1) Learn to march well before the season starts. It is much easier to practice things like good marching steps and slide position before you have a flute and music and a drill chart with you.
2) Learn your drill well. If you have a hard time learning drill, write it in your music. You can draw vertical lines through the measures to show where each move begins and ends, then write a short description of where you're going right next to the line. Sample description: Large arc on 35 yd. line.
3) Concentrate on the form shapes, not your specific drill spots. Even if your drill book says you're supposed to be 25 steps off the front sideline, the chances of ever ending up in the same spot twice are not good. It's better to be in the form you are making than to be in your exact drill spot.
4) Memorize your music!!! I can't stress this one enough. Regardless of what it might say on your lyre, lyres are not a "flutist's friend." You will get hot, sweaty, and gross arms under the lyre whenever it's hot outside, and the black plastic also heats up really fast in the sun. Also, it is very possible to get a tan line from your lyre if it's sunny- believe me, I've been there. (Try explaining that one to non-flutists) Plus, the faster you have the music memorized, the more you can concentrate on marching and drill.
5) If you kind of have the music memorized and don't want to wear the lyre, you can hang it from your belt loop. Just loop the elastic strap through a beltloop and then close it around the front of the lyre.
6) Every flutist knows that marching band horn angles are a pain and that it's a lot harder than it looks to hold the flute parallel, but just try to do it anyway. There are people out there (even if its just your band director) that are watching you march, and every time you are out on the field you are performing, so it's important to play your part all the time.
7) Going along with the part playing, its also important to always march with a good step style and body position. If nothing else, you will get used to doing it, so by the time you get to a performance it will be second nature.
8) If you play piccolo, try to play piccolo in the marching band if at all possible. It is so much easier!!!
9) If you want to be a drum major, field commander, or section leader, watch the people who have these positions now and what they do. Always try to march and play really well- your band director will notice.
10) Relax and have fun- if you aren't enjoying marching band, why do it?
Marching Band Humor
There are a lot of great sites of Marching Band Jokes out there, here are some of my favorites. *Note: A lot of these jokes are inside jokes that you have to be in a marching band to understand.
1) You Know You're a Band Nerd When...
2) Marching Band Purity Test
3) Secret Band Geek Haven
4) Band Jokes
5) Music Jokes
More marching band info coming soon!!!
