Music Factory

As any Ohio State football fan will quickly remind you, the dotting of the “i” is one of the most celebrated traditions in all of college sports. Either before the game or during halftime, the all-brass-and-percussion marching band takes the field and forms a the word Ohio in script letters. The drum major is among the most respected positions of the band, but it’s a sousaphone player who gets the honor of dotting the “i.”

The sousaphone is a specialized type of tuba that’s specially made to increase portability. While some tubas are so large and unwieldy that they are best played from a seated position, the sousaphone’s construction is such that it wraps around the player’s body. The instrument got its name from the noted bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa.

For a long period of time back in the 1950s, joining the school band was a lot more common. In fact, most kids were either involved in school sports, cheer team, or band. In modern times, fewer and fewer kids are becoming involved in after school activities. There’s no real culprit, except for the fact that kids just seem to have so much more to do these days, with video games, television, and all the various forms of entertainment. In addition, back in the 1950s, there was a lot more pressure for kids to join in after school activities because all their peers were doing it.

While there will always be at least a few jocks and cheerleaders on the school campus, band is one after school activity that has made a resurgence in recent years. Music has always been a popular theme amongst teenagers, but with it becoming easier than ever for musicians to get their music heard (through the internet, digital recordings, and social medial websites), a lot of kids have a renewed interest in band. There are dozens of different fun band instruments kids can learn to play, and finding the right one is all about trial and error. Encourage kids to play a band instrument, and nurture their problem solving, creativity, and artistic senses!