Football off-season is a time when the Marching Virginians take a much-deserved break from daily rehearsals, picturesque sunsets at the MVC, and the fast pace of learning new shows. However, many members proudly continue to perform throughout the spring semester in ensembles including campus band, symphony band, wind ensemble, pep band, percussion ensemble, and winter guard. For these performers, the grind never stops.
Here are the unique perspectives of Marching Virginians who are members of these additional ensembles:
Being in Wind Ensemble and being a music major helps reinforce good practice habits and makes sure my technique is getting better. I still practice techniques that improve my overall playing and musicianship.
–Gabe Wise, MV Trumpet + Wind Ensemble bass clarinetist
Gabe Wise playing trumpet as an MV; Source: Alana Hassett
Gabe Wise as Wind Ensemble bass clarinetist; Source: Gabe Wise
Many use this different style and setting of performing to keep practicing, and especially prepare for future MV auditions.
Learning how to play complex rhythms [in a spring music ensemble] helps improve my sense of time to get ready for drumline auditions.
–Adam Seigler, MV manager + Symphony Band percussionist
While being in Symphony Band is less physically demanding than marching band, Symphony Band is much more musically demanding. Being a part of Symphony Band has helped me practice my musical technique in the off-season which I hope will allow me to focus more on movement once the football season starts up later this year.
–Aaron George, MV + Symphony Band clarinetist
Aaron George amongst a stack of MV clarinets; Source: Ashley Deans
Spring Concert Day! Source: Aaron George
Although daily rehearsals finish when the football season ends, Marching Virginian music majors still are expected to practice for hours every day.
As a music major we need to know all of our scales upside down, backwards, left, and right. Knowing scales makes it easy to look at a piece of music and sight read it better. Being a better sight reader would help me a lot in marching band [since] I wouldn’t really need to focus on learning the notes as much as I need to focus on knowing my drill and sets.
–Nick Alford, MV + Wind Ensemble saxophonist
MV saxophone section; Source: Lexie Hackman
As a member of the Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble, I am constantly being challenged which requires a lot of practice time. Since I play piccolo in Wind Ensemble often, it is great practice for MV season. As a music major, I have to maintain my playing ability throughout the year, and by the time MVs starts, I am in good shape playing-wise.
–Logan Epperly, MV piccolo + Wind Ensemble flute/piccolo
Regardless of whether you’re a wind player, percussionist, color guard spinner, or music major, there’s plenty of opportunities to keep performing in the spring semester, improve performance skills, and get ready for the next round of MV auditions!