The Mighty Unicorn

Marching Band
Marching
Fundamentals

Handbook




POSITIONS
Posture/Body Alignment
In all of the positions you will use, there are 5 points of alignment:
1.) ankles
2.) knees
3.) hips
4.) shoulders
5.) head

All 5 points are directly above the other. Creating a straight line through these points will
help prevent you from leaning forward/backward and creating back problems.

Head – forward & chin parallel to the ground

Shoulders – down, slightly rolled back, no tension

Spine – extended (think of a string lifting you up). This creates height & opens up the space
between the hips and the ribs, preventing lower body movement from affecting the upper
body.

Pelvis – centered, not tilted forward or backward

Position of Attention / Set

Arms/Hands (without horns) “The Power Triangle”
Hands –
Horns Down – right hand is in a fist with the palm facing your face, left hand
covering the back of the right hand with fingers together.
Horns Up – right hand is in a fist with the palm facing the ground, left hand
covering the knuckles of the right hand with fingers together.

Elbows – bent at a 90-degree angle parallel to the body

Wrists – no break in the wrists at any angle

Legs/Feet
Body weight – should be slightly forward on the balls of your feet, never back on the heel

Knees – straight but relaxed, never locked

Feet – apart with heels/ankles together in a “V” shape at a 45-degree angle

Stand By
EVERYTHING IS THE SAME!
Except for arms/hands…

Arms/Hands – arms hang in front of the body resting just below the belt line with LH still
covering RH (think of a screw going through your hands)

Trail
As defined by section leader.

Commands
Set – When “Set” is called from the director or a section leader, go to the attention
position immediately. The default position for set is with the horns down.
Stand By – When “Stand By” is called from a director or a section leader, go to the stand
by position immediately.
Trail – When “Trail” is called from a director or a section leader, go to the trail position
immediately.
Band Horns Up – You will hear 4 claps from the drum major followed by:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Command Response
“Band Horns Up!” “Set Start Two Stop”

The first three counts are the command and the band responds as shown.
Movement does not begin until you say “Start” and ends when you say “Stop.”
INSTRUMENT CARRIAGE
Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone
Wrists are still not broken and arms are still maintaining the Power Triangle.

Left hand – fingers are wrapped around the valve casing, not gripping it. Hand is relaxed.
Palm is floating just away from the valve casing, not pressed up against it. Instrument rests
on top of hand.

Right hand – Right hand is in the shape of a “C,” as if there is a tennis ball in the palm of
your hand. Right thumb is docked between the first and second valves, fingertips resting
on top of the valves.
Instrument is at the same angle as your head, parallel to the ground.

At Horns Down:
• Mouthpiece should be aligned with the eye
• Bell should be flat with the ground
• The hands will change position slightly in order to prevent the wrists from breaking
At Stand By:
• The horn is held in the RH and the LH will move to rest on top of the RH
• Bell should be flat with the ground

Flute
Instrument is perpendicular to the ground at horns down and parallel to the ground at
horns up.
Head remains parallel to the ground.

Clarinet
Instrument is perpendicular to the ground at horns down.
Head remains parallel to the ground during both horns up and horns down.

Sax
Instrument is parallel to the ground at horns down.
Head remains parallel to the ground during both horns up and horns down.
Adjust neck strap if needed.
MOVEMENT
Mark Time
• Feet are parallel with each other during mark time; toes and heels together
• On the “and” count before mark time begins, you left heel comes off the ground
into parallel on count 1. Your right heel comes off the ground on the “and” of 1
and into parallel on count 2.
• Platforms stay on the ground; heels come about 1 inch off the ground on the “and”
• Heels hit the ground on the downbeat
o Left foot on beat 1, right foot on beat 2, etc.
• Movement is smooth and not mechanical or choppy

Mark Time Halt

• Right foot goes back to a 45-degree angle on last beat of movement.
• Left foot goes back to a 45-degree angle on the next beat.

Forward March
When stepping off:
• The muscles on the right side of the body become engaged on the beat before the
first step.
• The platform of the right foot pushes you forward as you lead with your left heel
(think of pulling your shoelaces up).
The forward march technique of the Unicorn Band is a “modified straight leg” technique.
• Heels will articulate the beat with your ankles crossing on the “ands”
• Lead with the heel – this will force the toes up as you step and keep the legs straight
as possible
• Left and right feet will remain parallel as you move (as if you have skis on)
• The knee will naturally bend as you march forward but will be straight as your
ankles cross
o The first step will always have a straight leg!!!
• The body will be centered between the two feet on every down beat.
• The foot rolls through (like a rocking chair) to minimize movement of the upper
body.
• Heels stay close to the ground so it appears as if you are gliding across the ground
o No bicycle step!

