Marching bands started in the early 1800s and originated in the military. It should come as no surprise that marching bands have military origins. Marching songs were used to direct troops on long journeys, maintain morale, and even direct troops on the battlefield (Peralta, 2022). The purpose of marching band is to exercise, entertain, and compete. Participating in marching band has a positive impact on students’ physical fitness, coordination, and overall health, reducing anxiety and enhancing self-esteem, which contributes to the culture and legacy of marching bands.
Legacy and Culture of Marching Band
In 1954 marching bands benefited the communities of the Civil Rights movement. During the Civil Rights Movement, the bands boosted spirits and added a festive atmosphere to the events. They became pivotal during the Civil Rights Movement, often using performances to voice resistance and reflect the struggles of the Black community. Today, this role continues as bands tackle contemporary issues through their music (Santi, 2023).
The marching band plays a significant and unique role in HBCUs. At many HBCUs the marching band is one of the most popular attractions on campus, bringing life to the campus and creating a sense of community. Because of this, students looking to attend these colleges are more attracted to them because of the environment the bands create. Marching bands play a key role at HBCUs for recruiting and fundraising, but they are also important cultural institutions that help shape the HBCU experience (Allen, 2021).
Marching bands are adaptable, as many HBCU marching bands blend diverse music forms. Marching bands have a wide variety of genres and categories, and they can adapt and play any genre or category of music. HBCU marching bands often coordinate band-wide dance routines and perform a mix of musical genres and songs made popular through Black culture, including R&B, gospel, rap, and jazz (Allen, 2021).
Importance of Marching Band
Marching band promotes teamwork, discipline, and dedication. Marching bands take teamwork. For example, during a field show, everyone must work together to navigate the formations as precisely and swiftly as possible. Being in a marching band requires dedication and sacrifice; for example, training long, hard hours, missing very few events, and even sacrificing other activities. According to Evan VanDoren, students honor their skills by practicing daily, and students cultivate discipline and perseverance, which are transferable to any field (VanDoren, 2024).
When a person participates in a marching band, they feel as if they belong to an organization or they are a part of a family. Throughout the band season, friendships are formed via collaboration and performances. In contrast to other sports, everyone in the band gets to perform and march, so no one is left behind, resulting in a sense of community. According to Isch, the personal satisfaction of “belonging to” or being “identified with” a group in which there is a common interest is a vital need of this age group (Isch, 1965).
Occasionally, select marching band members are given the opportunity to play solo or perform in front of a judge. One instance of this is when a member of one band calls out a particular player from the other band during a battle. They both get their own space to express themselves, and their teammates will give them recognition. The marching band offers an opportunity for individual self-expression and the gaining of praise, which is also needed in this age group (Isch, 1965).
This activity has numerous benefits for the mind as well as the body. Marching bands give those with behavioral problems a way to express themselves, helping them relax, and they give the shy a chance to be more extroverted. “It does much in giving the shy child an outlet, which will aid him in developing assurance as well as in helping those children who show aggressive behavior” (Isch, 1965).
Physical Fitness and Coordination
The physical outcome of marching band is tremendous and has an impact on a student’s physical health. Participating in the band can strengthen flexibility in several areas of the body, including the hips, knees, and ankles. Playing heavy instruments and marching strengthens both the muscles and the upper body. Riebe believes that just by putting the drums on, the heart rate and VO2 increased because the body was working harder due to the nearly 30% addition to the band member’s body weight (Riebe et al. 2012).
The physical aspects of marching band can help reduce many health concerns. It is important to understand that going to a fitness center or gym isn’t the only way to get physical activity. Other options for physical activity include joining a marching band, walking a dog, or exercising at home. Riebe believes that many people are unaware that moderate-intensity physical activity provides health benefits and that there are many ways to be physically active besides going to a fitness center (Riebe et al. 2012). Marching band involves a lot of physical activity, which helps you stay fit and prevent illnesses or medical conditions. According to the Department of Health, physical inactivity is associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early death (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Increasing physical activity is one way to deter these negative health consequences (Garber et al., 2011, and Riebe et al., 2012).
All parts of marching band, including the abilities learned, can improve mental health. Muscle memory and physical memory combine to improve cognitive areas, and the multifaceted nature of marching band enhances various cognitive abilities. The combination of physical movement, musical interpretation, and emotional expression stimulates memory, problem-solving skills, and concentration (VanDoren, 2024).
Social Identity and Social Benefit
Band provides skills and abilities that are relevant in the real world. Deep within its roots, there are real-world skills being taught and learned about how to solve real-life problems and how to make extremely tough and serious decisions. Band members learn to navigate through challenges, resolve conflicts, and make collective decisions to ensure a cohesive performance (VanDoren, 2024).
The significance of the band is that whatever is taught may be applied in other life situations. Dedication is one example of this; in the band, there is a penalty for being late without explanation, and in some circumstances there is a no-excuse policy. In a real-world job or circumstance, one may lose opportunities or lose one’s employment entirely. By practicing daily and honing their skills, students cultivate discipline and perseverance, which are transferable to any field (VanDoren, 2024).
Bands can greatly improve one's social life and self-confidence. For example, when a shy person has to move outside of their comfort zone and perform in front of a judge for competition, the individual will feel better overall, and the shyness will gradually fade. VanDoren explains an example, saying, “Before joining marching band, I was shy and lacked confidence. But being a part of the band has changed that. The experience of performing in front of a crowd and receiving positive feedback has helped me overcome my fears and believe in myself. Now, I feel more confident in social situations and other activities (VanDoren, 2024).
Overall Health and Wellness
Marching band enhances self-esteem and boosts self-confidence. Self-esteem refers to how much you value and appreciate yourself, and self-confidence gives one the belief that one has talents and abilities.
Conclusion
Most people who participate in marching band benefit from it. In addition to improving students' physical fitness, coordination, and general health, marching band participation lowers anxiety and boosts self-esteem, all of which contribute to the tradition and culture of marching bands. Next time you encounter someone in a band, ask them to share their experience as a band member.
Allen, Doug. “The Legacy and Culture of HBCU Marching Bands.” Best Colleges, 4 Oct. 2021, www.bestcolleges.com/resources/hbcu/legacy-culture-of-marching-bands/.
Isch, Anthony. “The Benefits of the Marching Bands.” Music Educators Journal, vol. 51, no. 4, Feb. 1965, p. 97, www.jstor.org/stable/3390403, https://doi.org/10.2307/3390403. Accessed 30 May 2019.
Peralta, Lia. “The History and Significance of Marching Band Music - Save the Music Foundation.” Save the Music Foundation, 19 May 2022, www.savethemusic.org/blog/marching-band-music/.
Santi, Christina. “The Legacy and Cultural Significance of HBCU Marching Bands.” Waymaker Journal, 23 Oct. 2024, www.waymakerjournal.com/legacy-culture-hbcu-marching-bands/.
VanDoren, Evan. “The Case for Marching Band: Unveiling Skills beyond the Field.” Evan VanDoren Music, 21 Feb. 2024, www.evanvandoren.com/2024/02/the-case-for-marching-band/.
Washington, Clinton. “The Physical and Mental Demands of Being in a Marching Band.” South Carolina Public Radio, 22 July 2019, www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2019-07-22/the-physical-and-mental-demands-of-being-in-a-marching-band.
What inspired me to write this paper was my commitment to the band. I have a few peers that are struggling with the values of marching band and knowing the background behind it. This paper allowed me to address those issues and explain them more in depth. I structure my essay by breaking down the different parts of what I will be touching on in the essay and organize it by breaking it into sections. Therefore, my readers can just go directly to whichever section they want to read.