Marching Music Philosophy

There’s no doubt that drum corps, marching band, and indoor percussion have evolved. The shows we see today are different from those of yesteryear. Music is more experimental. Drill is more complex. Storylines and themes are almost always part of design. And electronics are here to stay.

There are a few very fundamental things we’re committed to at PolyOmni Music when it comes to marching music.

  1. The music must be memorable on its own. Until the visual program has been designed, there is only the music. And no one goes to a show to see people move around on a field or a gym floor without any music. They will however, come to see music without movement. So the music must be memorable on its own. If the audience can’t walk away without remembering at least one small phrase, then the music hasn’t done its job.
  2. In marching percussion, acoustic instruments come first. In a drumline, the emphasis should be on percussion. Not synthesizers. Not guitars. Percussion. And what you see is what you get. A piano sound coming from the field is odd when there is no piano to see. It’s important that players in the percussion section play percussion instruments. BUT, we know that electronics are here to stay. That’s not changing. So…
  3. If electronic instruments are to be used, they are supplemental enhancements. There are going to be times when a client wants electronics in their show, and in those cases we’re committed to two things: 1) We’re not content with having someone simply push a button. Electronic keyboard players had better have some skills; 2) Electronic instruments will not overshadow the acoustic instruments. They will be used to enhance the acoustic music.
  4. If you can’t understand or enjoy a show without the electronic samples, then the fundamental design is flawed. Vocal and effect samples are very trendy nowadays. They’re so trendy that many shows seem like they rely too much on them to convey basic ideas. Audiences attend shows to enjoy the music and the movement. Electronic samples can fail. Samples can become so cumbersome it overshadows the music. Therefore, like electronic instruments, samples should enhance the fundamental design of a show. If you take away the samples and the show makes no sense, or is not enjoyable, then the fundamental design of the show is flawed.

The marching music you will find here at PolyOmni Music is designed and composed with these things in mind. We know that music is only half the show. But we want our half to so, so good that it inspires the rest of the show design. That quality will stem from these basic principles.