In order to explain corps style marching, I am going to split it up into 2 different sections: bicycle and straight leg. There is a whole huge spectrum to be explored here, but for the sake of understanding, we’ll generalize. Let’s discuss the Corps style technique: bicycle.
Definition: Each member has his/her own dot for each “set” of the show. Step size varries for each member in each set because no two members have exactly the same commands to execute. Steps are taken in a “bicycle” style, picking each foot up, bringing it to a certain point, and then extending to the next step. The steps can be taken in a “tightrope” style, meaning that one foot is placed directly in front of the other, or in a “ski line” style, meaning that the paths of the feet may never cross (like skis).
This is the one which I have the least experience with, so feel free to correct any errors in my definition.
Advantages: This works very well in high school bands because it provides members a way to move fairly quickly without taking the time to teach a more strenuous and rigid technique. It is the easiest for students to master as well as to hide small variations.
Disadvantages: At slower tempos, it looks silly. When its opposite, straight leg technique, is polished, this looks sloppy and flaily by comparison. Control is key. It may also be harder to keep the movement from affecting your sound (ground in the sound) when using this technique.
Related Concepts: tight rope, ski line, precision/dot drill, high school marching band
After talking at length with some college students, mostly music education majors, I’ve decided that I need to do a bit of a series on marching styles. I’ve marched everything so, although my likes definitely lie on the side of corps style, I think that I can give a pretty good, unbiased overview. That said, let’s focus on our first style: Squad/Big10 style.
Definition: 3 or 4 person squads; all people in a given squad are given a single direction; squad members generally stay together and do uniform moves, which when combined with other squads, make forms; often partnered with a style referred to as “high knee”
Advantages: This style takes relatively little time to teach. We use it in my college marching band. We spend about 15 minutes teaching the commands at the beginning of band camp and never re-visit that for the remainder of the season. A typical drill can fit on a couple of sheets of paper and can be read with ease by the average person who has never marched before. It works well in areas where bands are required to do multiple shows in a year in order to please the football fans.
Disadvantages: This style does not usually jive well with dynamic considerations within a piece. Often a piece will build up, crescendo, and then the drill takes them in a different direction, facing instruments away from the audience and ruining the effect. Usually this can be fixed by simply sliding (shifting if you’re from the east coast) or caution in drill writing. The other disadvantage to this technique is that it often looks sloppy. Competition or corps style bands use precision, dot drills. This style will be visited later. In general however, 3 or 4 person squads do not stay/work together well, making distorted forms as a result.
Related concepts: High knee, big 10, football bands, college style, multiple shows
