Marching.com Spotlight

Heather Henson, daughter of Muppets creator Jim Henson, has incorporated a quartet of skilled color guard performers into her latest puppetry project, Ajijaak on Turtle Island.

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Wrap up your holiday shopping easily with these inspired and inspiring marching-related gift ideas. Your marching band friends are sure to love these unique items ... and in many cases, your purchases will support organizations that work hard to showcase the marching activity.

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2017 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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Champions will be crowned as winter guard and percussion circuits hold their 2017 championship events throughout March and April.

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Champions will be crowned as field show bands compete in their 2016 circuit and state championships. View dates and locations of major events across the United States.

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A giant flower float will portray a marching band with a twist in the 2016 Bloemencorso Zundert on Sunday, September 4.

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Use the off-season to become lean and strong with this workout plan for marching athletes, complete with video demonstrations and free worksheet downloads to track your progress.

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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Fiesta Bowl Parade. The Rose Parade. Parades have become a big part of our Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's festivities. The holiday season is one of the most active travel periods for marching bands, with performance opportunities at holiday parades and college football "bowl game" parades. Marching.com has compiled a guide to major parade events along with television broadcast schedules.

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2015 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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It may start as a simple lump in the throat, but before long your feet command you to stand and your eyes refuse to hold back the tears. In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, see photos and stories of five patriotic marching band productions.

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To find inspiration for your Halloween costume, look no further than the marching arts. Winter guards, percussion ensembles, marching bands and drum corps have a knack for creativity ... and these performers don't just wear costumes, they bring them to life. See recent favorites from the Marching.com photo archives.

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The 45-member marching band from Chesapeake, Ohio, wasn't the loudest and didn't make semi-finals at the BOA Grand National Championships, but the band did make an impression. The 13th Chair author DJ Corchin offers his unique observations.

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The colorful floats won't be the only entries sporting fresh flowers in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day. The Cavalcade of Bands Honor Band will also be fully decorated, with band members wearing 2,400 roses on their specially designed uniforms.

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2014 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2013 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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Author and humorist DJ Corchin shares his thoughts on the fun that is THE Ohio State University Marching Band and the important impact engaging with your audiences can have on bringing music education to the forefront of the discussion.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, DJ Corchin suggests that innovation OFF the field is essential for the future of music education.

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For band directors, the thrill of receiving an invitation to the Presidential Inaugural Parade is accompanied by the reality that they need to prepare for a trip to a major national event in a short time. Very short. As in one month.

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Even if they aren't playing a tune, you will hear them coming. The Pride of the Dutchmen Marching Band from Orange City, Iowa will march the 5.5-mile Rose Parade route wearing traditional wooden shoes.

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2012 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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The precision of Fanfarenzug Potsdam has earned praise from fans and high marks from judges at the WAMSB World Championships in Calgary.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin ponders the music world through the eyes of a small child and discusses why we need to dream about being an astronaut, doctor and marching band composer.

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The Calgary Stampede Showband is officially known as Calgary's musical ambassador to the world, but it could also be called the hardest working band in the business. When the band starts 2012 by marching in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, it will be the first of more than 400 appearances planned for the coming year.

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Wayne Downey polled some of the brightest minds in indoor percussion to determine the important factors for selecting a winter drum line show.

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Go behind the scenes at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and experience an up-to-the-minute account of what marching bands experience at one of America's great parades.

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Columnist DJ Corchin shares his annual Top 20 Most Hilarious Things Seen or Overheard at the 2011 Bands of America Grand National Championships!

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Former band member Alyssa Grimley reflects on a marching band moment that tested her endurance.

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As our nation prepares to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, high school marching bands will be among those leading the displays of patriotism.

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Traveling with hundreds of marching band students can sometimes be a headache, but with proper preparation and communication, your trip can go smoothly and without hold-ups.

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When the Shu-Te High School Marching Band members don their colorful costumes for Saturday's Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, it will be the 20th consecutive year the band from Portland's sister city in Kaohsiung, Taiwan has brought its unique brand of pageantry to the event.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, DJ Corchin explores the sometimes apparent disconnect between the audience and performers ... and we're not just talking choice of wardrobe.

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To get equipment on and off the field, the right set of wheels is essential for a stress-free marching band performance. Whether you utilize band boosters to build a cart or buy a ready-made option, these tips from experienced directors can help you make a good choice.

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A spring ritual got underway today when officials from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade visited Father Ryan H.S. in Nashville to announce that its band has been selected to march in the 2012 spectacle in New York City. Father Ryan is the first band announced for a lineup that is expected to include 11 marching bands from across the country.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin considers what makes a good marching band judge.

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The Sound of Perfection follows a marching band and is based on one of the most popular stories ever to appear in Reader's Digest. With your help, this screenplay will make it to the big screen as a major motion picture.

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Working with a travel agency for band trips allows directors to focus more on the music and less on the logistics.

