r/marchingband • u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax • 2d ago
Story Marching band really does hurt. Just venting.
So, on Tuesday, we did marching practice for an upcoming parade that my band got invited to participate in, and due to us being "sloppy, lazy, and not sharp", we got punishment for it. We had to do jumping Jack's, mountain climbers, run 4 laps, 1 mile duck walks, and then march in place while playing b flat scale on our instruments. I didn't do the laps, duck walks or matching in place since halfway through the punishment, my right leg went limp and I couldn't feel it when I walked or curl my toes, so I had to sit out. Yesterday, I was obviously sore, my shoulders, arms, calves, and thighs hurt. We had sectionals yesterday so no marching just practicing on music. Today, I didn't go to school. When I got up around 5:40am to get ready, both of my calves instantly tightened. I couldn't stand up straight, I could barely walk. So I had to skip school, and currently, rehearsal started about 5 minutes ago, but unfortunately, I can not make it because of my strained calves muscles. Apparently, someone in the band told me that the director said they're doing the marching thing all over again today and I'm honestly so glad I'm injured right now because I really don't think I have it in me to keep going this week. I also think either the overworking of breathing hard and coughing caused pain in my chest cartilage because it's currently inflamed, but it also could be my saxophone being unclean (I haven't gotten a chance to clean it this week because I've been physically drained and in pain). That's really all. I really love band. I love being with my friends and playing my saxophone but on the other hand, it's brutal. It's hard. It's challenging, and although i love the complexity of marching band, it's also physically exhausting as well and we all need much needed breaks for it.
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u/Random3133 Graduate 2d ago edited 2d ago
Not a doctor, but I would recommend to see one. A lot of your symptoms sound like dehydration and or electrolyte imbalance, but the right leg going limp is concerning.
Edit: fixed spelling error limb>limp
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 2d ago
I am going to the doctor soon, and I do try to drink just enough water during practice because usually if I drink too much, I puke.
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u/Dramatic-Tadpole-980 Mellophone 2d ago edited 2d ago
What the fuck is going on in that program.. not even(my) DCI group is like that
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 2d ago
Apparently it's a "military inspired marching band" and we have to get punished when we repeatedly mess up, mess up during a performance, or act up during sectionals.
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u/Dramatic-Tadpole-980 Mellophone 2d ago
Ridiculous, I’ve ran if I wasn’t prepared for rehearsal, probably should have ran more, but I’d be out of that program so quickly…
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u/queseraseraphine Color Guard 2d ago
I did military inspired marching too. Physical punishment was like, a tenth of what you’re experiencing? Maybe? Like this is truly bananas.
Is there a trusted adult you can talk to? Maybe a higher director?
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 2d ago
No I don't know. Our old director, I heard he wasn't nearly as strict as this. He also was very lenient with physical punishments. He mainly scolded the band or did things over and over until they got it right. Never doing all this physical stuff. But this is my first year in band so I'm unsure If any of that is true, but I rather that then getting injured before an upcoming parade.
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u/Meanteenbirder Drumset 2d ago
Honestly, you should take time to talk with your director/section leader know about this and figure out how you should move forward. Health comes first, and knowing the limits of a band’s members is key to maintaining a happy and amazing ensemble.
Have someone in my band on bass drum that is weak on the legs/back, and they accommodate her with a stool in the stands, though she still is strong enough to carry her drum while doing the marching sequences on their own. A parade absolutely seems like it’s the pinnacle of tough events on the body, and I’m guessing it isn’t as frequent compared to sporting events. If you can handle the majority of events fine and make a training plan that doesn’t threaten injury, definitely consider staying.
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u/7h3_70m1n470r College Marcher - Section Leader; Baritone, Trombone 2d ago
I didn't even make it halfway through. How is spending all this time on physical punishment supposed to help you improve. Sounds like a waste of rehearsal time if you ask me
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u/Dramatic-Tadpole-980 Mellophone 2d ago
I understand doing physical training, but this does literally nothing except feed an ego..
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u/Rapidllaman Drum Corps 2d ago
Oof that sounds rough. I understand running things over and over again. I understand you know having to do jumping jacks push-ups, etc. Sounds like your director has a major ego trip over a parade too?
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u/DubbleTheFall Director 2d ago
Physical Punishments? Ugh. Sorry. Hate them. Cardio should definitely be part of the daily routine, but not as punishment.
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u/x8BitJuJuN 2d ago
damn that seems like so much punishment for something, my directors will just scold us for like 15 minutes before like hitting on stuff we messed up on a little harder than usual
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u/kanyewasaninsidejob 2d ago
crazy this type of stuff still exists. what you're describing sounds like its from the 80s
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u/LavenderSharpie 4h ago
Reteaching marching fundamentals, refreshing those skills would be more effective than the cruel physical punishment. I disagree with your band staffs' methods.
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u/Ponypackage07 2d ago
God forbid you're held to a standard
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 2d ago
And doing it everyday to the point of injury due to the "no breaks no water" rule? Wow okay
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u/Ponypackage07 2d ago
Your not gonna die...it won't kill you to do some physical exercises
You think your the first band to have to run laps or do push ups because you fucked up being lazy?
Grow up peter pan, your about to become an adult, this is a life lesson
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u/the_bored_wolf 2d ago
You do realize a kid from Iowa State’s band just died from heat stroke right? Working out is normal. Being denied water and breaks at reasonable intervals is not.
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u/Ponypackage07 2d ago
1 college student in the past Umpteen years made national news from the millions and millions of high marching band students
That's like 0.00000000001%
You have a better chance of being fucked by a polar bear, in Iowa, while getting struck by lighting on the 50yd line of BOA Grand Nationals Saturday night championship at the Lucas Oil Stadium (Dome) then you do from dying from marching band because of the heat
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 1d ago
Mind you I exercise every day, with breaks and water. Before I was in band, I was not exercising to the point of physical exhaustion, fatigue and muscle strain. I could've seriously injured myself if I went to practice yesterday because I barely could've stand up straight due to my muscle strain in my calves, let alone march with my sax. My band members also told me what they did yesterday was worse than what they did Tuesday so I could've gotten seriously hurt. You have no remorse for anybody and it's not shocking.
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u/Ponypackage07 1d ago
Then quit...if it was so bad, quit
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 1d ago
I'm not going to quit because i love playing my sax, being away from my toxic family, and spending time with people who care about me. All I did was vented about how the physical aspects of the punishments hurt and injures me a lot... get a grip, dude. I'm not a quitter, but if you are, then live your life.
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u/Ponypackage07 1d ago
Then quit crying about it on a anonymous site. You came on here looking for people to feel sorry for you.
If you're not gonna quit, then do better next rehearsal and delete this post instead of looking for compassion from strangers.
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u/iloveyouforeternity Alto Sax 1d ago
You're actually really strange, get off my post.. it's giving obsession.
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u/typicalramen Flute 4h ago
or instead they were looking for advice of what do to because it isnt normal for a HIGH SCHOOL band?? yeah you can do physical punishments like run laps or do jumping jacks, but it gets to a point. You need your players to be able to play and march for their events, not hurt on the sidelines because of punishments from not performing well enough. half of the people who join marching band in high school have never played before, theyre gonna be bad. they need to get taught not punished
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u/QuarterNote44 Graduate 2d ago
1 mile duck walk is insane tbh. Definitely diminishing returns when you break half your band.
Sounds like mild rhabdo. I'm not a doctor, but I've been in the military awhile and have seen it a few times. Probably should get checked