Instructional Resources for Marching Band

In the teaching world, it's universally accepted that teachers steal ideas and resources from each other. I've found that when you're the sole person responsible for an entire high school music program, this becomes even more crucial to survival. For every concept or skill you teach, there is guaranteed to be someone else out there who has taught it already, and maybe even someone who has created a resource for other teachers to use.

With marching band in particular, the easiest way to teach certain techniques is to model or show the correct way to perform them. Below is a list of several helpful videos for different marching band-related skills. I've also included some useful articles and presentation resources by other band directors.

Videos:

A good beginner's tutorial on basic upper and lower body positions
A stretching routine for the beginning of rehearsal
Five of the most common flag tosses for color guard
Rifle toss fundamentals
Marching basics for when you actually get moving
Breathing Gym Daily Workouts for improving lung capacity and endurance
The Blue Stars give tips on "strength and conditioning for volume and impact"
Teaching the crab step to your drumline

Presentations:

A Practical and Streamlined Approach to Teaching Marching Fundamentals - Bob Chreste, 2013 Midwest Clinic
A Straightforward Approach Toward Teaching, Developing, and Maintaining Solid Marching Technique - Frank Troyka, 2003 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention

Articles:

"Physical demands of marching band should not be ignored" - Dr. David Geier, The Post and Courier, 2017
"Musicians as athletes" - Haley Greenwald-Gonella, Halftime Magazine, 2010

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