The Cost of Performance: A Study on the Effect of Marching Style and Tempo on Energy Expenditure during Marching

摘要

A primary purpose of university marching bands is to entertain the audience, implying showmanship is important. This draws many marching bands to improvise new techniques, including the style of march used to enter the field for performances. This study was conducted to determine the amount of energy expended during 90 second marches for two march styles (a traditional roll step and a new method termed "run step") and three different tempos (160, 180, 200 beats per minute). Objective (breath-by-breath oxygen consumption, heart rate) and subjective (Borg RPE) data were collected on nine members of a local university marching band. Results indicate a significant difference between the roll step and run step styles with the run step workload classification as heavy to very heavy. It was also inferred that for the run step style, a tempo of 200 beat per minute was significantly different than the other two tempos. The results from this pilot study indicates that marching band directors should be cognizant of the physical demands imposed on the marching band members especially while considering new techniques or changing tempos. Also, injuries and fatigue could be a direct result of inadequate physical fitness, hence, marching band members could benefit from an all year conditioning or fitness regimen.