Chantilly High School is experimenting with a voluntary workout program for their marching band. With brass and percussion instruments weighing as much as 40 pounds, increases to students’ endurance mean sharper turns, crisper stepping and faster flag twirling for the color guard. In other words, the Chantilly Chargers marching band formations will be “in shape” this season. As a former marching band trumpeter myself, I was surprised to learn that, according to CHS marching band Director Ross,
- “The heart rate a student has marching through an eight-minute show is almost what a marathon runner’s would reach. The students who are athletes go through a conditioning program. We wanted to make sure our kids do, too.”
Band directors Gary English and Drew Ross told the Fairfax Times: “We decided to do something new this year
by holding optional rehearsals where we would spend an hour on fundamentals – core muscle training, cardio – and mixing music fundamentals, mostly breathing and marching exercises,” said Ross, adding turnout for the pilot program was high despite students’ summer conflicts such as vacations, camps and work. Voluntary group workouts, which drew 20 to 40 students each, were staged at the school beginning in early July.
“We decided to do something new this year by holding optional rehearsals where we would spend an hour on fundamentals — core muscle training, cardio — and mixing music fundamentals, mostly breathing and marching exercises,” said Ross, adding turnout for the pilot program was high despite students’ summer conflicts such as vacations, camps and work. Voluntary group workouts, which drew 20 to 40 students each, were staged at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning in early July. It will be interesting to see how all this hard work pays off this Fall. To read more about how Chantilly High School marchers mix music with muscle training, go to
Fairfax Times
