PREPARING STUDENTS FOR MARCHING SEASON

by Bob Royall
royall marching designs

From the outside looking in, the student performers in the marching band and colorguard may look like they are exerting little physical effort. This idea would be very far from the truth. The marching band requires an attention to detail and physical strength and endurance comparable to that of any other sport. The demands on the students to perform the marching music, colorguard choreography and drill design is highly taxing both mentally and physically.

The physical aspect of marching band season is often the part that takes band students off guard. From the late weeks of July or August through the entire football season, the band, percussion and colorguard is out on the field rehearsing marching technique, intricate drill design and and colorguard choreography. Preparing the body for these demands is simple if you understand just how similar marching band is to other sports.

Before any marching band season can begin, the students need to start a stretching routine. These stretches will prepare the muscles of the body for the rigors of the season. While it’s obvious that the legs and the upper arms are used heavily during a marching show, there should be time stretching and preparing the torso (or core) for ultimate balance and strength. Careful attention should be paid the unique demands of the low brass, drum line and colorguard. The rolling of the foot places an especially hard load on the shins which is often an overlooked muscle group during stretching. To aid recovery from a long marching rehearsal it is important to stretch completely before and after marching practice.

Stretching is important but, don’t stop there! Strength training is vital to preparing for marching season. A routine of simple exercises focusing on the particular muscle groups used for performance needs to be developed. Again, the winds (in particular the trombones and marching baritones), drum line and colorguard have unique demands placed on them during the show. So, try to adapt and plan for their needs in the strength training routine. Also, it is important for both physical and psychological reason to have variety in the exercises so that different muscle groups are used daily and student don’t “check out” due to boredom. Again, make sure to work on the core of the body in strength training.

Aside from stretching and strength, marching band and colorguard students will benefit greatly from a cardiovascular routine. This will enable them to hit the field running (literally in some cases) and complete a complex drill design, choreography and demanding music without “hitting the wall.” Once a person gets to the point of being winded and out of breath, their body and mind begin to redirect toward the cardiovascular demands and thus cause other functions to diminish. Everyone has experienced this when pushed to their cardio limits. It is a natural reaction of the body so, the only solution is to prepare for the cardiovascular demands of the marching band show.

Why write an article about marching band season in the spring? Because the body needs time to become ready for the demands placed upon it. The choice is: prepare the students to start the season at full speed or spend summer band rehearsals doing it. Being proactive and preparing ahead is the obvious choice.