To teach you must have a pattern. In order for all of us to teach as a unit, which means we all teach the same way, we will use the following seven steps when teaching. These seven steps will help you become one that tells and shows and not one that listens and does.

Another aspect of teaching as a unit is memorizing the rhythms for calling the maneuvers. If everyone calls the maneuvers by the same rhythms then moving from being broken into sections to the full Touch of Gold will be easier.

Do not call the movements at a tempo that is too fast...practice calling the commands at a tempo of 120 Beats Per Minute.( two beats a second, use a watch to make sure of yourself, or say Mississippi and clap every time you begin the word. )

General Terms and Information

• Interval: A marching interval represents the distance between two people.
  
  • The marching interval for 8 to 5 is 22.5 inches.
    
  • The marching interval for 6 to 5 is 30 inches.

• Cadence:A cadence is the tempo at which the group is marching.

General Terms and Information Continued

• To The Box: The instrument, while playing, is lifted from the playing position of parallel to the ground, up to the press box.

• Parks Tips: These are tips to help you effectively and efficiently teach the section.
  
  • There are three tips:
    
    • 1. Learning Levels:
      
      • Don't learn
        
      • Learn some stuff emphasized
        
      • Learn Everything
        
      • Learn Everything Said
        
      • Learn by watching
        
      • Create own material
        
    • 2. Know what specific things you want to accomplish.
      
    • 3. When in small groups: do the maneuver, put role model in center, lock arms,
      watch role model, and correct what you are doing.

• Heel Placement on the yard line: The back of the heel is on the back of the yard line.

• Rules for March-Off Marching:
  • Mark time is considered a motion movement.
    
  • 180 degree direction changes are as follows:
    
    • Stationary you turn to the right.
      
    • In motion you turn to the left.
      
  • Pivots result in a direction change and high mark time, not in a forward or backward motion.
    
  • When a marching command is called after a pivot, march with a normal step-size, do not prance.
    
  • When you are backwards marching and a direction change is called, remember to always continue marching backwards unless the command was a flank or to-the-rear.
    

• Eyes With Pride:
  
  • Definition: Shows an attitude with the eyes.
    
  • Caller Says: EYES
    
  • Corp Says: WITH PRIDE

• At Ease:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, AT EASE
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: This command allows the group to do anything except move their right foot and talk. This is used to explain things, for a short break, and for making announcements.

• At Rest:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, HEST
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: This command is used to give the group a break without leaving the rehearsal or practice area.

• Right Hace:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, RIGHT HACE
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 5
    
  • Description: This is used to turn the group 90 degrees to the right. Knee pop on the beat before the turn, then take four equal steps to turn to the right, knee pop on four, and halt on the next beat.

• Left Hace:
  
  • Opposite of right hace
    

• About Hace:
  
  • The same as right hace except you turn 180 degrees.
    

• Dismissed:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, DISMISSED
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: Group breaks attention and leaves.

• Dress Right:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, DRESS RIGHT, DRESS
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: From the position of attention the full group except the right column turns their head to the right and straightens the rank.

• Dress Left:
  
  • The opposite of dress right.

• Eyes Front:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, EYES FRONT
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: This movement is used to go from dress right or dress left back to attention.

The following movements are called motion movements because they will be executed while the group is marching. The motion movements will be disigned in the show and executed to the music. Beside each name will be an abbreviation, use this abbreviation to indicate in your music where your turns and movements will be executed.

• Step Off (SO):
  
  • The step off is the first step taken by the group at the beginning of the show or the first step taken by an individual member after a pause in the marching routine. The type of step off will depend on the movement in the show.

• Step Style:
  
  • The glide step allows the least amount of motion in the upper body and head; this is because by rolling on the side of the foot you have a natural softness in the motion. The glide step works the foot from the heel to toe. You begin the glide step on the heel and roll the foot on its side all the way to the toe. At the end of themove the foot should be perpendicular to the ground.
    
  • Practice routines for the glide step:
    • duck walk
      
    • bug crunch
      
    • toe to toe stretch and calf pull
      
    • tooth paste squeeze

• Low Mark Time (MT):
  
  • This movement is merely marching in place and yet is one of the most careless maneuvers that groups execute. Marking time is not a time to rest. There is a knee pop the count before you begin marking time. During mark time the toe does not leave the ground, you bend the knee, tap the heel on the beat, and do not creep forward.