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It's only the second day of a six-day trip to the Fiesta Bowl Parade, but the staff of the Norton (Ohio) marching band already feels the trip has been worthwhile.

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Columnist DJ Corchin spent a weekend at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and in the process reconfirmed why we do this thing called marching band.

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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is filled with color and confetti, but the pageantry is not limited to parade day. Macy's brings a dose of showmanship to the marching band selection process by sending parade officials on surprise visits to personally deliver invitations. Go behind-the-scenes with Marching.com on one of the visits.

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It wouldn't be band without the funny. And it wouldn't be funny without The 13th Chair Trombone Player. Columnist DJ Corchin brings you the top 20 most hilarious things seen or overheard at the 2010 Bands of America Grand National Championships.

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Everyone loves to travel—but how can bands be sure that their students are still learning while sightseeing and touring around the world? Here are some tips for musical growth during travel.

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Having the right marching band podium can make rehearsals and performances much easier for conductors and field members alike. Get tips about selecting the right podium from a former drum major, now an instructor, who has climbed to the top hundreds of times.

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All marching shoes are not created equal. In order to avoid sore feet and even stress fractures, band and guard instructors and performers should be aware of the essential parts of a shoe's anatomy to understand what each component can offer.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin finds inspiration from a dropped rifle.

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Just as the art of color guard is continually developing, so is the evolution of the rifle and its opportunities for performance and expression. While there are many factors in your purchase decision, the type of material is a predominant factor. Here are the pros and cons of plastic vs. wooden rifles when it comes to performance, durability, care and cosmetic style. Sponsored by Director's Showcase International.

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Army Staff Sergeant Kevin L. Jahn was inspired by music as a child, and now motivates others through his drumming in two bands supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin addresses the age-old question about whether marching band is a sport.

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Short on time? Few veterans? Regardless of the circumstances facing your marching band, these strategies from Rob Stein can help you blaze a path toward success.

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A new film directed by Michael D. Gough follows the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps throughout its memorable 2009 season and provides a solid keepsake for drum corps fans.

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Personal trainer Michel Sorrentino-Poole shares how "boot camp" functional training gives marching band students an advantage on the field and beyond.

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In the latest column From The 13th Chair Trombone Player, humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin offers unique observations about the use of props in marching band.

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Franklin Central Band Director Daniel P. Fyffe discovered a world of benefits for his music program after establishing a competitive indoor percussion ensemble.

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Whether your goal is a college scholarship, a spot in a drum corps, or a better chair in your high school band, audition secrets from Blue Devils brass arranger Wayne Downey can help you control nerves before, during and after an audition.

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Humorous and inspiring author DJ Corchin offers his unique observations about life in the world of marching bands. An Alternate Universe is his first contribution in a series of columns that will be published on Marching.com.

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Longtime color guard performer Chelsea Blackburn found the best way to explain winter guard to friends is to let them experience it. She shared her personal story with Marching.com.

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A new season is about to begin for Portland, Oregon's 500-member One More Time Around Again Marching Band, and the directors invite prospective members from across the country to join.

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Steamboat Springs band members will warm up their instruments on February 7 for the 2010 Winter Carnival Diamond Hitch Parade, like band students have been doing since 1935. They'll head to the main street of their famous winter resort town and play the school's fight song down the length of the parade route. And they'll do it all while marching on skis.

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Band boosters are essential to the success of high school marching band programs. At the Tournament of Roses events in Pasadena, dedicated band parents were everywhere. And students were quick to acknowledge the boosters' efforts.

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The Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band had just completed its field show performance at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest. The spectators used their feet to stomp and raise the volume of their appreciation. It was a moment the band members will never forget.

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Their band directors took a chance on them, and these five students went on to contribute to their bands' success, both on the field and in the lives of their fellow band members.

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If marching band fans ever needed a reason to set an alarm clock on New Year's Day, this is it. The first float appearing in the 2010 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade will be an entry honoring marching bands.

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Moving an entire marching band to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade takes a lot of money, and Farmers Insurance Group of Companies has stepped in to help as "Official Supporter of Rose Parade Bands."

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Band Nerds Poetry author DJ Corchin has a knack for dreaming up spot-on band humor, and he has created a new poem that might inspire your last-minute shopping.

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Just as buffalo in unimaginable numbers once covered the plains, the Allen High School marching band covers football fields on Friday nights. For the 2009 season, the Collin County school marches 638 members including musicians, color guard and drill team.

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Throw It Down, an 88-minute documentary from director John E. Maher, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the reality of marching in a top-ranked drum and bugle corps. The film follows the 2006 season of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio, and presents themes that are universal to anyone involved in the marching activity.

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One hallmark of a great marching unit is consistency in body position and posture. Jeff Young of Dynamic Marching presents a checklist to help you look great without creating too much tension in your body.

