[ Attention Position | Play Position | Instruments Up/Down | Dress | Ready Front | Parade Rest | Left Face | Right Face | About Face | Mark Time | Squad Halt | Four-Count Turn | Call to Attention | Forward March | Trail | Backward March | Flanks | Lateral Slide | Diagonal March | Grapevine | Silent Drill | By the Numbers | As You Were, Sir/As You Were | Cover Down | Guide Right | Teaching tips ]

A. Attention Position (5 minutes)

1. Details

a. balls of feet on the line
b. heels together, toes apart at 45 angle
c. knees straight, but not locked
d. weight centered
e. back straight
f. instrument parallel to body, mouthpiece just below eye level
g. shoulders back (relaxed)
h. elbows out
i. head and chin up
j. eyes forward to horizon
k. no motion - frozen
l. "Lifted feeling" - body alignment, diaphragm support
m. Exude Pride!
2. Command: a. "Band, to atten-hut"

b. Double whistle
Response: "One" - Snap to Attention Position, facing direction of the command, Freeze
3. Flag members use two counts to get to Attention Position

B. Play Position (1 min.)

1. Details

a. lower body in Attention Position
b. instrument in normal play position, with correct angle (all sections should be uniform)

1. Details

a. no movement on "rest"
b. instrument snaps to Play Position ("up") or Attention Position ("down") instantaneously
2. Command: "Instruments up/down"

Response: "Rest, up/down"
Command: Director's up/down
Response: silent "up/down"

D. Dress (1)

1. Details

a. dress by heels, spacing, and cover
b. head snaps to direction of dress at 45 angle
c. dress points remain facing forward
2. Command: "Dress, (direction - right, left, or center), dress"

Response: "One"

1. Command: "Ready, front"

Response: "One" - head snaps to face forward
2. Command: "Leaving them up, ready front"

Response: "One" - head snaps to face forward
"Two" - instrument snaps to Play Position

F. Parade Rest (1)

1. Details

a. right foot stays planted
b. left foot moves out until feet are shoulder width
c. weight centered
d. correct instrument positions (all sections should be uniform)
e. parade rest is a form of attention - pride and intensity must be maintained
2. Command: "Parade rest"

Response: "One" - snap instrument to position
"Two" - snap left foot straight out to position
Response (without instruments):
"One" - place hands behind body, right hand in left, palms away from body, and snap left foot straight out to position

G. Left Face (2)

1. Details

a. turn begins and ends in Attention Position
b. pivot on left heel and right toe
c. feet should straddle line after the turn
2. Command: "Left face"

Response: "One" - pivot to the left
"Two" - bring right foot next to left foot, returning to Attention Position

H. Right Face (2)

1. Details

a. turn begins and ends in Attention Position
b. pivot on right heel and left toe
c. feet should straddle line after the turn
2. Command: "Right face"

Response: "One" - pivot to the right
"Two" - bring left foot next to right foot, returning to Attention Position

I. About Face (3)

1. Details

a. turn begins and ends in Attention Position
b. pivot on left heel and right toe
2. Command: "About face"

Response: "One" - snap right toe 3 inches behind left heel and 1 1/2 inches to the left
"Two" - pivot clockwise (to the right) 180 , returning to Attention Position

J. Mark Time - MT (15)

1. Details

a. step is smooth
b. hips act as shock absorbers, minimizing upper body motion
c. toes point forward
d. for low mark time:
i. toes come off the ground
ii. heels come all the way off the ground (3 inches)
e. mid step Mark Time uses the same command, but the legs go up to the height of the opposite shin/calf, as the ankle travels along the opposite leg
f. high step Mark Time uses the same command, but the legs go up to the height of the opposite knee, as the ankle travels along the opposite leg
2. Command: "Mark time march"

Response: a. from Attention, left heel comes off the ground
b. as left heel goes straight down, right heel comes off the ground, and
motions are repeated
Response: a. from Forward March, right foot goes down (forward motion stops)
b. left foot lines up with right (left toes go down first)
c. as left heel goes straight down, right heel comes off the ground, and
motions are repeated
Whistle command from Forward March: "Twee-ee-eet, (rest), tweet"


Response: a. right foot goes down one beat after the short whistle (forward motion stops)
b. left foot lines up with right (left toes go down first)
c. as left heel goes straight down, right heel comes off the ground, and
motions are repeated

K. Squad Halt (2)

1. Details

a. use Mark Time technique
b. from Mark Time, there is no forward motion to stop
2. Command: "Squad, halt"

Response: "One" - right foot goes down (forward motion stops)
"Two" - left foot lines up with right, left heel goes straight down, closing at Attention Position, heels together and toes apart
Whistle command: "Twee-eet, twee-eet, tweet, tweet, tweet"


Response: a. on 2nd short whistle, right foot goes down (forward motion stops)
b. on 3rd short whistle, left foot lines up with right, left heel goes straight down, closing at Attention Position, heels together and toes apart
c. there is no vocal response from the whistle command

L. Four-Count Turn (5)

1. Details

a. turns may be 90 or 180 to the left or right
b. use Mark Time technique
c. upper body maintains alignment with lower body
d. turns always begin with the left foot

1. Details

a. snap to attention immediately
b. use High Step Mark Time
2. Command: "American Band, ten hut, ten hut!"

