This work carefully depicts how the students of the brass band get lost and struggle with their relationships and identity through extracurricular activities. There are some scenes that are depicted very realistically, and many people will be heartbroken.
However, for those who have not experienced such things, such as the interpersonal relationships in the brass band and the details of the club activities themselves, it may seem like, “That kind of thing even exists…!”
Therefore, in this article, so that you can enjoy this work more deeply, we will explain the words, phenomena, and problems specific to the “wind band” that appear in the work, and what to do about them. I will explain this based on the opinions of myself, who has been playing with a band for many years, and members of the Animate Times editorial department who have experience with brass bands!
We will solve all the questions you have had!
No matter what club activity or environment you are in, those who are ready to work or have experience are welcomed. After all, the experience of having “done it before” is powerful. On the other hand, training inexperienced people from scratch takes time and effort.
However, inexperienced people are welcome in the brass band club! We are looking for people who are picking up an instrument for the first time. There is a depiction of this in the work as well.
Hazuki Kato is a classmate of the main character Kumiko. She was a member of the tennis club in junior high school, but she had no experience playing wind instruments and was a beginner at playing musical instruments.
Hazuki joins the Kitauji Brass Band because she admires the trumpet. Although she ended up being in charge of the tuba, her seniors and classmates who had more experience did not treat her poorly when she joined the club because of her lack of experience.
There may be a simple reason for this, simply because it’s a high school club activity, but there is a reason why brass bands welcome inexperienced players.
This is because the number of participants required for the tournament is large!
The Brass Band Contest, which Kumiko and her friends have set as their biggest goal, is divided into multiple divisions. Each division has a different number of participants, and there are also differences in the presence or absence of higher ranking competitions.
Kitauji High School aims to participate in the A division. It is the star of the wind band competition, with a national competition following the branch competition.
●Required number of participants for D division
: No regulations
Upper tournament: None
●Required number of participants for C division
: Maximum 20 people
Top competition: None
●Part B (II)
Number of participants: Maximum 30 people
Top competition: East Japan Tournament
●Part B (I)
Number of participants: Maximum 35 people
Top competition: None
●Required number of participants in A division
: Maximum 55 people
Upper competition: Branch competition – National competition
The maximum number of participants in Division A is 55. This is just the maximum, so to be extreme, you can enter as long as you have 55 people or less. However, in most cases, the more people there are, the more advantageous it is when considering part organization, harmony adjustment, sound pressure, and power. So, first of all, we need the number of animals.
Considering that the maximum number of bench members for high school baseball is 20, more than twice as many players are required, so even if they are inexperienced, they are valued as valuable personnel.
My personal experience is that in many cases, students who join the club without any experience with a musical instrument end up with the same or even better ability than those with experience after a few years.
部の戦力運営をする立場である顧問やコーチからすると嬉しい誤算。しかも、経験者へ意欲の底上げが望めるとなれば、このような嬉しい誤算も未経験者に期待されるひとつの要因かもしれません。
また、先輩部員の邪な希望ではあるものの、現状人数が足りていない楽器を担当してもらうために未経験者が歓迎されるケースも少なくありません。作中の葉月が、トランペットではなく低音を担当するチューバに配属されたのはこの理由でしょう。
ちなみに経験者も、もちろん貴重な戦力として歓迎されますが、先輩部員からすると「入部して当然」の存在であるため、少しだけ扱いが異なったりすることも……。それはどこの部活でも一緒なのではないでしょうか。
楽しい体験入部、仮入部が終わればいよいよ本入部。コンクールに向けて練習……の前に、担当する楽器を決めていきます。タイミングは学校によって様々ですが、おおよそこのタイミングで3年間担当する楽器が決まります。
ちなみに吹奏楽部の年間スケジュールはこんな感じ。入部してからのスケジュールを、学生時代チューバを担当していた編集部社員と、サックスを担当していた私を例に紹介します。
●複数軸に力を入れる一年間
4月：本入部
5月：GW明けに担当楽器決定
6月：新入部員による初ステージ、吹奏楽コンクールに向けて曲決め、練習
7月：野球応援、コンクールに向けて練習
8月：コンクール、お盆の1周間だけ夏休み
9月：文化祭（有志）
10月：代替わり
11月：アンサンブルコンテスト
12−2月：定期演奏会に向けて練習
3月：定期演奏会
●コンクール特化型の一年間
4月：本入部、楽器決めオーディション、定期演奏会（新入部員初ステージ）
5月：コンクールに向けてパート決めオーディション、曲決め
6月：コンクールAの部、Dの部に向けて各チームで練習
7月：Dの部本番、Dの部チームは10月に行われるコンテストに向けて音源収、野球応援
8月：Aの部県大会、野球応援
9月：Aの部支部大会
10月：Aの部全国大会、Dの部コンテスト出場
11月：アンサンブルコンテスト地区大会
12月：アンサンブルコンテスト県大会
1月：アンサンブルコンテスト支部大会
2月：次年度コンクール課題曲見本演奏報告会
3月：アンサンブルコンテスト全国大会
文字に起こすと、意外と忙しなく動いている印象。作中でも細かい時期は変わるものの、おおよそこの予定で一年が過ぎていきます。
話は戻って担当楽器決め。部員の母数が多いとバランス調整のためにオーディションが行われたりもしますが、仮入部ではじめて握った楽器にいつの間にか配属されているなんて場合もあるそうです。
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