds, which I think was good for them. Most importantly to me, my kid got involved in a way she wouldn't have if she was in front ensemble.
Also, I believe it adds to at least the visual aspect of the battery.
I'm not aware of a reason it would hurt the performance.
They have fallen out of favor but they remain an integral part of the drumline. If you use them, do not expect good or useful feedback. I am in the no-cymbals camp because it removed our percussionists from developing on core instruments like drums and keyboards. It does work great with auxiliary members like guard or non marching members like double reeds. So for me, cymbals are a 5A/6A ensemble.