• Halt (H):
  
  • This maneuver is used to stop the band. The last beat before the halt is a knee pop followed on the next beat by bringing the right foot parallel to the left foot.

• Forward Harch (FM):
  
  • Moving the group forward. However there are many bad habits that can occur, such as leaning forward, anticipating, and stepping off on the wrong foot.

• Backward Harch (BM):
  
  • This maneuver is used to move the group backwards. To execute this maneuver go up on your toes the beat before the step off, move backwards on your toes(from the toe knuckles to the tips of the toes), and the step size depends on the distance needing to be covered.

• Right Crossover (RC):
  
  • The right crossover is used to turn the group, squad, or individual 90 degrees to the right. To execute this maneuver move the left leg directly over the right as you turn and continue forward with the same size step as before the turn.

• 4 Count Right To The Rear(RR) and 4 Count Left To The Rear(LR):
  
  • To execute either one of these maneuvers, take 4 counts to completely turn 180 degrees, while barely picking up your feet during the turn.

• One count left to the rear:
  
  • This maneuver is used to turn the group 180 degrees while marching. The maneuver takes only one count to execute and does not have a knee pop before the turn. The maneuver is executed on the right foot. You place your right foot on the ground for your regular step, and pivot on your right toe for a full 180 degree turn. Do not lean to the left as you do your turn. This is commonly known as to-the-rear.

• Left Flank (LF):
  
  • This maneuver is used to turn the individual or group 90 degrees to the left. Pivot on your right toe in order to turn your body to the left and continue marching using the same size step.

• Left Oblique (LO):
  
  • This is the same as a left flank except you only turn to a 45 degree angle.

• Right Oblique:
  
  • Opposite of left oblique.

• Adjusted Step:
  
  • Each member of the group moves to the new position using the same number of steps, but the steps are different sizes, so that they arrive at the same time.
    For Example: 12-5, 16-5, 34-5.

• Expand:
  
  • The interval of the element becomes larger.

• Flex:
  
  • The form inverts itself.

• Gate:
  
  • The form remains constant as it moves to the new position and the end person (pivot) of the element remains fixed.

• Lateral Slide:
  
  • The element moves parallel to the sideline with their instruments, props, and flags remaining front field.

• Pivot:
  
  • A fixed point in a moving pivot.

• Moving Pivot:
  
  • The person or persons used to guide off of when moving the same form to a different position on the field.

• Progressive Start:
  
  • Each member of the element steps off at a different time in a specific sequential manner.

• Progressive Stop:
  
  • Opposite Progressive Start

• Shrink:
  
  • The inverval of the element becomes smaller.

• Stride:
  
  • The size of the step
    
    • Full stride = 8 steps to 5 yards
      
    • 3/4 stride = 12 steps to 5 yards
      
    • 1/2 stride = 16 steps to 5 yards

• Pin Wheel:
  
  • A straight line moving in a circle off a designated pivot. The pivot can be anyone in the line.

• Box Routine:
  
  • Keep the instruments, flags, and props straight forward while marching in a box formation. Forward march 4, left flank 4, backwards march 4, right crossover 4, 4 count left turn and halt.

• Mime Routine:
  
  • Place your hands in front of you as if they were on the wall. Keeping your hands in the same place turn your body to the right in 4 equal steps, turn back front in 4 equal steps, turn to the left in 4 equal steps, and turn back to the front in 4 equal steps ending in a pop stop.

• Left Pivot Harch:
  
  • 4 count turn at high mark time.

• Left Turn Harch:
  
  • 4 count turn at low mark time.

• Port Arms:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, PORT HARMS
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: It is the exact position as present arms except you can move at port arms.

• Trail Arms:
  
  • Vocal Command: CORP, TRAIL HARMS
    
  • Number of counts to execute: 1
    
  • Description: From the position of port arms, move arms quickly back to the position of attention.

• "The Rule":
  
  • The beat before every turn is a knee pop.