Marching Style Guide
MARCHING FUNDAMENTALS
The Basic Block (Attendance or Parade Block)
The block consists of ranks and files. Ranks run from right to left, while files are those lines running from front to rear.
"TO THE READY" — This is a non-rhythmic call. Section leaders are asked to repeat the call to their section. Once in your position, your right foot should be on your mark and you should be listening for announcements or a call to attention. When called to attention, your left foot snaps to your right foot.
In the stationary block, there are two positions:
ATTENTION — Heels together, toes together, body erect; raise chin slightly. When standing at attention, the arch of the foot is on the yard line. There is NO movement and absolutely NO TALKING in this position. Your concept of professionalism is directly reflected on how you execute this command.
PARADE REST — Feet spread apart shoulder width, instrument held by right hand and the left hand will make a fist and fit in the small of your back. Your head will remain facing front and point at a 45 degree angle to the ground. Actual instrument position will be held to each section leader’s specifications.
INSTRUMENT CARRIAGE POSITIONS
READY POSITION — Hold instrument with two hands at all times; in an upright position; in the center of your body. (Check with your section leader for exact instrument positions; remember all of the instruments within a section must look identical.)
PLAYING POSITION — As dictated by section with director approval. Brass players must direct their bells approximately 10 degrees above parallel to prevent the sound from being trapped by the wall of the stadium or band member.
STATIONARY COMMANDS
DRESS CENTER, LEFT OR RIGHT — Turn head in the appropriate direction, adjust alignment of the company front. Command READY, FRONT brings head and eyes back to the front.
RIGHT/LEFT FACE - Executed by pivoting on the heel of the right/left foot and the toes of the left/right. Posture must remain in attention position.
COVER DOWN – This phrase is used when the band is in a parade block and the members are expected to straighten their file by looking forward.
MOVING COMMANDS
MARK TIME (MT) — The toes do not leave the ground. The heel rolls off the ground up to the ball of the foot. Knees bend directly forward. Picture a tennis ball under your heels.
FORWARD MARCH (FM) This command is given only from the position of ATTENTION or MARK TIME. The style of marching that is utilized at HCHS is called the “glide/roll” step. This step is characterized by a smooth and flowing manner of marching. This style is particularly effective when using a 22.5” step, marching “8 to 5.” However, it may also be used with various lengths of strides ranging from less than 22.5” to slightly more than 30”. The glide step does not use a knee lift.
BACKWARD MARCH (BM) — Body is erect as with attention and forward march, but by lifting up on the toes and taking a step backward does the left leg step off. The legs do not roll as in forward march. The knees should not bend too much, but never lock. Heels are up and the band is only on toes.
THE GLIDE STEP
Body posture is erect.
Chin parallel to the ground.
Instrument in proper position either ready or playing position (assigned by section leader).
The leg will lift slightly so that the left foot crosses the anklebone of the right in the middle of the beat.
At the same time the toe of the left foot should point toward the sky, thus creating a roll step.
Repeat for the right foot step.
The normal marching step is a 22.5” inch step, resulting in 8 steps for every 5 yards. The normal block band marching interval is four 22.5” steps, or 2.5 yards between each person. This spacing is for both ranks and files. Adjusted step sizes that you may also encounter are:
16 steps to 5 yards = 11.25” Step
12 steps to 5 yards = 16.67” Step
6 steps to 5 yards = 33.33” Step
4 steps to 5 yards = 45” step
MOVING TERMINOLOGY
180 and 90 DEGREE SLOW TURN — This maneuver is used to change direction of marching 90 and 180 degrees. The student, using low mark time, turns for a designated number of counts away from the 50-yard line or away from the home sideline.
FOLLOW THE LEADER (FTL) — This particular move is rather self-explanatory. The leader or the first person is shown the exact path he/she is to follow on the field, and the other members of the line/group follow the leader’s exact path. The two main problems in execution are cover and interval. The group must cover down (follow exact path of the leader) and MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT INTERVAL between members.
