TERM
|
DEFINITION
|
| ¾
TIME |
A way to keep the
band continuously out of step. |
| ADJUSTED
STEP |
Means when a freshman
band member takes a large step to the side after a section leader has
already marked them off. |
| AIR |
The driving force
behind brass instruments, but generally lacks in woodwinds, therefore
causing squeaks. |
| ALTO
SAXOPHONE |
A
musical instrument that either plays very loud or not at all between
squeaks. |
| ARC |
A
shape with between one and five corners and one open side. |
| ATTENTION |
Standing still while
sticking out your butt. Can only talk in whispers so that no section
leaders hear you. Something
drummers lack. |
| AUXILIARY |
See color guard. |
| BAIL |
That which one does
on a wet field. Generally, the person who bails (the bailer) winds up on
the ground (the bailee). |
| BAND
CAMP |
A
time of gathering between most band geeks (including color guard) during
August where they learn how to pass out on cue due to the mildly warm
Texas sun. |
| BAND
DIRECTOR |
The person who claims
to be in charge when everything is going well and claims denial when
things go wrong. |
| BAND
GEEK |
Someone who is very
enthusiastic and involved in band. Willing to give up all free time.
The band counterpart to choir nerds and orch dorks. |
| BAND
JACKET |
a.k.a. Letter jacket
1. Status symbol. 2. Proclamation of true geekdom. NOTE: The
ultimate geek will have lettered all four years. |
| BAND
PARENTS |
The only parents that
a band geek sees between August and December. The only reason the band is
held together. |
| BAND
PARTY |
A
gathering of Band Geeks where they can wear their Band Jackets, play
cards, and complain about the latest rehearsal and upcoming games. |
| BAND
SHIRT |
An
article of clothing that is washed once a year. A key part off a band
geek's uniform. |
| BAND
TAN |
What
a band geek receives when they wear shorts and socks to all practices
outside in the blazing Texas sun. |
| BARI-SAXOPHONE |
An instrument for
woodwind players who want to play like a tuba. |
| BARITONE |
A device for doubling
with trombones except using the right notes. Also used for playing during
silence. |
| BASS
CLARINET |
A concert instrument
that, when used properly, is still not heard. |
| BASSOON |
An unusual hybrid
between a bass clarinet and oboe which remains unused in marching. |
| BATHROOM
OF DOOM |
An object designed to
really get to know the people (and their characteristic smells) in the
back of the bus. |
| BATTERY |
See drum line. |
| BEARING |
Something band
directors do to their students one week before contest. |
| BELL-DINGING |
A physical symbol of
a mistake made in the last move. Usually followed by 'shups. |
| BELL-FRONT
INSTRUMENT |
Always
brass, these are directional instruments designed to play extremely loud
and characteristically, out of tune. |
| BIG
BROTHER/BIG SISTER |
Designated person who
gives candy, drinks, toys, and wishes of good luck to a new member of the
band. The cover is "band unity," but it's really an excuse to
get good stuff! |
| BI-SECTIONAL |
The term given to one
who plays different instruments for different ensembles. |
| BLOCK
BAND |
Something that
poorly-made floats in a parade do well. |
| BRAIN
FART |
A mistake involving
an escape of gaseous substances from the head usually in conjunction with
missing a set. |
| BRASS |
Metallic looking and
sounding devices designed to over-blow and blast. |
| BUS |
1. A good way to get
to know someone (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), however the most painful way
in the world to watch a movie. Also known for the Bathroom of Doom.
2. The only way to see a pigeon at 65 MPH. |
| CADENCE |
A way of making the
crowd forget the parade march the band just played that impresses people.
