marching band technique question?

Question

I'm no longer in marching band, but I have a question that I never had answered. Both of my directors (high school and college) told me that I "kick my knees" when I marched. What in heck does that mean and how do you fix it? I want to know in case I work with a marching band in the future. Thanks!

Answer 1

You are marching "bicycle style." Some marching band and drum corps use that style. Other prefer a straight leg style.

The "bicycle" style is not incorrect (unless it is not the style that your band is marching)

To march the straight leg style...

- When at forward march, do not lift your foot very far off the ground. The knee should bend far less than the bicycle style, but you should style maintain a proper foot roll.

- The foot should seem like it glides across the ground... it should NOT "graze" the ground, but it will not be far from it.

- The key is to make sure your knee does not protrude and "lead" your foot.

In high school I marched bicycle, but now I have my students march straight leg. I feel it has a much cleaner and slick look when the band is moving and provides much more control while playing.

Answer 2

I've never heard that term either (although it has been MANY years since I marched in a band). I suspect he may be referring to a tendency of your knees not to come up straight, but rather flared outward.

Try standing with your feet at a 45 - 90 degree angle, meeting at the heels and flared at the toes. Then march in place. You'll notice that your knees go OUT rather than straight up. If you then correct your stance to have your feet parallel, when you march in place your knees will move straight up in front of you.

Many people walk toe-out without realizing it (just look around the next time you're walking in a crowd). You may need to make a conscious effort to correct your toe-out stance. Once you've done it for a while, it will be come second nature to you.

Answer 3

Every band's style is a little bit different, so it's very difficult to answer this question. Most likely, they wanted you to lead off the step with your knee. But I wouldn't concern yourself with this because whatever band you decide to join will likely use a different style, and the staff will hopefully be a little more explanatory. Good luck! Marching band is great!

Answer 4

I have never heard this expression and I have worked with marching bands for years after having marched myself and been my school's drum major. Now, I'm also not familiar with ALL of the marching band "styles" but I've never heard this expression and am having difficulty imagining what they meant.

Answer 5

it means you push your knees out too far or too high when you march, kind of like a horse, no offense. my director's always yelling at us "we're not horsies!!! they're cute and they're pretty but they break rule number 1!" (rule number 1 happens to be no pooping on the field...we always get a laugh out of that lol)

ok, all joking aside you just need to exaggerate the marching style less, lower your heels a little and your knees won't come out so much

Answer 6

I think what you're referring to is what my band directors referred to as "bicycle stepping." Think about when you ride a bike; to an onlooker your knees appear to propel your legs. In marching, however, it's supposed to be your foot (heel) that is the focus of the beginning of the motion.

Hmm. It's somewhat hard to explain. But yes, I think you were "bicycle stepping."

Answer 7

It means your step isn't fluid. Your knee is leading your leg and/or foot. My guess would be that you walk the same way - perhaps with a little bounce? You can correct it by staying on your heal longer and lifting your leg from the foot, not the knee, similar to a dancer's walk.

Answer 8

nicely while you're purely speaking approximately doing turns jointly as status nevertheless, it relies upon on what innovations your band makes use of. we've 4 counts to do a ninety degree turn. We in basic terms circulate the front component to our ft; we shop our heel down and it purely sorta strikes with something of your foot. counting on how your ft are located in interest, the kind you progression your ft will somewhat variety. Our interest is a 40 5 degree perspective, so in a left turn we'd ought to circulate our left foot somewhat greater to maintain that 40 5 degree perspective. you need to be midway there as of count quantity 2. desire I helped.

Answer 9

i really dont know im sry! we do roll stepping in our marching band!

Answer 10

watch how drum corps march. thaaaaats right