Marching Band as a Sport

For many people, marching bands are a truly incredible sight to see. Visual effects, great music, and of course those mesmorizing dance girls and flag girls. But the performances were not always as together, and as organized as they appear. And yes, your favorite song was once looked at with aggravated eyes, and fearful hearts as memory tests were performed in rehearsals.

An upsetting factor about being apart of a marching band, no matter the type of band, is that supporters and faculty do not view us as athletes. Athletic scholarships, and athletic funding are reserved for football teams, basketball teams, and other "actual sports." Why is that?

Speaking from experience, as I currently march for the Sound Machine at North Carolina Central University, marching bands must endure tons of conditioning, practicing, and perfecting throughout the marching season. This begins with band camp. Band camp ranges anywhere from a week to a summer, depending on the university. During this time, members of the marching band must participate in mandatory activities all day, and sometimes all night. These activities consist of—but are not limited to:

• Challenging exercises throughout the day (running, leg exercises, etc.)
• Perfecting the marching style and maneuvers
• The learning and memorization of a variety of different music to be played (field show music, stand music)
• Memorization tests (also referred to as "check-offs")

Even after the academic semester begins, marching band members are still under a copious amount of physical stress. As exercise becomes limited due to restraint on time, the intensity and importance of having a perfected marching style increases. Like other sports, marching bands only get five days at a time to perfect themselves for events happening on the weekends.

Marching band meets the requirements and standards of athleticism, just with instruments instead of balls. So, once again, why is it seen as a hobby instead of a sport? I decided to conduct short interviews with marching band members from universities throughout North Carolina. I only asked two questions. Here are their responses:

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Alexandrya FronebergerPerformance Instrument: Piccolo/Flute

Ayana James: What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Froneberger: Marching band is considered a sport to me because you have to condition, just like any other sport, and you have to be physically fit to be able to march and play, [or dance] at the same time.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

Because [people] think just because we have instruments, it doesn't make sense for it to be a sport. I also feel like they don't understand that marching is a type of exercise.

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Kelly BoykinPerformance Instrument: Piccolo/Flute

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Boykin: I feel like marching band should be considered a sport because we have to condition our bodies, workout, eat healthy, and stay hydrated to be able to march and perform a show. We do Battle of the Bands and that’s kind of like our—that’s OUR game day. We also have to perform at games for the football team. We help bring the momentum of the crowd. If we're not getting hype, the crowd ain’t gonna get hype because a lot of people, especially in the HBCU world, just come to football games for the band. [They may] know nothing about football. They just come to see what the band is gonna do, or which band is gonna be better. In order for us to be the best band, we have to be in shape, we have to work on our endurance, [and] we have to work on our playing skills, just like the football team has to be in shape, work on the book, [and] work on running the plays so they can be the best they can be.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

Because of the Drumline movie. I feel like when the Drumline movie came out, it didn’t show a true picture of the band world. It was entertainment, and since that movie, people just think [for example] “oh, well anybody can get in band because [Devon Miles] got on and didn’t know how to read music.” But in the real world, you NEED to know how to read music. Yeah, everybody reading skills ain’t the same, but you need to know SOMETHING. It’s not just cookies-and-cream, and that’s how I feel like it was shown on the Drumline movie. I feel like everybody got a misconception of band when that movie came out.

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KJ East (Fuzzy Lumpkins)Performance Instrument: Mellophone

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

East: I feel like if you have to physically train for a certain group that [has] to perform for a game or event, then it is considered a sport.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

I [think] that people just feel like it's a side—something that people do just to pass time.

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Jazmin Gainey Performance Instrument: Percussion

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Gainey: If you look up the definition of a sport, it says "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or another for entertainment." And one cannot tell me that [marching] band does not include these things. We have workouts and summer-long conditioning just as members of a football team do. Before lifting a foot to start the motions of a field show or before taking the breath before beginning a song, there's a rigorous, almost religious, process before a crowd sees anything.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

Because one, well... we're dancing on a field with instruments at half-time, but also they don't see what happens before the show, before [we march] out of our second homes. They have nooooo idea.

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Jayson PenderPerformance Instrument: [Other] Drum Major

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Pender: Ever since I can remember, marching band [has been a] big part of my life. I used to be really out of shape and lazy, but the rigorous activities that we did with band kept me moving and didn't really allow [for me] to be too lazy anymore. So, I felt like I was doing two sports at the same time, honestly.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

"I feel like other people don't consider marching band a sport simply because of the fact that they've never experienced all of the hard work that you must dedicate yourself to in order to be successful in the program. Just because marching band doesn't involve you throwing, catching, hitting, or shooting a ball, [that] doesn't mean that it doesn't take a lot of work to accomplish."

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Jeremy WhitleyPerformance Instrument: Trumpet

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Whitley: I think marching band is a sport because [it involves physical exertion]. Just like athletes, we have to memorize our playbook, except in band, it's our music and drill. Also, sports are meant for entertainment, and so is marching band.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

"I think people have a misconception about marching band because [it is not] put on the same pedestal as athletics. I feel like a lot of people think sports are the only way to go places in life."

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Zachiah CarterPerformance Instrument: Alto Saxophone

What are your thoughts on marching band as a sport?

Carter: Marching band should be included in the athletics department because there's so much that we have to put out as a band, as well as [individually]. We have to make sure we're physically able to do everything that marching band calls for, whether that be in regards to core style or traditional style marching.

Why do you believe people do not consider marching band a sport?

"I think because when we add the music aspect to it, [people] want to put it with the arts, but marching band encompasses both musical and physical attributes. Also, we work just as hard, if not harder, than the other athletic teams only to have less funding for resources."

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The marching band members I was able to converse with had wonderful insight and it was a pleasure speaking with each of them. Please, be on the look out for my next article coming in October 2017. Thank you for reading!