Band Kids vs. Orch Dorks: Who is better?

Just like a song, the debate of whether orchestra or band is superior has many layers to it, with each opinion branching off into its own melody of sorts. Both the band and orchestra programs at PHS are made up of students who are passionate about music, and many are certain that their instrument, and respective ensemble, are superior to all others. Eric Homer, a bass trombone player, said “Marching band is a community. It allows you to connect with other people who are interested in music, and work towards self-improvement.” The Pasadena High School marching band has and continues to travel to many places together, and musicians have formed a strong bond between its musicians. Enrique Perez, a senior who plays double bass and trombone, said “I prefer band because the music is more elaborate and interesting to play [than orchestra music].” Mr. Alvarez, our band director, “started [his] music career in singing. And playing a wind instrument is very similar to singing with a choir. When it comes to band; you are actively performing and engaging with your entire body, and it becomes more of a physical art rather than something that can just be heard.” On the other hand, Azara Vig, a double bass player, described “There are a lot of different technical and versatile things you can do on a string instrument, such as singing while playing, that you can’t do on wind instruments.” Jeffrey Smithwick, a viola player, stated “You have more expression; using bow techniques and vibrato. And strings have a richer sound.” The Pasadena High School orchestra program struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic and has only recently begun to grow and thrive. Under the direction of Dr. Rardin (Dr. R), the orchestra has grown and has performed in countless festivals and concerts over the last year or so.

When asked what aspects of strings she prefers to band, Dr. Rardin, our strings director, expresses “The instruments create the most plaintive, delicious, crying and singing sound. I get to recreate music from the 17th Century and beyond, and string instruments are the closest to the human voice. My favorite is the mix of winds, strings, and percussion; that’s your full symphony orchestra that the great composers wrote for.” While both orchestra and band have their own pros and cons, it's truly subjective and lies in the dedication of the students to cultivating their respective sound. So, which do you think is better?

Mr. Alvarez, our band director, said “I started off my music career with singing. And playing a wind instrument is very similar to singing with a choir. When it comes to band; you are actively performing and engaging with your entire body, and it becomes more of a physical art rather than something that can just be heard.” When asked what aspects of strings she prefers to band, Dr. Rardin, our strings director, expresses “The instruments create the most plaintive, delicious, crying and singing sound. And I get to recreate music from the 17th Century and beyond, and string instruments are the closest to the human voice. My favorite is the mix of winds, strings, and percussion, called Symphony orchestra.” While both orchestra and band have their own pros and cons, it's truly subjective and lies in the dedication of the students making their respective sound. In the end, it's all about making music together.

Edited:

Just like a song, the debate of whether orchestra or band is superior has many layers to it, with each opinion branching off into its own melody of sorts. Both the band and orchestra programs at PHS are made up of students who are passionate about music, and many are certain that their instrument, and respective ensemble, are superior to all others.

Eric Homer, a bass trombone player, said that “Marching band is a community. It allows you to connect with other people interested in music, and work towards self-improvement.” The Pasadena High School marching band has and continues to travel to many places together, and musicians have formed a strong bond between its musicians. Enrique Perez, a senior who plays double bass and trombone, said “I prefer band because the music is more elaborate and interesting to play [than orchestra music].” Mr. Alvarez, our band director, “started [his] music career in singing. And playing a wind instrument is very similar to singing with a choir. When it comes to band; you are actively performing and engaging with your entire body, and it becomes more of a physical art rather than something that can just be heard.”

On the other hand, Azara Vig, a double bass player in the orchestra, described “There are a lot of different technical and versatile things you can do on a string instrument, such as singing while playing, that you can’t do on wind instruments.” Jeffrey Smithwick, a viola player, stated “You have more expression; using bow techniques and vibrato. And strings have a richer sound.” The Pasadena High School orchestra program struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic and has only recently begun to grow and thrive. Under the direction of Dr. Rardin (Dr. R), the orchestra has grown and has performed in countless festivals and concerts over the last year or so.

When asked what aspects of strings she prefers to band, Dr. Rardin (Dr. R to most), our strings director, expresses “The instruments create the most plaintive, delicious, crying and singing sound; I get to recreate music from the 17th Century and beyond, and string instruments are the closest to the human voice. My favorite is the mix of winds, strings, and percussion; that’s your full symphony orchestra that the great composers wrote for.” While both orchestra and band have their pros and cons, at the end of the day, it's subjective and lies in the dedication of the students to cultivating their respective sound. So here’s a question for you: which do you think is better?