Zia Marching Band Fiesta in Albuquerque

On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is your child's first day practicing a flute and 10 is attending a Drum Corps International band performance, the Zia Marching Band Fiesta state competition in Albuquerque was an 8. Well, this is the first event in which we haven't been unanimous in our rating value. If you are a band geek and did 4 years of marching band in high school like me, you'd probably rate it an 8. Otherwise, if you have never seen a band performance in your life, like Orrin, you may rate this event a 4.

This event is an event that I would return to year after year because if you miss a show, it is something you miss forever. You will never see it again. Out of all the marching band competitions in New Mexico, Zia is by far the best; it is the one that all the bands work for the hardest and it is the most anticipated of them all. The variety of shows that perform is astonishing. Really, the only downside to Zia is the cost of admission.

Our Story of the Performance

One of the things were most excited to view in this performance was my little sister performing. This is her senior year and her first year she was in marching band. She is a very talented piano player, so they put her on the electronic keyboard in her school's marching band. Non-marchable instruments like a piano are usually placed at the front of the field and together they constitute the section called "the pit." It is most fun when the pit players rock out and bob their heads up and down to the music. This night was the only chance we would get all season to see her perform, so we were so excited that she absolutely rocked it!! Here she is in all her glory!

Now you may be wondering how an electric piano is a part of a marching band. Well, marching bands have changed with the times. The first marching bands were the instruments that marched with soldiers to battle. This eventually evolved to bands playing and marching in parades. Now marching band is a class taught at many high schools. The bands march on a football field and based on the position of individual people on the field, geometric shapes are created. These shapes change and evolve throughout the 10-15 minute performance. For a while, bands focused on traditional style of marching. But in the past few decades, bands have little by little been introducing unique elements into the shows. Many times this involves special props which help the audience better be able to relate to the chosen theme of the dance for the day. Sometimes this involves new age instruments like electric pianos, electric guitars, and sometimes even elements like a grand piano (one band brought one to Zia this year!). Some people embrace these newer elements as they can make the show more exciting. However, some disagree with their use as it can potentially distract from the band. This push-and-pull of old vs. new is one of the main themes of the 2002 movie Drumline.

The themes this year at Zia were fascinating and so different from one another! Some of the themes that the bands took on this year included:

Time

Some sort of mural theme

Climbing Mt. Everest

Little Red Riding Hood

Arabian Nights

Metallica

Piano Man

Nightmare

Tales of Horror

Route 66

Now, not being the least bit biased, I would have to say the best part of the marching band--the part that makes the show-- is the colorguard!!! Here is an extra showcase of this key section:

Cost to Attend:

For finals only or prelims only: $11 per adult, $6 per student (but it doesn't count if you are a college student, unfortunately... only highs school and below)

For Finals and Prelims: $16 for adults and $9 for students

Total Cost for the two of us: $22

As a final picture, here was an epic moment in the Arabian Nights show when a colorguard princess slit the throat of the drum major!!!