This is my first year in marching band, and MAN, my instructor is working us to death! Today we stood outside for 3 hours learning the first drill. I got all confused and started messing up all over the place, haha. Marching backwards is the hardest for me, especially since at one point I have to go 8 feet in 32 counts (Probably easy to some of yall, but for me it's hard, lol). I've almost learned all the music, but he expects us to have it down and memorized in 2 weeks.. *sigh* Does it get any easier? lol.

Absolutely! I remember back in my freshman year of high school, I had the hardest time marching in time with the music....I could either play, or I could march, but I couldn't do both. In fact halfway through rookie camp (we have 2....One just for rookies and leadership, where the rookies learn basics, and a band camp, with everyone, where we actually start putting drill and music together), I was just about ready to quit. By halfway through band camp, I had pretty much gotten over that, and there was just this one section where it was all 8th's on the offbeats that I couldn't play and march (Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" for anyone wondering what piece it was). By the time sophomore year rolled around, I had no problem with ANYTHING....That was the most difficult show I have ever marched. In one part, I was marching backwards at 180 bpm. To complicate matters, I had to move 20 yards in 16 counts, so I was low-walking (lower leg parallel to the ground) backwards, double tonguing running 16th notes (for about 30 measures) on piccolo, into the 4th octave (yes, I mean the fourth octave, not the third). Work hard, and give it your best, and it'll come to you. My one piece of advice for beginning flutists (that I shared with my section when I was section leader): Always be sure you've got the marching down. No one is going to notice if one flutist drops out of the music for a couple of measures, and there will always be someone more experienced to cover the part for you, but it's easy to see when someone is out of step.

oooh, nice advice!!!

I wish I could help, but I was two left feet when it came to marching. Everyone would stop and I would still be going.

Aww Fleer! It does get a lot easier as time goes on. Marching Band was my absolute most favorite time of the year, and the harder the shows were, the more I loved it. I was a section leader every year, Drum Major my Senior year, and a Drill Captain. Yeah...it was one of my big passions. Here are some things that might help you out. I don't know if you use any of them, but if you then you are on the right track!

1. Use a drill marker. If your band doesn't supply these go to a hardware store and see if you can find 3-4 different colored 4 inch tiles or scrap wood that you can cut to those specifications. Stick them in your pocket and get ready to march. When you are on the first place you are supposed to be on the field drop a marker. When you go to the second spot drop a different colored marker. Keep doing this. When you run out, pick up the first one and move it into the 5th spot etc. This will keep you from looking down because you will feel your foot hit the marker. Everntually you will form a kind of muscle memory and your body will just remember it.

2. If you have to move far and fast while marching lower yourself closer to the ground. It is almost a little squat, but it allows you to move for freely, take larger steps, and play more smoothly.

3. This might sound silly, but when you order your marching shoes get your shoe size for a local shoe store at the end of the day. Your feet swell throughout the day and shoes that are too loose or too tight make marching a nightmare. I have seen more people trip while back marching because their shoes were too big than I care to count.

4. You REALLY should practice marching in a square either alone or with your section over and over. You should be able to hit yard line to yardline in 8 counts without every having to look. It is a matter of practicing your stride until you are confident you can march the whole field and never miss a yardline without looking at the ground. Once you master that and you are able to do it facing in every direction, those bigger steps will come easier to you. Practicing long tones or scales while you are doing this will help train you for playing and marching.

If you have any other questions I can help with please let me know. Like I said, I am a bit geeky over marching band and I love talking about it!

Dottedeighthnote....Wouldn't having to march 8 feet in 32 counts require a step much *smaller* than the usual eight-to-five step size?

Exactly, but having the normal measurement or average step memorized helps you adjust to the other steps. I also re-read the 8ft in 32 counts and I wonder if that is supposed to be a bigger or smaller measurement. It doesn't seem like 8ft in 32 counts would be a problem .

Okay...#4 in your other post, where you said "Once you master that and you are able to do it facing in every direction, those bigger steps will come easier to you." confused me a bit. I actually found that small steps are quite a bit harder than big steps. With a larger step, you have a wide base which makes it easier to balance, but if both your feet are in almost the same spot, the area you're balancing on is much less, and it's more difficult to remain upright. I do like your suggestion of the squares....We did something like that my senior year of high school (we got new marching instructors every year I was there, so every year we learned a new marching style and exercises to go with it), and it did help a bit.

That is true Flutist, but I also think it depends on the style of marching each band does. If you are required to tip toe march backwards, yeah the little steps are stinky, however some bands no longer require this and marching backwards is not nearly as difficult as it has been in the past.

It's amazing the difference between marching on a high school and college level. (Random blurb) High school was all about the perfect roll step, kicking off when you moved from a certain position, and backmarching. College had NONE of that for me. College was... WOW, we got rained out 4 days in a row. Let's learn 18 pages of drill in 1 day! CHEER! :O. I think the absolute worse move we had as flutes was a mad dash from the back hash to the fron sideline in 16 counts. Can we say jazz run anyone?

You're right about some bands not requiring you to be up on your toes when you march backward, but I honestly have no idea why you WOULDN'T require it. It's nearly impossible to march smoothly backwards (especially at quick tempi) if you're bringing your heels down. It also increases the chances of tripping, or twisting an ankle, and who really wants to hurt themself marching?

So, how many years did you go to college? You mention going to college a few times, so I was just wondering.

Ha Flutist that is very true!!! We should shorten your name to 06 XD.

The worst "injury" I saw was at a contest. This particular band did a very military style marching show. Unfortunately we had a pretty early winter that year and the astro-turf was frozen. This poor French Horn player did a sharp 180, and then a not so sharp splat. It pretty much tore up her mouth. You could tell she was bleeding from the stands .

That does sound pretty nasty. I guess that's just another example of why it's better to play flute.....No mouthpiece to massacre your face. Feel free to call me whatever you like....I've had plenty of nicknames in my day. My real name's Chris, if that's easier for you.

if my memory serves me correct, didn't you tell me you only went to college for less then a year and then dropped out? From some of your post it sounds to me like you are giving off the impression that you majored in college or something. Just wanted to clarify that.

Fleer, marching definately gets easier, especially when you no longer have to deal with the sun anymore. Just don't give up. Practice makes perfect. By the end of the season, you'll have your show memorized so well that you could perform it with your eyes closed and hit every set. I could probably perform last season's show off the top of my head right now, if I wanted to. That's how much we practiced, and my school's marching band only practices one night a week.

I guess that's just another example of why it's better to play flute.....No mouthpiece to massacre your face.

I had a marching accident one time, though. My friend, who happends to be about five inches taller than me and about 50 pounds heavier, marched into me one time. My front tooth dented the my lip plate. Luckily for me, it was more of a shock than it actually hurt and there was no blood envolved. If we had been marching quickly (we each had about 10 feet to go in 32 counts), I probably would have had a tooth ache.

Fleer, I don't think you have to worry about being run into, though, and if you are, it shouldn't hurt too much.