Atlantic Indoor Association

January 2011, by Brandon Cochenour, DynamicMarching.com (org. 2/09) adapted for the AIA Newsletter 

Brandon, an AIA Visual Judge, was recently profiled in the Newsletter.

The reality is that when we ask the performers to move around the floor like we do today, how we march is 100% related to how we'll eventually sound.  It is the visual staff's job to provide the performers with the physical tools necessary to make good sounds (posture, carriage, technique, etc.).  As such, it is the responsibility of music instructors to make sure these concepts are reinforced in music rehearsals.  Here are some simple rules the music staff can follow... 

The Novice and A Classes is about training.  And...for the “Basic Skills” that Novice and A encompass, conventional thought would say that we focus on teaching the musical and visual skill sets separately.  For the most part, this is a reasonable approach.  However...let's be honest.  Most instructors in this activity are drummers first and “visual people” second.  We're ALWAYS teaching music skills.  But do we always teach visual skills?  How often will you stop “8 on a hand” because someone doesn't have the right posture or isn't marking time correctly?  Chances are it's not often...or at all. 

It seems perfectly logical that because the maturity level of Novice and A is developmental in nature...that we separate the training of skills into “Music” and “Visual” to make them easier to grasp and focus on.  However...I might argue just the opposite, and say that at this maturity level....separating the two only makes us that more likely to become complacent.  You spend an hour working on posture....then move to music sectionals.  Do you really expect your 15 year old to apply what you did in visual block on his own while you focus only on the paradiddle?  No chance.  There MUST be overlap in your training process – in fact, “simultaneous demand” from the PA sheet touches these concepts. 

So...you ask...what might the “non-specialist” do in music sectionals in order to reinforce fundamental visual training?  Try some of these... 

Demand students mark time and understand tempo.  Can't figure out why we can't keep our feet in time in the drill?  Chances are is that the only time they're forced to think about it is in drill rehearsal when there are no music responsibilities.  Getting the feet moving during music sectionals only stands to reinforce the importance of tempos.  TEMPO IN THE FEET IS NOT JUST A “VISUAL THING”. 

Require proper posture and carriage.  We'll spend hours just standing in the line playing warm-up exercises, learning music, etc.. Why not also use that time to reinforce posture and presence?  Why expect that they'll do it just because they're on the gym floor at a show?  Reinforce it during music sectionals so it becomes “second nature.” 

Reinforce starts and stops.  Even with warm-up exercises, this “visual skill” can be taught well before a single page of drill has been written.  Understanding beginning and ends of phrases before we even start moving will make a world of difference. 

Relate music phrases to visual phrases (drill phrases).  Does that big rim shot happen to line up with a left foot step?  How does this one particular lick relate to a direction change that I have?  For most...the music is what's most intuitive.  If you can relate visual events to the hands...you can put yourself ahead of the game.  

Provide musical exercises to be played during marching basics. Likewise, introduce “tracking”, where passages from the show can be rehearsed with.  It's a two way street!           

Educate the visual staff to music concerns.  Your visual tech might not understand the significance of a double cheese-a-diddle (can you tell I'm one of those guys?).  The more the visual staff understands the music...the better they will be to help come up with solutions when things don't go the right way.

Do you have suggestions or submissions? War stories from the floor, questions or other interests? Email Michael Kirby at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .