The New Gentlemen’s Sport: The Marching Arts

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.