Shaping Sound: How Band Culture Emerges — and Why It Matters

Culture isn’t something you can write into bylaws. You won’t find it in your mission statement, your rehearsal schedule, or that folder of workshop materials. You can’t enforce it by title, rank, or volume. You can’t command it into being with a loud voice or a well-written set of by-laws. Culture just is.

It shows up in the way we speak to each other during rehearsal. It lingers in the silence after someone plays a shaky part. It hums along in the van on the way to a contest, and in the bar afterward when we’re still wearing kilts but trying to shake off a rough set.

But can it be influenced? I believe it can.

Culture is the result of countless interactions within the band — in practice rooms, group chats, email threads, post-competition dinners, and the million in-between moments. If we can shape some of those interactions, we might be able to shape the culture they produce.

That brings up real questions:

• What kind of leadership do we encourage in our section heads?

• What behaviors do we reward — musically and interpersonally?

• Who do we trust to mentor new members?

• How do we give feedback?

• How do we handle disagreement?

• Do we build each other up — or tear each other down?

• What language do we use when we talk about each other?

• How do we carry ourselves when we lose?

• What do insiders say about the band?

• What do outsiders notice?

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I don’t even know if everyone would consider me a leader — some might, others won’t, and that’s okay. But I do know I hold a bit of influence. In a small band, each person’s influence makes up a bigger slice of the culture pie. If you’re a Pipe Major, a Drum Sergeant, a long-time member — your slice might be even larger. That’s a weight I try not to ignore.

But here’s the part that keeps me up some nights: What kind of culture are we even building? Are we creating something people want to belong to? Are we chasing the right goals, for the right reasons?

It’s easy to show up, tune up, and push through. But maybe it’s worth pausing to ask:

• What do we want this band to feel like?

• And are we — each of us — doing our part to help it sound like that?