Essential Techniques for Cleaning Marching Band Drill Before UIL Contest

by Chris McLellan

mclellanbandconsulting@gmail.com

Preparing for a UIL contest is a significant undertaking for any marching band. The pressure to perform at your best can feel intense, but with clear priorities, you can ensure that your band is set to shine on the field. This blog post will outline essential priorities for cleaning marching band drill, helping you focus your efforts and maximize your performance.

Understanding the Importance of Drill Cleaning

Cleaning drill goes beyond perfecting formations; it creates a unified performance that captivates audiences and judges. A polished drill enhances the visual impact of your show, allowing music and movement to complement each other beautifully.

By focusing on drill cleaning, every band member will understand their role and execute it with confidence. This clarity boosts individual morale while strengthening the entire ensemble.

Prioritize Fundamentals

Before diving into the specifics of your show, it’s vital to reinforce the basics. This includes core marching techniques, proper posture, and timing, all of which play a crucial role in performance.

Concentrate on these key areas:

• Marching Style/Technique: Can the judges clearly understand the marching style of your band? No matter if it is straight leg or bent knee, is it consistent from player to player? Spending time on refining your style daily is crucial to maximizing your score in your individual and ensemble visual scores.

  
  

• Body Positioning: Encourage students to maintain proper posture while marching. Start with the head; are students looking down in rehearsal to find their "dot?" Is their back straight, shoulders relaxed (not raised or tense), separation between rib cage and hips, straight line from ear down to ankle?

  • Look for the following in your drill:

    • Leaning into a step-off

    • reaching for their dot (not centered over dot)

    • leaning back on backward march (difficult to control timing of feet, especially in slower tempos)

    • Shoulders parallel to the sideline on slides (forward and backward)

    • Horn carriage - 10 degrees above level for bell front instruments, flutes flat, clarinets and saxophones with flat chin, lot looking down

    • No squatting - frequently seen in backward march and/or slides (Keep legs straight and as tall as possible)

      
      

• Timing: Work on synchronizing foot timing and movements. Unified timing elevates the performance and contributes to a cleaner, more professional look.

  • Use a metronome from the back of the field facing forward to the from sideline

  • Teach students to listen back to the drumline

  • Drum Majors hands aligned with center snare feet

  • Utilize a subdivided metronome for slow moments in your show and focus on ankles crossing on the upbeat. In my experience, this is greatly underused and once implemented.

  • Teach body visual elements as you teach drill to allow for the same amount of time to clean as the drill. Incorporating your body visuals into a warm-up in your daily routine will also help in the cleaning process.

    
    

By emphasizing these fundamentals, you build a strong foundation for the intricate aspects of your drill.

Break Down the Drill

Once the basics are solid, break down the drill into smaller, manageable sections. This approach allows focused cleaning and prevents students from feeling overwhelmed.

Consider these steps:

• Segment the Show: Divide the performance into smaller sections, concentrating on one at a time. This will allow for focused rehearsal on manageable sections. Segments should align with music structure to reinforce how the music fits with the drill.

  
  

• Set Specific Goals: Establish clear objectives for each section. For example, "today we will focus on segment 1 (Sets 1-8) reviewing one set at a time while focusing on transitions, form, side to side spacing, front to back alignment, and departure from and arrival to each set." By setting and communicating specific goals for each rehearsal, you will be able to better assess your improvement, where your weaknesses lie, and formulate a specific plan for the next rehearsal. Success comes from executing each rehearsal efficiently and effectively. One day at a time.

  
  

• Use Visual Markers: Make sure students understand how to use the tick marks on the field as well as the numbers and hash marks. Many times bands become too dependent on dots and struggle on the performance field. Keep heads up and understand your relationship to the performers around you for each set.

  
  

By breaking down the drill, each part receives the attention it deserves, leading to a more cohesive overall performance.

Focus on Transitions

Transitions can be the most challenging aspect of a marching band drill. They can impact the flow of your performance significantly.

To clean transitions effectively, use these strategies:

• Practice Slowly: Begin at a slower tempo to allow students to focus on their movements without the pressure of speed. Make sure to define the prep step foot placement and the direction of the transition (forward, backward, 90 degree slide, 45 degree).

