This is a Marching Band WebQuest where you will get to explore the beginnings of American marching bands and American marching band music. There are four modules in which you will collect data and research in order to complete the WebQuest.
Since you are in marching band, jazz band, or another music ensemble, your teacher would like you to use this WebQuest to get some new ideas. You are about to become a Scavenger!
Remember when you first began playing an instrument in band and started performing in elementary school? Next, you may have been in band and marching band in Middle School and stayed in it for High School because it was so fun! Hard work, but really fun!
Since the beginning of time, there have been bands, marching bands, ensemble composers, and people of all ages learning new instruments. There are bands created for all kinds of reasons, for different events, even funerals, and for celebrations all over the world! Being in a band (and there are many kinds) is usually fun, whether it is the year 400 B.C.E. or 2010! Marching band has become an art form with many different styles. Marching band is really hard work, requires many hours of practice, usually means you have to travel and still maintain good grades and high standards. Marching band is more than entertainment at football games. Strong marching earns highly sought-after awards and, is still really fun!
Hey Scavengers! Be prepared!
If you aren't using a computer/laptop with a word processor for taking notes for each SCAVENGER section, you will need to have a pencil and paper ready to answer questions, track research, and take notes.
Remember! Be organized so you are able to share your research with your class.
About The WebQuest!
Study mid-19th and 20th centuries: You will explore people from the mid-1800s and early 1900s who began the development of modern marching just by their creative musical innovations. Be on the lookout for photos to upload from your research. Hopefully your class will add photos from a period in history not yet represented in the Photo Blog!
You will figure out how marching bands became such a fixture in high schools, colleges, and universities in the United States and explore which college bands and awards are important in American band music today.
In addition, you will get to know important composers of American marching band and band ensemble music. You have probably played music composed by most, if not all, of these band composers.
All the way into the 21st century: You will learn about ways to get involved with music education advocacy so that all students in grades behind you will still get to have music in your school! There are four Scavenger levels: Scavenger Advanced, Scavenger Extreme, Scavenger Master, and Scavenger Finalist! To reach Level 4 SCAVENGER FINALIST!, you must complete all FOUR sections of the Marching Band WebQuest. Please complete each module in order and finishing all of these sections will earn you a lot of extra knowledge. To get started, move your cursor over the Marching Band WebQuest tab above. You will click on the Scavenger Advanced link and complete that section first. Then, move on to the Scavenger Extreme link. When that module is finished, you may move on to Scavenger Master! Finally, finish off as a Scavenger Finalist!
Good luck Scavengers! We know you can reach Scavenger Level 4! Be careful! You might get hooked and want to keep learning more about the history and future of marching bands!!! Watch for Scavenger Marching Band WebQuest 2 where you will learn all of the different field marching styles and how to create your own formations on your computer for your band to try!
