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The New Posture "Checklist"

publication date: Mar 23, 2009
 | 
author/source: Chris Kaflik
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When you purchase Dynamic Marching Volume: 1, you will get an introduction to "The Checklist."  This is a detailed five-step procedure each performer will go through before they come to their attention position.  Once students have a strong handle on "The Checklist" it will be much easier to teach marching basics. 

  • Feet: Defined by instuctor.

    • Commonly "First position parallel," with heels and toes together or "First position turn-out," with just heels together and toes separated.

  • Knees: Straight, but not locked. 

    • It is good to have students bend their knees.  After that they should lock them out, and then relax them. 

  • Hips: Rotated slightly forward.

    • I tell the students to imagine their pelvis as being a bowl filled with liquid.  Then I tell them to spill some out the front, by sticking their butts out.  After that I tell them to spill some out the back by sticking their crotches forward. 

    • From there, the students should adjust their hips to where the liquid inside the bowl would be even.  The pelvis will be rotated slightly forward. 

  •  Back: Students should try to be at least two inches taller.

    • This can be achieved a few ways

      • Students can stand on their tip toes and try to leave their head where is as they slowly lower their feet. 

      • Students can try to separate each vertebra at a time until they feel much taller.

      • Students can lay on the floor in a fully extended stretch. 

        • Start with arms extended over the head, then release them down to the side.

        • They should then release their pelvis so that their whole spine is on the ground.

        • After those steps they should stand up and emulate that feeling.

  • Shoulders and Arms: The key is no tension

    •  Building off of the last step (the back), I tell the students to lift passed their shoulders.  This helps give a constant sense of lift in the back.

    • The shoulders should be relaxed.  Think of pulling down very slightly, keeping in mind NO tension. 

    • Students can over-rotate their shoulders (too far forward, and back) to understand the feelings of the tension they should avoid.               

    • Lengthen your neck so that it is as long as possible slightly opening up the upper chest. 

      • DO NOT stick the chest out.  This creates unnecessary tension.

    • The texture of the arms is soft.  It should not look like the musicians (low brass players especially) are grasping their horns.  It should look like the horn has just been placed in their hands.

  • Head: Chin should be level. 

    • To some, the level may feel awkward, like it is too high.  Assure students that their chins are ok, or make the necessary adjustments. 

    • Avoid sticking the head out in front of the body (turtle neck) and pulling head back.  These positions create unnecessary tension. 

The "Checklist" and these body positions create the main building block of a successful visual package.  After the "Checklist" has been taught give the students time to get into this position, "Ten-huts" should not be expected immediately.

When the students are playing music, they are always constantly making adjustments to pitch, tone quality, or the balance with the players around them.  Likewise, these constant adjustments need to happen in the posture checklist as well.  The students should have a constant feel separation in their spine, relaxation in the arms, head, and neck, and they must be aware of their hip placement (liquid in the bowl).  If they feel any changes are necessary, they should adjust, just like they would musically. 

 


Chris Kaflik teaching

Chris Kaflik 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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