A way to impress people at games and pep rallies. Good time for
band section visuals. |
| CARDS |
52 rectangular
devices of equal size and width which each have respective numbers,
symbols, and colors on them which keep band geeks continually entertained. |
| CARRIAGE |
Means carrying your
body plus your horn after a parade in 90 degree weather. |
| CHAIR |
A
device used for good luck at competitions and to increase the vibe amongst
geeks. See how high you
rank on the food chain in your section. |
| CHAPTERS |
See
"COMPETITION" |
| CIRCLE |
A
closed shape with definite corners and edges. |
| CLARINET |
A device which, when
used properly, will cause the user's shoulders to point towards the
end-zone. Often, more annoying than a saxophone. |
| COLLAR |
Something thy hair
shalt never toucheth. |
| COLOR
GUARD |
People who swing
flags and toss rifles to distract the audience's attention away from the
band. Makes the band seem better. Get extra credit if they hit
(accidentally, of course) a band member, yet defied if they hit a field
judge. |
| COMPANY
FRONT |
A zigzag line within
a certain area of the field, such as a hash: ~~~~~~ |
| COMPETITION |
A general gathering
of band geeks to show that each one's band is better than the others. |
| CONCERT |
Extremely dangerous
form of torture for both students and audience. Fatal if used in durations
exceeding one hour. |
| CONCERTO |
A
musical piece that is written for the express reason of singling out one
single player from the band to humiliate himself alone in a performance. |
| CONDUCTING |
The drum major's
method of amusing the band to points of laughter at times. |
| CONDUCTOR |
The person in the
front who waves his arms and dances wildly to the music. Constantly marks
time during halts. See drum
major. |
| CONTRA |
A tuba that is
snapped onto and off of the player's shoulder. Designed to build-up arm
muscles and decrease brain activity. A name that is sexier than
"sousaphone." |
| CONTRA
BASS CLARINET |
A large, metallic,
clarinet-like instrument that is designed to play in the range of a tuba,
but is often mistaken for the kitchen sink. |
| COVER
DOWN |
An excuse to yell at
the flutes in front of you. |
| CRESCENDO
TURN |
An obsolete action,
which means, "It sucked." |
| DCI |
Drum
corps championship series. |
| DEATH
MARCH |
The last quarter mile
of the 4th of July parade. |
| DIAGONAL |
Something trumpets
say if they dislike the idea of an angle in "their" show. |
| DIRECTOR |
The person who claims
to be in charge when everything is going well and claims denial when
things go wrong. |
| DISKETTES |
Devices made to be
thrown in a similar style to that of a Frisbee across the marching field
prior to rehearsals. This action can also be done with CDs. |
| DISTANCE |
Is something you want
to keep with the band director if you're a trombone player a week before
contest. |
| DIVINE
COMEDY |
Watching
the drum major attempt to keep a correct tempo. |
| DOLLAR
BILL |
A
device for cleaning saxophone pads. A form of currency among band geeks. |
| DOUBLE
REED |
A good way to make a
band member's face look like they just ate a lemon. |
| DRESS |
Something you
wouldn't mind seeing your band director in. |
| DRESS
LEFT/RIGHT/CENTER |
A wonderful way to
break your neck. |
| DRILL |
Pages that show what
a form is supposed to look
like. Should be burned at year's end. |
| DRILL
BOOK |
A small notebook to
be kept in pocket that has complex drawings and strange numbers that
people say are their spots for each picture. Designed to keep people from
learning music. |
| DRILL
TEAM |
Besides
the color guard, the half-time entertainment that has enough rhythm to
dance as one. |
| DRILL-DOWN |
When band geeks
follow long sets of commands from the drum major, just to see who can do
it, in an attempt at fun. It is only "fun" when this name is
used, however, not during rehearsal. |
| DRUM |
Round hollow devices
with covering on the top and sometimes the bottom. Sometimes have some
sort of attachments on the bottom. Loud. |
| DRUM
CAPTAIN |
The leader of the
percussion section who's main requirement for the job is to not
be able to hold a steady tempo. |
| DRUM
CORPS |
Very
similar to marching band, except for a few differences:
1) They are good. 2) No woodwinds. Coincidence? |
| DRUM
LINE |
The people hitting
the drums (or each other) with sticks in time with each other, but either
a half beat earlier or later than the band and one beat from the pit. |
| DRUM
MAJOR, HEAD |
Person