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You want your marching band show to reflect your band's identity, challenge your performers and appeal to both the judges and the crowd. That's a tall order, but author and arranger William Spencer-Pierce explains that the key to achieving those goals starts with a single word: planning.

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Even after 40 years on Sesame Street, Bob McGrath talks about the importance of music in early childhood education with a freshness and enthusiasm one might display in a new career. It's clear that Bob McGrath found his calling.

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Hundreds of volunteer float decorators are busily working toward their New Year's Day deadline getting floats ready for the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.

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Bugles Across America is a remarkable organization that remembers and honors veterans by supplying buglers to play Taps at funerals.

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Bonnie Story is no stranger to creating choreography for large groups. Perhaps that's why she has been so successful as one of the choreographers for High School Musical 3. Go behind-the-scenes with Bonnie to learn how she helped make a huge cast look great on the big screen.

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Fillmore Central H.S. provides opportunities often afforded only to students in larger cities. What the region lacks in size or financial resources, is more than made up for with a small-town work ethic and unbridled teamwork.

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Colony H.S. band members are hardy souls. As performers in Alaska's only active marching band, they've successfully blazed a trail to elevate the team spirit at their school.

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Teamwork and support among activities is a way of life at Peabody H.S. in Trenton, Tennessee. That's why you'll see so many football jerseys in the band at halftime.

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Sebring H.S. marching band member Cody Breen is living the philosophy taught by his band director: that anything is possible. Discover why this story is so extraordinary.

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Bands of America's storied history begins a new chapter November 12-15, 2008, when the Grand National Championships move to a new home at the Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. The move comes with both great excitement for the future and warm sentiment for the past when events were held at the neighboring RCA Dome.

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Heather Henson, daughter of Muppets founder Jim Henson, is prominently featuring flags and props inspired by winter guard in her elaborate stage show titled Panther & Crane. The spectacle is a work in progress that Henson hopes will someday deliver its environmental message to a broader audience.

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Competition is one part of a well-rounded marching band experience that also includes teamwork and friendship. Rob Stein of Standing 'O' Marching Arts Specialists explains that if winning is your ultimate goal, you might have a rough season in terms of defining success for your group.

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Don't let the word "poetry" scare you. The engaging Band Nerds Poetry From The 13th Chair Trombone Player by DJ Corchin uses clever prose and perfectly matched illustrations to celebrate the quirks of life in and around the band room.

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Now in its third year, the Macy's Great American Marching Band will return in 2008 for the 82nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The rolling admission deadlines are May 30 and June 30 for students who would like to apply to perform in the band.

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Blue Devils music director Wayne Downey shares his XtremeBrass Technique to help brass players produce a beautiful tone and quality sound.

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Strong student leadership is a necessity to achieve success in the marching arts. But you may be surprised to know who the 'leaders' are.

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Developing the concept for your marching band show can be a daunting task. Bobby Hullett, founder of Sounding Ground, takes a creative spin as he describes one process that may help you find and capture ideas for your next marching show.

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A glossy new magazine covering all things marching is now available. Halftime Magazine debuted with its July/August 2007 issue, providing a well-rounded look at topics of interest to marching students, directors, alumni and fans.

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A new independent film delivers an emotional, insightful look into the student marching band experience. The documentary From The 50 Yard Line is currently touring film festivals and will hopefully obtain broader theatrical and DVD distribution in the future.

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Are your visual rehearsals producing results? Rob Stein, co-founder of Standing 'O' Marching Arts Specialists, explains how three simple steps can maximize your rehearsal time and help your marching band achieve new levels of excellence.

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The Concord High School Marching Band from Elkhart, Indiana provides the setting for a new book that details the triumphs and trials of the marching band experience. Author Kristen Laine immersed herself in the band for six months to gather research for American Band: Music, Dreams, and Coming of Age in the Heartland.

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Country music star Brad Paisley's latest CD 5th Gear features a cameo appearance by the Brentwood H.S. Marching Band. A song titled "Online" makes reference to playing tuba in the Rose Parade, so Paisley's production staff had the idea to incorporate a marching band into the cut.

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A marching band documentary has been re-energized after the film's subject — Oklahoma's Broken Arrow High School marching band — won the 2006 Bands of America Grand National Championship.

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You just learned that you were put in charge of the band's fundraising for the coming year. No need for despair! There are new, exciting and easier ways to raise money these days.

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They may not have the name recognition enjoyed by the Tournament of Roses or the Portland Rose Festival, but flower parades in European countries produce amazingly creative entries enhanced by a dose of theatre.

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Are your band members physically ready for the demands of the marching season? The National Athletic Trainers' Association has issued timely safety guidelines.

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Design a flag well and it will work for you the entire time it is in view. But what makes a great flag truly great? Shape, color, size, fabric ... these are some of the aspects to consider when attempting to create the perfect flag.

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