76 Trombones and More Take to the Field

It was hard to get a precise count but there were at least 76 trombones, etc. for yesterday’s inaugural Des Moines Public Schools Marching Band Festival at North High’s Grubb Stadium.

Each of the district’s high school bands – North, East, Roosevelt and Lincoln – took the field in its turn for what really was more of a workshop than a festival. Judges were present to watch the routines and offer constructive feedback. Gone were the fancy uniforms with the plumed hats and flashy spats. First you polish the footwork; then you polish the shoes and the brass.

Mention a marching band and everyone conjures a snappy, well-choreographed halftime show at a homecoming football game. But besides their traditional role in gridiron intermission marching bands have their own competitive season to prep for and it’s fast approaching. The marching band event circuit will culminate with the Iowa High School Music Association Marching Band Festival on October 18 at Waukee.

“Events like this one today give the students additional opportunity to be critiqued by festival judges in a non-competitive situation,” said Ryan Rowley, the district’s Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator. “Because really marching band is about teamwork and learning more than it’s about competition. Competition is for trophies. Education is teaching and learning.”

He’s right of course. But you can bet when the festival season’s over there will be some new hardware in the band rooms around town buffed up as bright as the bell on a tuba.

It’s that time of the year.

Video of the DMPS Marching Band Festival

Photos of the DMPS Marching Band Festival