with the dubious distinction of keeping the animals in line on a field and
in the band room during marching season. Loses all power and the little
respect they do get after the end of November. |
| DRUM
MAJOR, JUNIOR |
Senior drum major's
lackey. Heir apparent to Head Drum Major. |
| DRUM
MAJOR, SENIOR |
Takes
over for head drum major when not available. |
| DRUM
TAP |
A snare beat loud
enough for the judges to hear, and quiet enough so band doesn't hear. |
| DUM
LINE |
Another
name for drum line. Used secretly among rest of the band. |
| DYNAMICS |
Either loud or louder
(volume). |
| EARLY |
To
never be. Reasoning: To be early is to be on time, while to be on time is
to be late, but to be late is to never be. Following this through, early
is to never be. |
| ECHO |
What a band geek
should hear after a good cut-off. I'm not sure what it sounds like,
though, so I can't explain it. |
| EXECUTION |
What the band goes
through at band camp. |
| EXPONENTIAL
GROWTH |
The
mathematical reasoning behind the fact that when one flute graduates, two
new freshmen take her place. |
| F.
C. P. L. |
A brass dynamic
marking that stands for "Forget Control - Play Loud!" |
| FIELD |
100 yards in length,
this is a wide expanse of mud on which bands perform. Contained within the
area of this expanse are frequent sprinklers with occasional patches of
grass. |
| FILE |
a LINE...DUH! |
| FLASH
CUBE |
A small object
containing four light bulbs that is activated by littering the ground with
paper clips. The object of these devices is to blind all marchers. This is
an excellent method for creating free-form moves. |
| FLOATING
THE EYES |
Same as rolling the
eyes. |
| FLUTE |
An un-tuned device,
for people who want to be in the band, but have weak arms and don't wish
to be heard. |
| FOOD |
"Fuel" for
band geeks. Is an attacker of performance uniforms, but can still be eaten
(in secrecy) in this state of being. |
| FOOTBALL
TEAM |
The
main reason the band can't always use the marching field. |
| FORMER
BAND GEEK |
The name given to a
person who was in band, quit, and now returns (usually with food) to
rehearsals to watch just for fun. |
| FORTE |
The
lowest dynamic marking a brass instrument can play at. |
| FRENCH
HORN |
Only brass instrument
that is played with left hand. Involves strings in conjunction with valves
and an impossibility to play fast or loud. |
| FRESHMEN |
Designed to make up
half the size of the band. |
| FUND-RAISERS |
Opportunities
provided throughout the year for the adult staff to yell at band members
while making a few extra bucks on the side. |
| GEEKDOM |
The state of a band
member who is willing to give up all free time during season. |
| GEEKISM |
Something that is
related to marching band which spontaneously happens (such as walking with
friends down the hall in step or whistling warm-ups or scales without
thinking about it). |
| GENERAL
AFFECT |
What you call when
everyone in the band gradually gets sick. |
| GLIDE
STEP |
Wheee! |
| GLOVES |
A natural method of
scientific proof that there are two types of dirt: Dark dirt that is
attracted to light objects and light dirt which is attracted to dark
objects! |
| GONG |
A loud, large
cymbal-like device. It is the goal of all good percussionists to break or
crack this instrument in any way possible. |
| GRADUATED
BAND GEEK |
Someone who no longer
attends the school, is over-age for a drum corps or feels they can't cut
it in drum core and now returns to rehearsals to watch just for fun. Begs
Mr. Hejny to play. |
| HALT |
A time when everyone
is theoretically stopped. |
| HARMONY |
All voices except the
melody and percussion. |
| HIGH-MARK-TIME |
An action that only
occurs when the marcher is standing on mud. |
| HIT |
Wham! |
| HORN-POP |
A method the keep the
pit from going completely deaf when brass instruments pass directly behind
them by pointing bells toward the sky. Not recommended for flutes or
clarinets. |
| INSTRUCTOR |
Person who tells you
when you're screwing up. |
| INSTRUMENT |
A device used for
torture. |
| INTERVAL |
A space between two
band members that is as random. 2. The space between you and your band
director one week before contest. |
| IQ |
A constant, combined
number that does not change as the size of the band does. |
| JAZZ
BAND |
Cool. |
| KEYBOARD |
The layout of most
pit instruments. |
| LAPS |
An alternate to 'shups,
although not as effective. |
| LATE |
The opposite of
early. A new band member will learn the fine art of being late, and coming
up with a ridiculous lie to cover up one's lateness.
