Choosing the Best Marching Band Shoes

Marching band shoes are worn by most all marching bands across the world, and for good reason. Beside the obvious reason being a look of uniformity amongst the band, there are also the very important aspects of comfort, durability, and even price. When you are on your feet for multiple hours straight, either marching in a parade or during game days, you are going to want to be wearing a pair of marching shoes that agrees with your feet. There are many varieties of marching band shoes on the market, and deciding which one is the best fit for you and your band can sometimes be a difficult task. In order to make this decision an easier one, we will examine all of the main things to look for in a marching band shoe.

Since you can be on your feet for up to around 7 hours average on game day, finding a shoe that is comfortable is almost always the top priority. If your feet are comfortable, it will give you one less thing to worry about when you are marching, allowing you to march at your best. Shoes that are designed for comfortability will help prevent blisters from forming on your feet. Also, many styles will include some arch support or a split sole design, giving you more support and flexibility. Lastly, purchasing a style with a rolled heel will make it much easier and more comfortable for you to make your turns, being that your heel will not dig into the ground. Drillmasters shoes offer the rolled heel concept, while Super Drillmasters offer the split sole and rolled heel.

Another important thing to consider when decided which marching band shoe will best suit you, is to find one that is durable. Durability, especially in the sole, is extremely important because of how much time you will spend in them. Ensuring that your marching shoes are waterproof is a big plus. Waterproof marching shoes will prevent water from entering the shoe through the seams and sole. Waterproof shoes will also last longer, since they can take the abuse of rain.

Lastly, the cost of the marching shoes can always play an important role, especially in this tough economy. The price of marching band shoes can range from as low as $18 per pair to as high as $35 per pair. When you take into account that marching bands have about 100 members on average, the shoe pricing can make quite a difference to a school's budget. Some lower priced marching shoe styles are the Speedsters and Showstoppers while the higher priced ones are the MTX and Super Drillmasters.

Keeping these points in mind, you will be much more knowledgeable in making your decision when it comes to your next marching band shoe. Just remember that your shoes play a very important role in your marching routine, so analyze your options and make your decision carefully, because it can make quite a difference in your final marching product.

Moving Commands - Fundamentals of Marching Band Maneuvering

Before teaching moving commands, the band should be familiar with marching and executing stationary commands. An entire level of complexity is added when the band actually begins marching. These commands can only be executed while moving. They are presented in the order I teach them. There are many different ways to both teach and execute commands; I can only present what I know.

Marking Time
Today, most all bands use a low mark time. Much like a drag right, the toe remains planted on the ground, while the heel lifts up. In this case the command is "mark time mark" and the response is "and one." The left heel lifts first two inches or more on the "and" beat and goes up on the "one" beat. This repeats for the right foot. Thus, in two counts both feet have moved up and down. Marking time only occurs when feet are together and shoes should rub against each other. Make sure to keep the upper body solid throughout this move.

Movement
Most high school Marching Bands now use the glide step as the method of choice when marching. Some bands still high step or double time, but that is pretty antiquated and rare, even though proper execution makes it neat. The glide step is synonymous with rolling the feet. Teaching just this concept should take a few hours.

The point is to take all of the wobble out of the upper body when marching. This allows for the vibrato that occurs from the mouthpiece bouncing against the lips to be eliminated. Have the new marchers stick their left foot out with toes up as high as possible. Then, have them individually practice transferring their body weight from the left to the right foot. Start slowly sticking out one foot while the other rolls up onto the toe. Gradually increase the tempo.

Now that the new marchers can perform a glide step, it is important to cover a basic eight to five stride as well as cover points and dressing and covering ranks and files while marching.

Forward March
The most basic and essential step of band, this step is what is practiced when learning to roll the feet. "Forward march" is the command and the response is "and one." Once the glide step is mastered, this command is easy. Marching always starts on the left foot and feet move one in front of the other. The step size should be eight steps per five yards or 22.5 inches per step. Feet should not lift off the ground, rather be pushed out from the body along the grass with as much force as possible. On beat eight, the shoelaces of the right foot should be in the middle of the yard line.