Be a part of the 2023 Season!
The Blazer Pride Marching Band is a great place for students to meet new friends before the school year begins! Marching band is a fun, unique way to create music outside of the traditional seated concert band setting. Marching band is open to all Montgomery Blair students, whether they play a band instrument or wish to learn a new instrument!
- Earn 50 SSL hours annually
- Play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument
- Spin flags with the Color Guard
- Perform at Blair football games, community parades, and events
- Compete against other Montgomery County and Maryland marching bands
Positions
Winds
Brass
The brass section consists of trumpet, horn (marching mellophone), trombone, baritone/euphonium (marching baritone), and tuba (marching sousaphone).
Woodwinds
The marching woodwind section has all single-reed woodwind instruments, flute, and piccolo.
Percussion
Battery
Commonly referred to as the drumline, the battery percussion is made up of snare drums, tenor drums (quad/quint toms), bass drums, and cymbals.
Front Ensemble
The front ensemble, or pit percussion section, houses all of the percussion instruments that can't be carried on the field: keyboard percussion, auxiliary instruments, timpani, piano, and electric bass.
Color Guard
The color guard, or auxiliary unit, performs on the field with flags, rifles, swing flags, and sabers.
Field Assistants
Field assistants are a non-performing position with the marching band. Field assistants aid with set-up and take-down of practice field equipment, parade equipment, and instruments for the show. They also earn 30 SSL hours each season.
Brass
The brass section consists of trumpet, horn (marching mellophone), trombone, baritone/euphonium (marching baritone), and tuba (marching sousaphone).
Woodwinds
The marching woodwind section has all single-reed woodwind instruments, flute, and piccolo.
Percussion
Battery
Commonly referred to as the drumline, the battery percussion is made up of snare drums, tenor drums (quad/quint toms), bass drums, and cymbals.
Front Ensemble
The front ensemble, or pit percussion section, houses all of the percussion instruments that can't be carried on the field: keyboard percussion, auxiliary instruments, timpani, piano, and electric bass.
Color Guard
The color guard, or auxiliary unit, performs on the field with flags, rifles, swing flags, and sabers.
Field Assistants
Field assistants are a non-performing position with the marching band. Field assistants aid with set-up and take-down of practice field equipment, parade equipment, and instruments for the show. They also earn 30 SSL hours each season.
Rehearsal Schedule
Pre-season
There will be weekly pre-season training camps for percussion and color guard starting in May (dates TBA). In late May, read-through sessions will start for the upcoming show. At these read-throughs, you will get to hear what the show sounds like when playing in the group. Read-through camps are also when parts are assigned and music is distributed.
Conditioning Camps
Conditioning Camps run select Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer from 8:30--11:00 a.m. Conditioning Camps are a great way to get in shape for the fall season. You can also get a chance to learn and practice marching technique before band camp. At the end of conditioning camps, there is time to go over music with the director if you have questions or need help.
Band Camp
Band Camp starts two weeks before school. The first week is Monday--Friday, 8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. The second week is Monday--Friday, 3:30--5:30 p.m. Band camp is the time when we learn the majority of our show.
During the year
The regular marching band seasons lasts September--November. The band rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30--5:30 p.m. Percussion and Color Guard additionally rehearse Mondays 3:30--4:30 p.m.
There will be weekly pre-season training camps for percussion and color guard starting in May (dates TBA). In late May, read-through sessions will start for the upcoming show. At these read-throughs, you will get to hear what the show sounds like when playing in the group. Read-through camps are also when parts are assigned and music is distributed.
Conditioning Camps
Conditioning Camps run select Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer from 8:30--11:00 a.m. Conditioning Camps are a great way to get in shape for the fall season. You can also get a chance to learn and practice marching technique before band camp. At the end of conditioning camps, there is time to go over music with the director if you have questions or need help.
Band Camp
Band Camp starts two weeks before school. The first week is Monday--Friday, 8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. The second week is Monday--Friday, 3:30--5:30 p.m. Band camp is the time when we learn the majority of our show.
During the year
The regular marching band seasons lasts September--November. The band rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30--5:30 p.m. Percussion and Color Guard additionally rehearse Mondays 3:30--4:30 p.m.
Performances
- Area Marching Band Competitions
- Kensington Labor Day Parade
- Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade
- Home Football Games and Playoff Games
- Blair Events: Sankofa, Pep Rallies, DCC Open House, Freshman Orientation, Carnival of the Animals
- Marching Band Parent Picnic
- Kensington Labor Day Parade
- Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade
- Home Football Games and Playoff Games
- Blair Events: Sankofa, Pep Rallies, DCC Open House, Freshman Orientation, Carnival of the Animals
- Marching Band Parent Picnic
Thanks to our sponsor: The 4 Corners Pub