The New Gentlemen’s Sport: The
Marching Arts
It’s another scorching day in July.
The temperature must be at least ninety, but that doesn’t matter; there is work
to be done. The sweat is dripping off me, and I can’t wipe it away. I stand
there on the blacktop waiting to begin. Suddenly, a loud beeping noise begins
behind me; it’s time! My heart is already racing before I snap my horn up and
take off. I weave around people moving at 176 beats per minute while playing as
loud as I can. A couple of minutes later, it’s done, and I snap my horn down
with my body full of adrenaline, ready for the next movement.
The marching arts is a physically,
mentally, and emotionally draining sport. That’s right, I called it a sport.
Why shouldn’t it be a sport? Compared to some sports, it is way more physically
demanding. The marching arts are have not been given their due since it is
considered an art form rather than a sport. In all reality, it’s both an art
and a sport. There are many reasons why
the marching arts should be considered a sport.
First of all, the marching arts are
very physical. In Haley Greenwald-Gonella’s article from Halftime Magazine, she said, “Marching in sync, into formation
after formation, while playing an instrument or spinning a rifle or flag takes
physical strength, agility and stamina.” (Greenwald-Gonella) This is evident
from the beginning of summer practices that are 8 hours long and 5 days a week
to the end of the competitive season. The marchers are constantly working to be
better and better. Their goal, like other athletes, is to be the best they can
be and to strive for perfection.
When the marching arts are compared
to other sports, usually the marchers are compared to track athletes. Greenwald-
Gonella talked about what happens to a marcher’s heart beat and oxygen intake
before and while marching. The marcher’s heart rate, while watching from the
sidelines, shot up to 180 beats per minute which shows he had an adrenaline
rush before he even started moving. While marching, his heart rate went up past
200 beats per minute while his oxygen intake was 13 to 14 times higher than
while he was resting. The before and during effects on the body of the marcher
is similar to a runner who hears the gun shot (the adrenaline rush) and to the
runner running in a marathon (faster heart rate and higher oxygen intake.) (Greenwald-Gonella)
Of course, like these runners, the physical activity can lead to injuries.
Just as in other sports, injuries can
happen in the marching arts. Greenwald-Gonella said in her article, “The
physical demands of marching band members and drum corps are most similar to
track athletes; additionally, so are their injuries.” Most of the injuries
occur in the feet and legs, and the marchers can get some problems with their
knees. Some injuries can be very serious. In 2010, a mellophone player in the
Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps fractured his left tibia at the Drum Corps International
finals competition. (Greenwald-Gonella) One major issue that happens is heat
exhaustion. Staying out in the sun all day can be very draining for a person,
and many water breaks are needed to keep everyone healthy. Some groups have
their own medical staff to keep an eye on the marchers to make sure no issues
arise.
Now, there is more to the marching arts
than it just being physically demanding; there is learning done as well. Some
of the life skills taught in sports are also taught in the marching arts, such
as discipline, endurance, and leadership. In a marching band, discipline is a
key factor. Learning not to move while at attention is big part of that. This
can show that they are serious about what they are doing and can show
confidence. Endurance is needed because of the long days of practice. Much must
be learned in a small amount of time such as music, drill, and body movements.
Some of these can be changed at a moments notice and must be learned quickly.
All of this could make people go crazy, but they push through. Leadership is
taught through discipline and endurance. They push through and keep their cool
even when things get tough. Also, the drum majors and section leaders are role
models that will help to lead the band to their goals and will pass the torch
to the younger students who will be the new leaders.
Through the life skills learned,
many bonds are created, just like in other sports. Mari Dagaz wrote about this
in the Journal of Contemporary
Ethnography. A band goes through many challenges together to accomplish
their goals. A personal problem can hold the rest of the band back and they can
go no further. Through helping each other get through these problems, and
spending a lot of time together, they all get really close. Most people in a
band have the majority of their friends in the band with them. Usually, though,
a band will become closer than just a bunch of friends; they become a family. (Dagaz)
In
On the Road with the Phantom Regiment:
2008, members of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, as seen in the
picture to the right from regiment.org,
talked about how they all grew close to each other over the season; they, too,
became a family. By the end of the season, they were close to winning the
The
Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps performing their 2008 production, SPARTACUS.
Drum
Corps International World Class Finals, but didn’t care too
much
about the scores; what mattered was that they had done their best and that they
had done it together. They ended up winning finals in 2008 by beating the Blue
Devils Drum and Bugle Corps by .025 points. (On the Road with the Phantom Regiment: 2008) When a group becomes
close, like Phantom Regiment did, they can accomplish anything as long as they
do it together.
While many people will disagree with
me, the marching arts are a sport. The excuse that it is an art form is wrong
since throwing a football, shooting a basket, or swinging a bat can also be
seen as a form of art. We need to get past the separation of marching and
sports; there are too many similarities between us to fight about this.
Although I don’t know how anything becomes an “official” sport, the marching
arts should be highly considered to become a sport.
Works Cited
Bonislawski,
David. Show - Atlanta, GA - July 26, 2008.
2008. regiment.org. Web. November 20, 2013.
Dagaz,
Mari C. “Learning from the Band: Trust, Acceptance, and Self-Confidence.” Journal of Contemporary
Ethnography 41.4 (2012): 432-61. EBSCOhost.
Web. November 19, 2013.
Greenwald-Gonella,
Haley. “Musicians as Athletes.” Halftime
Magazine Sept.-Oct. 2010: 22-24. Print.
On the Road with the
Phantom Regiment: 2008. Executive Dir. Rick Valenzuela.
Phantom Regiment, 2008. DVD.