  
  

• Plus 1, Minus 1: Use plus 1 to practice a move plus the first step of the next move. Use minus one to focus on the transition and the next move. This saves time of doing two full moves to practice the transition or change of direction,

  
  

• Utilize Drills: Practice transition drills in your fundamentals.

  • Box Drills

  • T, X or + drills (Iron Cross, X-Men)

  • V or Sawtooth drills (X-box)

  • All are excellent transition and upper body facing drills - reach out if you'd like more information about any of these drills.

    
    

By prioritizing transitions, you create a natural flow that enhances the overall performance.

Incorporate Music and Drill Together

Cleaning drill should happen alongside music rehearsals. The two elements must blend to create a memorable performance.

Here’s how to integrate music and drill cleaning:

• Rehearse with Music: Always practice drill while playing the music. This connection helps students understand how their movements align with musical phrases. March the set plus 1, play the music that correlates to those counts (make sure they know when the music should end to correlate with the counts), then put together until achieved.

  
  

• Gradually Increase the Tempo: Start at a manageable tempo and gradually increase over time. This allows students to become comfortable with the movements and build muscle memory which are crucial to performing precisely at faster tempos.

  
  

• Take Turns: If sections are struggling with a set or transition, have them count and march only while the remainder of the band plays the music. This will help them to understand how the move fits with the music. Examples: Woodwinds count and march this rep while the rest of the band plays, OR all winds march and count while the percussion plays and marches. Using these variations not only helps students connect the music to the drill but can give students a chops break in longer rehearsals.

  
  

By merging music and drill cleaning, you create a unified performance that resonates with judges and spectators alike.

Utilize Feedback

Feedback is a critical part of the cleaning process. It enables continuous improvement and identifies areas needing attention.

Consider these methods for effective feedback:

• Peer Review: Encourage students to observe each other and give constructive feedback. This nurtures a sense of teamwork and accountability.

  
  

• Video Analysis: Record rehearsals to review them together. This visual feedback can reveal areas for improvement that may not be evident during live practice.

  
  

• Instructor Guidance: Leverage instructors' expertise for targeted feedback. Their experience can help pinpoint subtle issues that might be overlooked.

• Clinician Feedback: Bring in clinicians from time to time to have a fresh sets of eyes and ears on your performance. We all need this to continue our personal growth as a director and for students to hear many of the same comments you make on a daily basis from another source.

• Judge Tapes: Take time to listen to judges comments as a band. This is an important part of growth. Don't just send out the recordings and expect students to listen on their own. Even if they do, they may require some clarification from their director to fully understand. If possible, align the judge comments with the video recording.

  
  

By incorporating feedback into your cleaning process, you foster an environment of growth and progress.

Maintain a Positive Atmosphere

Cleaning drill can be demanding, but keeping a positive environment is essential for boosting morale. A supportive atmosphere encourages students to push themselves and strive for excellence.

Here are some tips for fostering positivity:

• Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize improvements, even minor ones. Celebrating progress can significantly boost confidence and motivation.

  
  

• Encourage Teamwork: Build camaraderie among band members. Encourage them to support each other and work together toward common goals.

  
  

• Keep It Fun: Incorporate games or friendly challenges during rehearsals to keep the energy high. A fun atmosphere can make practice more enjoyable for everyone.

  • Rewards for the section who counts the loudest

  • Section Competitions

  • Rewards for first section back from break

  • Be creative

    
    

By prioritizing a positive atmosphere, you create an environment where students feel empowered to perform their best.

Ready for Competition

Cleaning marching band drill for a UIL contest is a comprehensive process that requires careful planning and execution. By prioritizing fundamentals, breaking down the drill, focusing on transitions, integrating music, utilizing feedback, and maintaining a positive atmosphere, your band will be well-prepared for the competition.

Remember, the goal is more than just a performance; it's about creating a memorable experience for both the band and the audience. With these essential priorities in place, approach your UIL contest with confidence and pride, ready to showcase the dedication and hard work of your marching band.

---

Chris McLellan retired in 2021 as Director of Bands for Springtown ISD and currently serves as Executive Secretary for UIL Region 7. Additionally, Chris is a clinical teacher supervisor for Tarleton State University and the University of North Texas Band programs as well as an active mentor and clinician for numerous band programs across Texas. Please visit mclellanbandconsulting.net for additional blogs, resources and contact information.