Response: "Hup" - lift left leg in high step hup
"One" - replace left leg and lift right leg in high step hup
"Two" - replace right leg, closing at Attention Position

N. Forward March - FM (10)

1. Details

a. 8 steps for every 5 yards (8/5), each step = 22.5 inches
b. step off starts with left foot lifting and placing
c. left heel touches ground first
d. point toes of front foot upward, as if a tall doorstop were wedged beneath the foot
e. roll from heel to toe, pushing off with toes of back leg, and lifting back leg heel
f. roll feet for a rocking chair effect
g. use entire sole of each foot
h. maintain upper body alignment and glide
i. upper body can be in Attention Position, Play Position, or Trail Position
2. Command: a. "Forward march"

b. Whistle - "Twee-ee-eet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet"



c. Roll off from Percussion section
i. use Mark Time technique for 8 counts
ii. bring instruments to Play position on count 5
iii. move forward after 8 counts
Response: on last count, lift left foot, heel first
on next beat, place it 22.5 inches forward, heel down, toe up

O. Trail (3)

1. Details

a. instrument comes down to waist level, in right hand
b. left hand in loose fist
c. left hand at side, thumb on seam of pants
d. elbow slightly bent back
e. take 4 counts when going from attention to trail

P. Backward March - BM (15)

1. Details

a. 8/5
b. on the step off, lift and place
c. toe to heel
d. stay on toes
e. transition occurs when right foot is forward
i. right foot is rolled flat while left foot is on toes
ii. weight is shifted from forward to reverse
iii. roll back left foot and continue stepping backward

Q. Flanks (15)

1. Details

a. pivot on toes of right foot for left and rear flanks
b. for the right flank, pivot on the left foot
c. to the rear, body pivots counterclockwise (to the left)
d. maintain body alignment, moving in forward motion in the new direction of travel
e. can be given from Mark Time, Forward March, or Backward March
2. Command: "To the left flank (rest), hut"

 

 


Response: pivot on toes of right foot and move forward in the new direction

Command: "To the rear (rest), hut"



Response: pivot on toes of right foot and move forward in the new direction

Command: "To the right flank hut"



Response: pivot on toes of left foot and move forward in the new direction

Command: "To the right flank (rest) (rest), hut"



Response: pivot on toes of left foot and move forward in the new direction

R. Lateral Slide - LS (5)

1. Details

a. pivot on toes of right foot to desired direction
b. to the right, left leg crosses in front of the right
c. body in a spiral
i. feet pointed in direction of travel
ii. waist at 45 angle
iii. shoulders squared off
iv. instrument faces forward towards front of field or towards Drum Major

1. Details

a. 45 angle, instrument in line with body, unless otherwise instructed
b. 8/5 step size is approximately 31.8198052 in. (greater than 22.5 in.)

T. Grapevine (6)

1. Details

a. step off with left foot
b. to the left, left foot moves out 22.5 inches, right foot crosses behind, left out, right in front, repeat
c. to the right, left foot crosses behind right, right moves out, left in front, right out, repeat

1. Details

a. used by the Drum Major to indicate no vocal responses from the squad
b. in effect until cancelled by the Drum Major
c. can be combined with By the Numbers

V. By the Numbers (2)

1. Details

a. used by the Drum Major to indicate that commands will be called and responded to on a count-by-count basis
b. in effect until cancelled by the Drum Major
c. is not in effect when the squad is on the move, i.e. mark time, forward march, etc.
d. can be combined with Silent Drill

1. Details

a. used by the squad to indicate a command has been incorrectly given, (as in Drill Down)
b. used by the Drum Major to cancel the last command

X. Cover Down (1)

1. Details

a. used in rehearsal only to correct file alignment

1. Details

a. used in rehearsal only to correct rank alignment
b. indication for squad to use eyes and peripheral vision only in order to line up with the persons on right side of the band

• Practice teaching these fundamentals everyday until they are memorized.
• Demonstrate each step.
• Do not go faster than students are able to handle.
• Check for understanding from everyone before moving ahead.
• Take mental notes on students who may need extra help.
• Strive for accuracy, sharpness (or smoothness, as the fundamental may dictate).
• Follow assigned time limits. 
  

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