POSTURE: THE STARTING POINT FOR MARCHING TECHNIQUE

By Mike Fanning
Cadets Marching Staff
Progressive Visual


Many are not sure where to start when beginning a marching technique program. Some may start with forward marching, some with commands and some with mark time. I recommend starting with Posture. Before a marching ensemble can look uniform in moving together they have to look uniform standing still. The following is an excellent posture exercise to give every member the same idea of what the goal of marching posture is.

This exercise creates uniformed posture throughout all body types. First the exercise breaks down your posture then, re-creates it.

We have 6 points of reference within this exercise: 1. Ear; 2. Shoulders; 3. Ribs; 4. Hips; 5. Knees; 6. Ankle. Your ankle is the base point which all other points are built up. When these 6 points are aligned a uniform posture is created.

We start the exercise from what we will call the "set position". At the "set position" your feet will be slightly outside shoulder width, your middle finger will be on the seam of your pants and you need to find a focal point with your eyes. Your focal point should be in front of your face or a little above. Do not look at the ground or up towards the sky/ceiling. Your eyes are also a very important part of body language. You need to focus solely on your focal point and do not look around. This will communicate focus and determination.


We break this exercise down into 2 parts using 4 count phrases:

Part 1

• Counts 1-4: Head to Chest - At the end of these four counts your chin should touch your chest and you should feel a stretch in the back of your neck.

• Counts 5-8: Shoulders back, back and up, forward and up, forward and down. At the end of these four counts you should feel a stretch between your shoulder blades. Your wrists should be crossed onto each other. Your chin should still be to your chest.

• Counts 9-12: Upper back/rib cage - In these four counts you roll your rib cage forward down to your breastbone. At this point you should feel a "good hurt" just below your shoulder blades. Wrists are crossed; chin is to your chest. You are not looking around.

• Counts 13-16: Lower back - In these 4 counts you relax your lower back. You should be hanging over your waist. Your chin will lose contact with your chest and your wrists should become uncrossed. Be Relaxed.

• Counts 17-20: Release the hips - At this point you be relaxed hanging. Knees should be slightly bent. Head should be hanging. Arms are hanging. Relax your tongue within your mouth. Breathe deeply. With each breathe feel your lower back expand. With each exhalation fall towards the ground and relax more.

• Counts 1-4: Straighten legs. Your knee point should straighten onto your base point and your hips will align onto your knee point.

• Counts 5-8: Lower back onto hips on knees on ankle point

• Counts 9-12: Rib cage onto lower back on hips on knees on ankle point.

• Counts 13-16: Roll your shoulders forward and up, back and up, back and down middle finger aligning to the steam of your pants. Your shoulders will become aligned onto your rib cage.

• Counts 17-20: Bring your head back up. This will align your ear point onto your shoulders. Find you focal point. Stare at it. This is important.

• Counts 21-24: On your own bring your feet together, heels and toes touching. DO NOT FIDGET!!! We are creating muscle memory. You must learn the physical feeling of this posture. If you fidget at any point of the exercise you lose muscle memory thus taking away from everything we have done so far.

• Counts 1-4: Rise up onto your platforms and gain maximum height. Do not lose balance.

• Counts 5-8: Reach towards the sky in 8 counts. This will lift your rib cage off your lower back/ trunk area. Stretch those arms all the way up.

• Counts 9-12: Bring your arms down for 8 counts leaving rib cage raised and relaxed. Don't allow tension to sit in the shoulders. Allow them to relax.

• Counts 13-16: Lower yourself down onto heels. Try to maintain the same height you had when you where on your platforms. Try to stretch your spine towards the ceiling/sky.

• Counts 17-20: Raise instrument to playing position. When your instrument is up to playing position your palms should not touch your horn. Hold the instrument with your fingertips. This will create more space in your triangle. Your triangle is the shape your arms take when your instrument is up at the playing position. Bell front instruments should be up at a 10-15 degree angle. We play to people sitting in football stadiums. We want them to hear you playing.

• Lack of definitive starts and stops. Use all counts when breaking down/ aligning points. Be smooth in your movements and use all the space and time you are given.

• Make sure you understand where each point starts and stops.

• Poor positioning of hands on equipment at end of exercise.

• Improper embouchure set-ups.

• Chins facing the ground.

• Tight and raised shoulders.

• Tension