MARCHING.COM: Marching Band Student Leadership

New members follow the lead of their peers

By Rob Stein, StandingOMarching.com

Drum Major Leadership

Strong student leadership is an absolute necessity in order to achieve success in the marching arts. The standard procedure for most high schools is to interview and hold auditions for these positions, with the end result being the best candidate for the job earns the title of "section captain" or some other title which insinuates authority. Once rehearsals start, these section leaders are given the "power" to lead their section through the season until the process begins again the following year. The reality of the situation, however, is that in order to run an efficient and successful organization, the majority of the leadership must come from those members who have no official title. If the "section leaders" were the only members of the band to actually lead and set the correct example, there would obviously be little to no rehearsal etiquette, order or progress throughout the season.

Real progress starts the first day of rehearsal, when the new members enter the rehearsal field for the first time and immediately see a trend among the older members of the band: everyone is quiet, listening for instructions; everyone is standing in the proper position; everyone is wearing proper rehearsal attire; and most importantly, everyone is trying their hardest at every single task they are given. As a result, these new members do not even need to ask their section leader, "What do I do now?" They simply look at you and everyone else around you, and it is so incredibly clear; the new members follow the lead of their peers and immediately understand how to act during rehearsal. Think back to when you were a freshman or incoming member of the band and you stepped onto the field during your first rehearsal; what did you notice? Was everyone on exactly the same page, setting a great example, making it completely clear what you needed to do? Or was everyone different; some people setting a good example, some people not talking, but still not listening or behaving correctly, and some people clearly out of order? The latter, in my experience, is the most common situation, where there is no clear example set for the new members.

Peer Leadership

As an upper classmen and veteran or your organization, it is your responsibility to lead by example and help the band reach its maximum potential. It is important to remember that if you do not hold the official title of "captain" or whichever your band uses, you do not have the authority to publicly or aurally attempt to lead your section (unless of course you are instructed otherwise by your section leader or staff). It is also important to reiterate that just because you do not hold an official title does not mean you are not a leader. When people enter a world that is new to them, in our case, the world of the marching arts, they are quite understandably unsure of what exactly is going on, how to act, and what is expected of them. Additionally, as most new members are young (roughly 14 years old) and impressionable, they want to fit in as quickly as possible. As veterans of your band, you have the power and responsibility to help those new members and shape your band the way you want it to be. New members will respond immediately if they see everyone around them doing the same thing the same way at the same time.

Do not underestimate the power of leading by example, and the responsibility you hold as a veteran member of your band. When every single person in your group works together and sets a clear example for all to follow, that is the true essence of leadership. To quote the great American writer Henry Miller, "the real leader has no need to lead — he is content to point the way."

Rob Stein is founder and owner of Standing 'O' Marching Arts Specialists. He holds a master's degree in music education and a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His experience includes work with drum corps, marching bands, jazz bands, wind ensembles, pit orchestras and private lesson studios. The Standing O team specializes in customized original compositions, and also offers drill writing, color guard books, clinics, consultations and leadership training. The staff is trained in modern methods of musical and visual instruction, focusing on the development of body awareness, health and fitness, and overall musicianship.

Text courtesy of Rob Stein. Photos by Marching.com.

Copyright 2008 Marching.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published or redistributed without permission.

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Lead by example: How to be a "leader" without the title