The Development of Thai School Marching Band During the Reign of King Rama IX

Abstract

This article is part of the research on Musicology: Development of School Marching Band 1947-2016. The objective is to study the development of Thai school marching bands during the reign of King Rama IX (1947-2016), using qualitative research methodologies based on the concepts of musicology and utilized historical and ethnohistorical approaches by conducting studies through documentary research and personal interviews with informants. The scope of the study is as follows: 1) The temporal scope is divided into three periods based on significant events: Period 1, from 1947 to 1975; Period 2, from 1976 to 1995; and Period 3, from 1996 to 2016.  2) The content scope focuses on examining the emergence, developments, and trends of school marching bands, as well as the popular songs used in competitions and performances.

Before the political revolution changed (1932), Thailand had brass bands owned by the military, which were used only for military purposes. Student brass bands were started by the Boy Scout group in some secondary schools. Later, they were used in student sports events. Student brass bands began with brass instruments and percussions. It took several years to become an absolute marching band. This thesis intends to study the developing phenomenon of school marching bands by the musicological methodology. It was evident to this research that the school marching band has been developing not only by the number but also in musicological progression, band activities as well as band competition, which brought the marching band up to the success of music and prompted activities of the marching band. Thus, this research will conclude the development of school bands between 1947-2016, which was in the range of King Rama IX. Results will be described in 3 periods as follows.

The 1^st period was early school marching band development (1947-1975). It began with the conduct of the Ministry of Education. In 1957, ten school marching bands were found. They used only the brass instruments and percussion. To encourage a further number of brass bands. The organizer brought up the idea of a band competition. This idea started in 1958, all bands must show their activities by marching, display, and concert. Later 1959, the Bangkok Boy Scouts Club was founded at the Santiratbamrung School. They were responsible for organizing the official Boy Scout band competition. From the original brass band, it appears that there has been a lot of improvement in the number of musicians and the size of the band, and the most significant change was the use of several woodwinds in the band. These changes made the school marching band growing up.

The 2^nd period (1976-1995) was quite interesting since the Ministry of Education had added a music course in the middle school. Later, the number of school marching bands increased, and some of them were able to travel out of the country for band competitions. In 1980, Wat Sutthiwararam's marching band won a marching band competition in Indonesia, and later, in 1981, they joined the competition in the Netherlands with great successful results. Later, the academic progress and skills of the musicians increased when a private company brought Danish experts for training in Thailand, and later, they sent a Thai instructor for more training in Japan. These two private assistantships resulted in better music band qualities in later years.

The 3^rd period (1996-2016) was a more diverse and pronounced development than the past. There came the private sector, the Siam Music Yamaha Ltd., which organized a marching band competition for the first time. Therefore, competitions are organized by the government and private sectors, and both indoor and outdoor competitions are increasing with better results. So, participation in national and international competitions has increased. There was an unusual battle of musical instruments. More competition categories were organized than before. Several bands were sent from many schools all over the country to compete domestically and internationally.

Of the 3 developmental periods mentioned, it was found that the school marching band had more successfully developed. Most people with talent in Western musical instruments have emerged from the school marching bands. It made more rising to the number of music teachers and artists. These people returned to develop school marching bands. Music skills in the marching band were increased in many schools. Students' knowledge and skills in music and song numbers were enlarged to play. There are many more songs for marching bands. Many band students later continued their music studies in the College of Music for a higher degree in music.