I used to play in an orchestra. I was a violinist and loved playing with all of my fellow instrumentalists. Together, our sound was incredible. We’d practice for hours under the careful leadership of our music teacher who really cared about our playing, and shaped us as young performers. We practiced before school, during lunch, and after school, so we could enter competitions and keep our skills sharp. It was a blast and the team came together really well!
But, what if you could draw a crowd, and impress them without even playing your instrument? How could you possibly hold their attention?
The China Spring Cougars are from Addison, Texas, USA, and they just hosted a big football game. One of the reasons why it’s kind of a big deal is because NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary is the coach of the Trojans, the visiting team. So, while that was a big draw, the home team also had a little something up their sleeve to wow the audience.
The Cougars’ trombone and drum sections showcased a unique performance that lit up the stadium and is making rounds on the Internet. The performance opens to a line of trombone players standing side by side, close together. The drummers are standing behind, in parallel. The percussion counts down and starts the beat. Their rhythm is tight and sets the stage for the trombone players to jump in. Except, they aren’t playing music.
This is a type of marching band choreography that requires precision and technical skill. While the drummers hold down the beat, the trombonists engage in a moving routine. It requires them to take turns bending at the waist or squatting while moving the parts of their instrument. The movements are calculated and dangerous, and the risk of a collision is high due. These are drills, after all, so even though they are fast-moving and well-rehearsed, a bloody nose or a trip to the hospital could happen. This kind of routine can be referred to as a “head chopper,” and after watching the video, it’s easy to see why.
These kids are on fire. Their routine is like clockwork, each person perfectly tuned into their own movements and the movements of his/her neighbor. They operate smoothly and it’s really cool to watch. The kicker? Even though the instrument is held close to each player’s face, no one is actually playing. The entertainment is found in the style and grace of their synchronized movement.
Click the video below to watch this one-of-a-kind dangerous performance!
