Marching Band a Sport?

Question

Before anyone says "its not a sport try out basketball or football." well, to bad, I have 1st string Right OT and 2nd String (forgot position) in basketball. the definition of a sport:–noun
1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
2. a particular form of this, esp. in the out of doors.
3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.

1 Its outside, and requires physical prowess, and out of doors, and recreational. along with that, its a team sport, competitive, and also mentally demanding.

Along with that our director was in the navy and the Trumpet Discipline Leader wants to be in the Marines, so there were Laps, push ups, etc. and At 12 hr band camp we would be outside from 9-12.30 in Fort Mill, SC during a 106 degree drought.

and marching is more than walking, our show was inbetween the goal lines and 140-180 bpm(beats per minute)

And there are rules that the judges look for and dock points for violations of the rules

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

Is Marching Band A Sport

Answer 3

Ok. Heres my thing. I'm a marching band person. I marched in a DCI drum corps. Revolution Baritone 07. I've talked the talk and walked the walk. I know what it's like.

But the definition of a sport is blah. I don't' like using the definition because it seems to include so many things that people don't stereotype as sports.

So I put a twist on my definition of a sport. A sport is an athletic as which the standard definition uses that has a precise way of declaring a winner. In example, in football to win your score points a certain way. The football crosses the pane of the goal line etc. But in marching band, you get scored by another person's thoughts of how you did. It is not a set thing. A judge can be bias. A football crossing the pane of the goal line cannot be.

Thats why I say marching band is not a sport. But it is something more than a sport will ever be.

Answer 4

so my opinion but first some background...

I'm a retired veteran of a US Army Band with a bachelor's degree in music that included 3 years of collegiate marching band. I've been a musician since about 1972 (elementary school).

In high school I ran track and cross country. I ran a marathon once (it only takes once). I was a competitive swimmer in international competition. I've coached swimming at the USS, YMCA, and NCAA-II levels.

That said, marching band is not a sport. Not in the sense of athletic activity at least. Also, some of the things you describe your band doing in SC are considered hazing in this state. Push-ups, for example, have no direct relationship to marching band improvement and I doubt that you have a trained coach out there to make sure you do them right and prevent injury. Hazing, not athletics. Sports have coaches who are trained in human performance improvement - band directors are not trained coaches (with few exceptions).

While marching band (and all musical ensembles) has more in common with athletics than they do with an academic class; it lacks some of the important considerations that would allow it to be identified as a sport per sé.

If we identify marching band as a sport, we then have to train (and pay) music teachers as coaches. This isn't something we do presently. We would also have to put a trainer or two on the practice field (which we don't) and redefine how we conduct "class". These issues will not be supported by music educators since it would eat into their positions deeply.

My music education philosophy is that "band is not a class, it's a team activity" -- the typical band director disagrees vehemently with this notion. Partly because, if it's not a class then you don't get school hours to do it. And if marching band is a sport because it is competitive and team oriented, then symphonic band is as well. In fact, all musical ensembles are a team activity and not an academic class (my opinion) and should be taught by performance improvement specialists (coaches) using coaching theory and not educational philosophy.


note: "Trumpet Discipline Leader wants to be in the Marines" that's not a qualification for anything at all - how is that a credential? If I wanted to be a brain surgeon but wasn't, would you let me look around inside your head?

Answer 5

Not specifically, no. It's very very difficult to play and march at the same time. Try running while holding your breath (this goes for all those jocks) and tell me how it feels. That's what it's like playing the trumpet or any other wind instrument. It's very difficult. Walking for over a mile in a strict beat while playing difficult phrases correctly without cracking the notes is one of those things that people come to respect once they try it. Had a football playing friend of mine try carrying a tuba and walking and playing. He tipped his hat in respect to all the marching band musicians.

Answer 6

Marching band is most definitely a sport period point blank

Answer 7

N