How To March In A Marching Band

How to march in a marching band has no clear goals or objectives. I know first hand it is not easy at all to go out and march in a band. It takes time and practice to coordinate playing, counting, and marching all at the same time. The author does not go into detail about the left foot and right foot. "Start with your left foot and step out as though you are about to go for a stroll". It is more to it then just starting off with your left foot. Here is an explanation. Marching bands use a marching technique called 8 to 5. In the article the author mentions the technique, but does not go into the details of how to march 8 to 5. Meaning the marchers will march 8 steps for every 5 yards. The left foot is the odd numbers and the right foot is the even numbers. Every one starts off with their left foot and count every time they pick up their feet. The right leg should always hit the line on eight. Here is an idea of how it looks when done correctly.

Now the average person cannot count 1,2,3, to 8 and march and play at the same time, so they use the music to help. Most of today’s music is written in 4/4. Translation 4 beats per measure and the quarter note gets the beat. Ever hear a song you really like and you start clapping your hands to or tapping your feet? Well most of time that handclap or foot tap comes on the 2nd and 4th beat of a measure (sometimes just on 4 depends on the song, but it still comes on the even beat). In a marching band that translates to your foot hitting the yard line on the clap (4th beat). Remember there are 4 beats in a measure, and your foot hit the lines on the last beat of the measure. So when the next measure starts you are stepping of with your left foot (odd number and 1st beat of new measure). I could go on and write a book about how to march in a marching band. But now is not the time nor place, so here are the goal and objectives I would use in editing the article.

Goal: How to march successfully in a marching band.

Objectives: The learner can demonstrate the marching technique of 8 to 5.
The learner can demonstrate using music to help him/her march.
The learner can demonstrate proper leg lift and foot roll.

Here is a perfect example of a high school perfectly marching 8 to 5.
Another example from the college level.