AAPS: 30 seconds with: PHS Concert Band White learns to march while playing the Pioneer Fight Song

By Jo Mathis/news.a2schools.org

You think it’s easy to play an instrument while also moving in sync in every direction in front of a crowd?

Pioneer High School Associate Director of Bands Jeff Garcia—whose voice is heard in the video above—begs to differ.

“The combined musical and visual components of marching band require each member’s full attention on the field,” he says. “We have to break down marching and playing into many smaller parts that play into the final product. We focus on things like posture, foot timing, lower body technique, direction changes, step size, knowledge of whistle commands, and horn carriage, to name a few. All of this before we even get an instrument into a student’s hand to try playing while maintaining all of these other responsibilities.”