Marching.com Spotlight

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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Before you wrap up your Christmas shopping, check out these marching-related gift ideas. These are great items that your marching band friends are sure to love. Plus, the organizations that produced them will appreciate your support of the activity!

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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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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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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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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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