ADJUSTED STEP— The adjusted step is utilized when moving an individual or group of individuals from one position to another using a specific number of steps of unspecified length and uniform in style. The length of each step is therefore “adjusted” to provide the specified number of uniform steps. When used, the adjusted step will be accompanied by the number of steps desired to move from one position to another. It is then up to each member to adjust steps appropriately. The important thing to remember about adjusting your step size is to maintain a consistent flow from one form to the next, always guiding the dress and covering down.
MESH — When two ranks combine. Typically one rank fills in the spaces between marchers in the rank ahead.
FLOAT—Float is designation for moving a form as a group using adjusted steps.
ARC—Arcs appear in drills with various radii. When forming and arch, the form is achieved by floating into position. Everyone uses the set number of steps to reach their positions, regardless of the distance to be traveled.
STRAIGHT LINE ADJUST (SLA) or SLIDE—This play position is an invaluable fundamental that enables the band to project their sound the stands while executing lateral movements. The fundamental is executed by having the individual turn from the waist up and point their instrument at the predetermined point (usually towards the intersection of the fifty yard line and the front sideline or perpendicular to the front sideline). Be sure to turn from the waist only; do not turn the horn, shoulders, or neck. Your upper body should automatically be facing front if you turn sufficiently at the waist. This technique is used only when the players are marching laterally or on an angle to the front sideline and volume and projection are desired.
FLANK – This move is similar to the slide, but when the body executes the turn, the horn DOES NOT face the stands. Instead, the horn turns with the body and faces the direction of the move.
HORNS TO THE BOX — This playing position simply involves raising the instrument higher than normal playing position. The brass players raiser their horns above 10 degrees to a height specified by the director. It is used to direct sound to the press box and the higher sections of the stadium.
HALT - Term for stopping the marching block.
"SET" - Set is a command used to quickly set the band to playing position when the director wants to begin rehearsing movement on the practice field. It is an informal way to call the band to attention.
MOVING BLOCK DRILL —When the moving fundamentals have been taught sufficiently, we will incorporate, among other drill, the following fundamental block drill:
MT8, FM8, SLIDE LEFT 8, FM 8, SLIDE RIGHT 8, FM 8: REPEAT
BOX DRILL – MT 8, FM 8, SL 8, BM 8, SR 8: REPEAT
FIELD LOCATION TERMINOLOGY
ALIGNMENT— the straightness of a line or the roundness of a curve
DRESS — Alignment to your side
COVER — Alignment to your front
SPACING — The space between centers of individuals
INTERVAL — Spacing to your side
DISTANCE — Spacing to your front
GUIDING —This concept refers to the ability of each player to adjust the alignment based on the placement of band members to the front of their position and to each side.
HASH MARKS —Markings on the football field which divide the width of the football field. Use the innermost side of the hash marks on the practice field.
DRILL CHARTS
How to read a drill chart
Reading a drill chart is like playing the game of “Battleship,” where each position on the field has a left/right position, and an up/down position.
Your left and right position is related to the “Yard Lines,” which are permanently marked on the football field. Yard lines are placed five yards apart, which is also considered to be a distance of eight (8) “marching steps.” The yard lines are defined on the drill chart as thick vertical lines.
The thin lines on the drill chart further sub-divide the yard lines into four (4) “marching step” segments a piece.
Your position is related by the number of steps you are either “inside” or “outside” these yard lines. Inside is considered to be towards the 50 yard line, outside is considered to be away from the 50 yard line.
Your left/right position will then be:
Side of Field
Yard Line closest to
Inside or outside closest yard line
“Marching Steps” from that line
Your up/down position is related to one of four places: Front sideline, front hash mark, back hash mark or back sideline.
Again, thick lines are at eight step (8) increments and the thin lines are subdivided into four (4) step increments.
If your coordinate is on a hash mark, the arch of your foot should be on the edge closest to the center of the field.
