How to start a Marching Band

[nafmeadmin]

I teach at a private school — have about 23 – 25 band students in grades 9 – 12. The public school has the “glamor” of a marching band. I would like to give my students a little taste of what marching band is all about. Can anyone send me in a direction on how to start a marching band with a tiny ensemble?

[nafmeadmin]

Starting a marching band would be very different from just giving your students a taste of what marching band is about. I’m at a charter school (K-12) a little over 100 students in grades 5-12. This spring, I also had the thought of giving students a taste of marching band. So for about a week, the 7th and 8th grade band (about 35 students) 1) watched an inspirational video clip at the start of each class (something like an excerpt from this DCI finals video); 2) went outside to our parking lot (no instruments) and learned marching basics (forwards and backwards, dressing lines, sliding, etc.); and 3) learned a five set “show” that we marched (no music) and taped from the roof of the school.

We have no marching equipment of any kind, but most of the students really enjoyed just learning how a marching band moves. I can’t see my school being in a position to field a marching band any time in the near future, but I plan on exposing them to marching like this next year, too.

[nafmeadmin]

You could also expose them to parade marching which is less time intensive then doing a field show. See if there are any local parades that you could get involved with.

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