In the Northwood marching band, the front ensemble or pit is the stationary percussion ensemble. This ensemble is typically placed in front of the football field.

The ensemble may contain any type of percussion instrument from cymbals, gongs, and drum kits to Afro-Cuban percussion such as congas, bongos, claves, and cowbells, to African percussion such as djembes.

The main emphasis of the pit are the mallet instruments: marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, crotales, and xylophone. Sometimes includes non-standard instruments (such as the violin) or electronic instruments (such as synthesizers and bass guitars) in the pit.