Klarinet Archive - Posting 000061.txt from 1999/05

From: "Bob Yoon" <lebewohl@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching Technique
Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 11:19:51 -0400

I played in both competitive marching band and in an open class drum and bugle corps(yes, I played a brass instrument during high school). I also taught for a few years and here's what I can recall.

First off, marching should be a fairly natural process, more of a stylized walk. If you try to teach too much, you'll give them too much to think about and it will make such a natural action impossible. If you've seen "Dead Poet's Society", Robin Williams has his students walking around the courtyard in a single file. Before you know it, they're all in step and clapping hands together.

2. Make sure their marching is solid before adding music. Do drills with them. I have plenty of them - let me know if you want details. The most basic one is marching for 4/marking time for 4 or doing 8/8.

3. Add scales and/or other exercises to these drills. Take the 4/4. "Do" for 4(marching) and rest for 4(marking time), "Re" for 4, etc.

4. Have everyone write in their L,R in their music. L over the odd number beats and R with the even beats.

5. Repeat until successful and again, do things gradually so they won't be overwhelmed or they'll loose the one thing that makes marching work - how natural it is. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Bob

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