To help new members learn the basics of drill that we use on parade, I've put together this page with the most common movements we undertake.

This is how we would step off marching if we are playing at the halt.

Depending  on circumstances, if we need to stop playing while we are halted, it will happen in one of these two ways. The key thing to listen for is the bass drum: you'll hear two double beats, then three single beats. You stop playing on the third single beat.

The important thing in a wheel is to maintain the dressing across the band. Each rank should look like the spoke of a wheel. That means that people on the inside of the turn have to step short, and those on the outside have to lengthen their stride

The important thing in a wheel is to maintain the dressing across the band. Each rank should look like the spoke of a wheel. That means that people on the inside of the turn have to step short, and those on the outside have to lengthen their stride

Sometimes we need to turn around and go back the way we just came. To do that, we execute a countermarch. 

Key points:

1) Don't turn until you reach the spot where the person in front of you turned.

2) To turn, you take four short steps in a semicircle to your right.

3) Don't turn on the spot, otherwise the person behind you will walk it you! 

Sometimes, we need to stop moving forward in order to leave some space, then move forward again. For example, on a parade, we may catch up with the group in front of us.In that situation we mark time.

1) Bring your knee up in front of you at the same speed as if you were marching

2) Your knee should form a right angle. Make sure your foot is under your knee,  not kicking up towards your rear!

When we're ready, we step off again.

We also mark time just before halting.

Quite often, we need to stop playing while we are marching. Listen for the bass drum: you'll hear two double beats, then three single beats. You stop playing on the third single beat.

Although created for cadets, the instructions in this playlist are similar to the drill we follow.