Marching band is a great place to learn teamwork, coordination, and of course, how to place an instrument. It’s also a great way to stay in shape! Standing and marching in a specific way while holding a heavy instrument requires quite a bit of muscle, concentration, and endurance–which is why many band camps include conditioning in their regimen. If you want to play in band, here’s how to get the jump on getting in shape.
Start Building Endurance
Marching band requires playing full shows without rest, so it’s a good idea to start building your endurance now. You can do this by training yourself to run a mile without stopping, and practicing holding your instrument in the right position for as long as you can.
Strengthen your Core
You need a strong core to stay on your feet and keep your instrument in one spot for a long time. It can also help with your posture, which is important for standing up straight during performances, as well as protecting your back from pain and pulled muscles.
Strengthen your Upper Body
Perhaps this is the most obvious, but you’ll need strong arms to hold and play your instrument while standing and marching! While this seems like it’s more important for heavier instruments, in some bands, people playing lighter instruments are required to hold their instruments in playing position the whole time–which can really make you feel the burn. So it’s a good idea to do some push-ups or pull-ups to get your arms ready!