Backwards March
When stepping off:
• The muscles on the right side of the body become engaged on the beat before the
first step.
o Same as forward
 • The platform of the right foot pushes you backward; think of yourself pushing back
off of a wall
• Imagine your feet creating a “visual crescendo” as you take your first step
backwards.
o There is no “up and back.” It happens gradually and at the same time.
While marching backwards:
• The platform will articulate the beat; ankles continue to cross on the “ands”
• The heel will only be slightly off the ground – this will keep you from losing
balance
• The body is STILL centered between the two feet on every down beat.
Problems to look for:
• The tendency is to take smaller steps. Be confident as you march backwards and
really push off with the front foot.
• Most people’s bodies will be centered over the back foot. Strive to maintain balance
between the two feet so that you do not fall backwards.

Transitions
Forward March => Halt
On the last count of movement, your right foot will come forward platform first in the 45-
degree angle. This is to stop your forward momentum and prepare yourself to halt. The
right foot rolls down to the ground. On the next count, the left foot meets the right at the
45-degree angle.
When you halt, say “Toe-down (8-and), Halt (1)”

Backwards March => Halt

This transition works exactly the same as forward marching into a halt.
Be sure not to lean back on your heel when you halt. Use the muscles in your core to stop
your momentum.

Forward March => Backwards March

Going from forward to backwards marching, the right foot will come forward platform first
on the last count of forward marching, remaining parallel with the left foot. The heel will
not touch the ground. On the next count, the left foot will simply re-articulate the next
down beat. There is no leaning or repositioning involved.

Backwards March => Forward March

This transition works very much the same as forward march going into backwards march.
The heel will not touch the ground here either. On the last count of backwards marching,
you should be on both platforms. On the next count, the left foot will switch at the ankle
so that the heel is on the ground initiating the forward march.
Slides
The upper body continues to be parallel with the sideline.
Think of your body as a corkscrew; as your hips turn, your upper body elevates higher.
This will make it easier to turn your upper body.
The hips are responsible for most of the rotation, not your back. Your hips should be the
midway point between the angle of your feet and upper body.

LEARNING DRILL
The Coordinate Sheet
When learning drill, you will be given a coordinate sheet with your “dot.” These
coordinate sheets have a left-right coordinate and a front-back coordinate. All steps
designated on the coordinate sheet refer to an 8-to-5 step size.

Left-Right
• The coordinate sheet will specify which yard line you will be on and will also specify
whether you will be on Side 1 or Side 2.
o From the audience/director’s perspective, Side 1 will be on the left and Side 2
will be on the right.
• The coordinate sheet will also say how many steps you are inside OR outside of a
yard line.
o Inside means towards the 50 (the center of the field)
o Outside means away from the 50 (towards the goal line)
Front-Back
• The coordinate sheet will say how many steps you are from one of the following:
Front sideline, Front hash, Back sideline, or Back hash.
• The hashes are yard markers close to the center that go across the field (goal to
goal).
• Front refers to the side closest to the audience (front of the field)
• Back refers to the side furthest from the audience (back of the field)

Rehearsal Etiquette
• It is vitally important that we, as a band, refrain from talking during rehearsal. This
will allow receiving instructions to be easier, rehearsal to go faster, and more things
to become accomplished.
• While you are on your dot, ALWAYS have you heels together. This will make it
easier for the directors to see the form and be able to fix things.
• When set is called, go to attention IMMEDIATELY. The longer it takes for you to
get set, the longer rehearsal will take.
• When receiving critique, accept it and work to fix it. Everyone can be better and
we should all strive to be better.
DANCE TERMINOLOGY
In the Unicorn Band, we incorporate visuals, which use a variety of dance movements.
Here are a few terms you will hear frequently.

1st Postion – Heels together and toes going outward. In marching band, our feet are in
the standard 45-degree angle for this.

2nd Position – Feet are about should width apart with toes facing outward. Again, feet
are at the same angle for our purposes.

3rd Position – One foot is placed in front of the other with the heel of the front foot
beside the arch of the back foot.

4th Position – There are two types of this position: open and closed. In both, one foot is
placed approximately twelve inches in front of the other. Open 4th position involves the
heels lined up with each other. In closed 4th position, the heel of the front foot aligns with
the toe of the back foot.

Plie – In French, means “folded” or “bent.” In dance, it is a bending of the knees to

develop a sense of balance.

Releve – In French, means “raised again.” In dance, it is a rising of the body onto the
balls of the feet after a plié, followed by a lowering of the heels to the floor. This exercise
helps to strength the ankles as well as balance. (From straight legs, this would be Eleve.)

Tendu – In French, means “stretched.” In dance, is is the brushing of the foot along the
floor with the leg straight without lifting the toe.

Rond de Jambe – In French, means “round of the leg.” In dance, it is when one foot
draws a half circle on the floor.

Chasse – In French, means “chased.” In dance, it is a step in which one foot literally
chases the other foot out of its position. (Think of doing a gallop but with straighter legers,
pointed feet, and taking up more space.)