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You are here: Home » Articles » Visual » The Checklist

The Checklist

publication date: Dec 12, 2008
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author/source: Jeff Young
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What makes dynamic marching such an innovative way to teach visual?  We approach visual instruction from a whole new perspective.  Learning the basics of dance & movement provides a solid base for the students to build upon.  It becomes much easier to teach one step forward, when they have a strong understanding of posture and where their bodies are in space.  Try this simple exercise for improving posture...


The Checklist

  • Feet:  Place the feet with toes and heels together.
  • Knees:  Make the legs straight, but NOT locked.
  • Hips:  Rotate the hips forward slightly and check the alignment of the spine by placing a flat hand on the stomach and back.
  • Spine:  Lengthen the spine one vertebra at a time until you are two inches taller.
  • Shoulders:  Rotate the shoulders up back and down, but do NOT create tension.
  • Head:  Make you chin level and set your eyes on a point in front of you.
  • Arms:  Make a light fist and place the middle finger on the seam of your pants.  Bend your elbows slightly backward- again... NO TENSION!
This is the position that everything else builds on. Don't expect "ten-huts" at first. Allow the students time to properly align their bodies and you will see immediate results.

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Jeff Young is President and CEO of Dynamic Marching and frequently writes articles and teaches clinics on marching, movement, and visual instruction.  For a more complete bio please visit our consultants and clnicians page here.


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