Hey Guys and Gals,

I was wondering the people in this fourm what do you guys march? What I mean is what brand flute do you march. Do you get a low model for Marching Band or do you use the same one for both bands? I was just wondering. Right now I march a Bundy but in concert I use my Jupiter Dimideci 1000 series. So what do you guys do?

Well, freshman year, I only had one flute (a Yamaha 225), and marched that as well as playing it for concert band. Sophomore year, I switched over to piccolo for field, and got a new flute (a Yamaha 581, which is the equivalent of the current 674) which I marched for parade. Junior year I did the same, occasionally switching out the 581 for the 225, and then senior year I played picc for field, and the 225 for parade, and then my Tom Green for concert groups (although I played almost exclusively picc for concert music, and used a Zentner from sophomore-the present). As long as you're careful, a nice flute can come through the marching experience unscathed, but it's still smarter to use a less expensive flute for marching if at all possible.

Oh, and my junior year, when I marched the rose parade with the TofR honor band I used the 225, since there was a chance of rain, but rehearsed on the 581.

chris chris chris. u amaze me w/ all of ur flutes!

Yup...I do have quite a few concert flutes (and don't really need that many ), but it's nice to have the option of choosing between all of them to be sure I have the right instrument for the situation! I won't even get started on the rest of the instruments I own!

Well, if you have too many, then send one on over. ;-) I have a pretty good addiction to flute-like instruments, though, but they tend to be in the "under $100" range.

I used my regular old Gemeinhardt M2 in 10th grade (9th grade was junior high back then, so not in marching band). My band director defined "light rain" as a "heavy mist," though, and continued to practice, so I was glad to get a silver picc for Christmas that year. In 11th grade, I used the M2 for orchestra, the piccolo for marching band, and played the bassoon in concert band. In 12th grade, I got a new flute, and retired the M2. BTW, a silver piccolo still plays from the inside of a plastic bag. ;-)

I don't think it's necessary to have a separate flute or a piccolo for marching band. However, if you have ANY desire to do more than just have fun with it (i.e. auditions for special groups; private lessons; regional and state band/orchestra; etc), then it's probably not a bad idea to have a "beater" flute or a marching piccolo, and preserve one flute for indoor use only.

--Judy

i march w/ my armstrong 104 that i had in 6th grade im a freshmen but when cocert season i need a new flut my director want me to get a gemminhardt 33ssb but i want an armstrong 80bg i havent found one yet but im looking