See 'shups. |
| MACE |
A heavy stick with a
shiny end, designed to be dropped. |
| MALLET |
Something
which can only be thrown at stupid band kids. |
| MARCHING
BARITONE |
A
version of a baritone created based on enhancements over the successful
design of a Marching French Horn. a.k.a. Mellophone. |
| MARCHING
SHOES |
Ugly, comfy,
relatively inexpensive. Coincidence? |
| MARK-TIME |
A
time when people only move their feet (without changing location) to some
tempo, usually "to the beat of a different drum." A
question asked of Mark. |
| MELLOPHONE |
An instrument
designed to be unable to tune, kill all freshman who attempt to keep the
horn up, and make it impossible to snap. a.k.a. marching French
horn. |
| MELODY |
The loudest voice,
usually carried by the trumpets or piccolos. |
| MEMORIZATION |
An action that is
supposed to take place in conjunction with sets and music between band
camp and the commencement of the regular year, but does not generally
happen, except for the drum majors and few section leaders, until 'shups
are issued or the year is completed. |
| MEZZO-FORTE |
The highest dynamic
marking of any woodwind excluding the piccolo. |
| MEZZO-PIANO |
1. Trumpets play as
loud as you can. 2. Rest of the band play moderately quiet. |
| MISTING |
The meteorological
term that the adult staff use for saying, "OK, it's raining a little
but you'll live." |
| MOUTHPIECE |
A critical piece to a
brass instrument which is meant to be dropped 30 feet through stands
and/or sometimes in mud. Droppage of this device often results in 'shups.
Often seen flying from sousaphones during extreme movements.
Also used to inflict pain upon lower classmen or other sections.
See sticks. |
| MUSIC |
1.
Papers which contain little black lines and dots with strange symbols that
somehow show what the music is to sound like. 2. The succession of these
notes that, in theory, should sound good. Unfortunately, we're not all in
Theory - we're in Band. |
| NOTES |
1. Little round dots
on lines that show the approximate pitch that the instrument player tries
to hit. 2. The language of music, similar to "BASIC,"
"Pascal," or "C" for computers. |
| OBOE |
A
double-reed instrument used for obtaining a clarinet sound in a piccolo
range, or in time of desperate need and crisis.
Also sounds like a duck in heat. |
| ON
TIME |
To
never be. See reasoning for early and late. |
| OVERLAY |
A shiny part of the
front of the uniform designed to enhance the effects of a flash cube. |
| PARADE-REST |
A form of relaxation
while standing up. Little talking, but some required to keep band geeks
sane. |
| PEDAL |
A low vibration tone
produced by brass instruments when jaw is loosened. Noise is sometimes
mistaken for the conventional brain fart. |
| PENCIL
TEST |
A test, often failed
by freshmen, designed to help bell-front instrument players keep their
horns up and even with the ground. |
| PERCUSSION |
The group of
instruments hit by sticks or mallets that keeps some beat or other. |
| PERFORMANCE |
See concert. |
| PHASING |
That noise you always
hear 0.5 seconds after the band plays something. |
| PIANO |
A
form of "air-band" playing style.
