Marching Band?

Question:Can someone give me some advice on marching drill and playing at the same time?
This season (flute rookie), I could not go to band camp+got braces while everyone was at camp... So I didn't play the show music (I did play at football game pregame), just marched the drill. It was very hard for me to catch up on drill (especially the first 2 parts) I didn't know how to do anything (even had to learn parade marching late) thanks to missing band camp.
I'm worried about not being able to march a complex show and play the music at the same time! (Only playing+marching I've ever done was pregame+parades) I'm especially worried about back marching and lateral slides while playing... And not being able to memorize the music! Thanks! :)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Can someone give me some advice on marching drill and playing at the same time?
This season (flute rookie), I could not go to band camp+got braces while everyone was at camp... So I didn't play the show music (I did play at football game pregame), just marched the drill. It was very hard for me to catch up on drill (especially the first 2 parts) I didn't know how to do anything (even had to learn parade marching late) thanks to missing band camp.
I'm worried about not being able to march a complex show and play the music at the same time! (Only playing+marching I've ever done was pregame+parades) I'm especially worried about back marching and lateral slides while playing... And not being able to memorize the music! Thanks! :)

Yay, a fellow flautist. :) I was in marching band for four years before moving on to college.

What worked for me was to concentrate most on the marching in the beginning. (One flute missing a note or two or dropping out during a section isn't going to be noticed, but if you're walking in the complete wrong direction or end up outside the form, that's what's going to be noticed. Let's face it; flutes don't take center stage when it comes to marching band.)

Once you know the drill fairly well, try to associate phrases of the music with sets in the drill. (At section A in song #2 flutes start a left slide towards side B to form a diagonal.) Drill sets are formulated to fit the direction of the music so if you try to think of them together rather than separately, it should be easier to remember them. (If that makes any sense at all. lol) If you are allowed flip folders at this point, you can write directions in your music to remind you of the drill. So if you start moving forward at a certain phrase, mark in an up arrow above that measure. A lot of times, a simple direction like that is enough to remind you of the set you're going to. You could also make a small sketch of the shape of the form you are in at that point in this music.

Most of all, don't panic. If you happen to make a mistake, it's not the end of the world. If you forget a set, just make sure you're not standing off by yourself in an open space. Try to find an open position so that you can fit the form somehow. Also, in my bands, the flute section stays together 80% of the time and the rest of the time, they're mixed in with clarinets. So chances are, if you somehow end up in the middle of a cluster of tubas and baritones, you're in the wrong place. :p

Backwards marching is not too difficult once you get over the fear of trampling someone. Just remember, if you do run into someone behind you, it's their fault because they are facing forwards and can see you. Depending on your band's marching style, all you really have to remember is to slide your toe on the grass while you march so that you don't bob up and down. Keep the upper half of your body faced parallel to the front sideline unless you are told otherwise. With lateral slides, the best thing to do is to get in front of a mirror. Start out facing straight ahead and turn your upper body to face the mirror keeping your feet in place. Then, take a few steps. Lateral slides take a lot of practice.

I hope some of this helps! Good luck! :)