I will be instructing a front ensemble this year that has traditionally worn the Aussie hats that the rest of the band wears. The instructor before me had insisted on doing this. Now, due to my playing, I have found it useless, and cumbersome to have front ensemble members wear the Aussies. (Sorry Madison folks!) My problem is having to hear all of the vets, and parents that are used to it, complain about how I'm breaking tradition. Is it really that big of a deal for me to have to battle the band moms? Or should I stick to my guns on this one? Any ideas?

Stick to your guns and don't bother arguing the point. They'll forget about it soon enough. As long as your musical product is there and they don't look like trash then it will be a problem that goes away overnight.

If I were to enter a teaching job, I would prefer to stick with whatever traditions the line has had over the past years. From personal experience, I hated when a new instructor taught us my senior year. He stripped away some of our classic (as in 20+ years old) warm-ups that were no longer than 16 bars. We normally played "Beer" or 5-7-10 before we marched over just for fun/hype, but he disallowed us to do these as he felt that they were part of the past, nothing that one of his lines would play. I'm fairly sure that if their pit wears hats, then they will be as passionate as I was about my 5-7-10 or Beer split.

no, see the kids could care less, they're just tired of sounding like junk! It's the parents and boosters that are upset. And guess who helps wheel out the equipment? Guess who donates the money?

If it's something you really think is important show how removing the hats can help, and how they might have gotten in the way before. Demonstrate that it might do something postitive, since the parents may just think you're just trying to come in and change things, and that it's not just cosmetic.

When you put it that way boosters don't really have a say on what you instruct them to do. If the band booster think they run the whole program then they should teach. Explain to them that the kids want to take them off.

If the kids don't care and the band director doesn't care, I would go out sans the hats. Personally I would think they would just get in the way during a performance. But anyway, if you have the band director backing you, then he or she can deal with any parents who are upset by the change.

Ok, I thought I was right in that decision, just wasn't too sure with all the negative attention I got from it. Thanks guys!

Well hey our front ensemble since i've been in it has never worn our shakos. I mean when we are marching in parades yeah.. but not for like our halftime show and competition shows. we sometimes used them to decorate our pit carts but they were never worn.

I dont think ive ever seen a front ensemble wear shakos. We didnt ....i think it'd be really hard to wear those while playing in the pit. Our pit only wears shakos during parades also. is it possible that there could be a compromise? like for the first few contests dont wear the shakos, then later wear them or vice versa?? (just some ideas)

Oh! Get berrets! (i think that is how it is spelled) I saw a front ensemble wearing berrets and it seemed pretty nice looking to me! I would love to do that!