Also an item in which everyone in the band has pounded on at one
point or another. They think they're Beethoven. |
| PICCOLO |
A high-pitched
instrument similar to that of the flute, only you can actually hear that
it's out of tune. |
| PICCOLO
TRUMPET |
An instrument
designed to do the same job as a trumpet with some minor enhancements -
since it's an octave higher. |
| PIGEONS |
A truly unique bird
that has only one known natural enemy: The windshield of a bus at 65 MPH. |
| PIT |
Percussion
instruments that have pitches (like a piano) that play either half a beat
earlier or later than the band, opposite of the drum line. |
| PLUME |
The
most dangerous part of the full uniform because of it's flammability.
Takes 2 seconds to burn properly. |
| POMP
AND CIRCUMSTANCE |
A painful form of
obligation by every band geek during three of their four years in high
school. An extremely useful and effective form of torture for
underclassmen. |
| PRACTICE |
The
constant repetition of a sequence of notes in an unsuccessful attempt to
become skilled. Usually drives family members either away from home or
insane. Not needed if music is memorized by blankly staring at during
Economics. |
| PRECISION |
Ha!!! |
| PSEUDO-GEEK |
Somebody
who isn't in band but thinks he is. Attends band parties, competitions,
and rehearsals. This is not to be confused with a former band geek or
graduated band geek. See also wannabe band geek. |
| PUBLIC
DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (P.D.A.) |
A touchy (literally),
debatable subject among band geeks. Something that happens regardless of
what rules exist or peer pressure is made on people. Something that
happens on the bus, in the stands, during water breaks, before and after
rehearsals, during lunch and dinner breaks, at Band Parties, and just
about anywhere else where the rest of the band is forced to watch a couple
be disgustingly cutesy together. |
| RAIN |
Nature's way of
telling the band to go inside and practice music. |
| REED |
1.
A piece of wood that makes a great excuse for not playing well if broken
or brand new. Usages: "Sorry, new reed," or "I broke my
reed." 2. A device used to efficiently cut one's finger. NOTE:
Doesn't taste good when ingested either. (It was a mistake) |
| REHEARSAL |
Time
used by band geeks to forget anything learned during practice. |
| RESETTING |
Definitions vary by
sections. Woodwind: Wander aimlessly for 3 minutes and talk quietly.
Brass: Run as fast as you can back to your set yelling at the top of your
lungs. Battery: Wander and swear as you walk slowly back to your set.
Color Guard: Prance back to your set and avoid getting hit by stupid,
yelling brass players. Pit: Sit there and laugh your head off while you
watch these 3 minutes of confusion. |
| RIFLE |
A white-colored piece
of wood used by the color guard that is intended for injury of band or
color guard members and breakage of nails. See also color guard. |
| ROLL-STEP |
Method in which a
geek should walk if his shoes are round on the bottom. Not bouncing.
Proper technique prevents inhalation of Astroturf. |
| RPG's |
Another
name for the drum line. Only they know the true meaning. |
| SABRE |
A piece of color
guard equipment which the guard prefers over rifles and is also more
dangerous. Coincidence? |
| SECTION
LEADER |
Leader
of a section who tries to keep their section out of complete chaos in
order to make themselves look good. |
| SENIOR |
A source of constant
guilt trips. |
| SFZ-PIANO-CRESCENDO |
The
act of blatting, stopping, then blasting. |
| SHOW
COORDINATOR |
Person who creates
and draws all of the inanimate useless objects that the band attempts to
form. |
| 'SHUPS |
Sometimes called
"pushups," these you do when something goes wrong due to you.
Usually done in increments or multiples of ten or fifteen. Designed as a
method of self-discipline. |
| SITTING-AROUND |
An action carried out
when sitting on busses on in sands, in which band members rely on
perpetual motion to keep from sitting in the same place for more than 30
seconds. |
| SLOUCHING |
An action best
displayed by concert bands. Even if it's bad for playing, it's great for
the back! |
| SMOOTH |
Something saxophone
players think they are. |
| SNAP |
Instantly changing a
horn's position from attention to 'horns up' or vice-versa. Havoc for
someone in front of a snapped instrument. |
| SOUSAPHONE |
An instrument that
adds bass to the band. Can play any note (as long as it's a low G). |
| SPACE-CHORD |
A chord where each
member plays whatever note he feels like. Used so that band members
(especially freshmen who aren't used to us) get used to what we sound
like. |
| SPRINKLERS |
An offensive attacker
of the pit and color guard. |
| SQUEAK |
The only sign that
the woodwind reeds give that they are actually playing. |
| STANDING |
What
the brass-line does at band camp. Woodwinds do not accomplish this feat
due to their weak legs (in most cases). There are a few exceptions to this
weakness, but they don't stand anyway. |
| STICKS |
Dropped by drummers.
Also used as weapons in counterassault of mouthpiece attacks. |
| STRETCH
OUT |
A term geeks
frequently misunderstand as "time to talk". |
| SUSPENDERS |
The most effective
way to strangle a band geek while still keeping their pants up. |
| TELEPHONE |
A
communication device that must be used by every member of the band
following a football game. |
| TEMPO |
The
correct beat, usually (but not always) carried by the conductor. |
| TENOR-SAXOPHONE |
An instrument similar
to the bari-saxophone, except it matches the pitch of a trombone or
baritone. |
| TIME |
A way to keep the
band continuously out of step. |
| TROMBONE |
A device with the
same pitch as a baritone, except that it uses a slide instead of valves,
so it's easier to forget the positions. |
| TROMBONE
ISLAND |
Named in honor of the
run-over trombone. Also known
to trip unaware trumpet players while they are marching backwards. |
| TRUMPET |
An instrument that is
designed to make a band sound better. The idea is that if the trumpets
play loud enough, you can't hear the rest of the band, so only the
trumpets' mistakes are heard, not everyone else's. |
| TUBA |
A
concert sousaphone. |
| TUNE |
What the condition
when all instruments are within half a step of each other is called. |
| UNIFORM,
FULL |
A form of torture
consisting of "Urkel" pants, black socks (or white socks colored
with a black marker), a heavy wool jacket, a choking ugly hat (with a
strikingly beautiful plume), and circulation-stopping suspenders. |
| UNIFORM,
SUMMER |
Consists of a green
band shirt, khaki shorts, white socks and white shoes. This torturous
device (although it is unanimously agreed upon that this is better than
the full uniform) is inflicted during the 4th of July parade and first few
football games. |
| VALVE |
A key object on most
brass instruments that sticks only during important performances and
solos. |
| VALVE
OIL |
Exquisitely
tasteful with a twist of lemon. A form of currency for brass players. |
| VIBE,
The |
A frequent occurrence
after long exposure to fellow Band Geeks during intense competitions or
rehearsals, usually resulting in obsessive compulsive behavior directed
towards the band. Know effects are few and are rarely, if ever,
reversible. Believed by some to be a sign of mental illness. Scientists
are stumped, and frankly, don't care why it occurs. |
| VISUAL |
A way of keeping
marching band members busy during a show. Extra credit received if used
against an on-field judge. |
| WANNABE
BAND GEEK |
Someone
who hangs out with true band geeks. |
| WATER
BREAK |
An excuse for doing
headstands on the field. |
| WOODWINDS |
1. A true sign that
God has a sense of humor. 2. A biological mistake. |
| XYLOPHONE |
An instrument that is
taken to parades but never marched. |
| YELLING |
An expressive way of
trying to prove that one is more committed than the next person. This is a
self-destructive way of spending any rehearsal, yet we seem to continue in
this practice more and more. This is often connected with "the
vibe" and being intense. |
| YELLOW
DOG |
A yellow school bus.
|
| Z-PULL |
Drill maneuver
performed by DCI Corps to make the crowd stand up. |
