Chair step

University of Wisconsin Marching Band executing the Stop at the Top.

The chair step is a type of high step used by marching bands. This step is named because of the resemblance of the leg in action to a leg's position when sitting in a chair. It is primarily used by bands that define themselves as traditional style bands. The bands of the Big Ten athletic conference are most widely known for their chair step.

The chair step emphasizes leg movement with a sharp pop on each step, during which the thigh of the action leg may raise as high as parallel to the ground, with the lower part of the leg and foot remaining out. As with the ankle knee step, the toe is the last part of the foot to leave the ground and the first to reconnect.

This is the basic step used for most field marching in traditional style bands. Most bands, such as the University of Minnesota Marching Band, will emphasize that the knee be at a 90-degree angle. Other bands, such as the University of Wisconsin Marching Band (seen pictured) will use a 45-degree angle.

One element of chair step highlighted by many bands is a horn flip that is executed during the march.

Chair step is also very common in Mid-West high school marching bands, as it clearly defines the march, and is easy to learn.

History

John "High 'Steppin" Hudak of the Falcon Marching Band (Rochester High School) invented what he calls the "High Step" an early form of the chair step. Back when he was in marching band, he decided "we're not working hard enough" and suggested the idea of a marching style that emphasizes the knee being at a 90-degree angle with the toe pointed towards the ground. This has been used ever since in the Falcon Marching Band and altered for the other bands' uses.

Stop at the Top

While most marching bands execute the chair step in a smooth continuous motion, some marching bands emphasize a pause at the height of the step. This makes for a more physically demanding marching style as well as a more dynamic appearance. The University of Wisconsin Marching Band is the only band that uses the Stop at the Top.

Bands that use Chair Step

• Falcon Marching Band (Rochester High School)
• The Pride of Highland Marching Band (Highland High School)
• The Kent State University Marching Golden Flashes (Kent State University)
• Falcon Marching Band (Bowling Green State University)
• Purdue All-American Marching Band (Purdue University)
• Indiana University Marching Hundred (Indiana University)
• Marching Illini (University of Illinois)
• Brush Arcs Marching Band (Brush Bands) (Charles F. Brush High School)
• Penn State Blue Band (The Pennsylvania State University)
• The Pride of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• The Ohio State University Marching Band (The Ohio State University)
• University of Wisconsin Marching Band (University of Wisconsin)
• Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band (Michigan State University)
• Michigan Marching Band (University of Michigan)
• Northwestern Wildcat Marching Band (Northwestern)
• Hawkeye Marching Band (University of Iowa)
• Band of the Fighting Irish (The University of Notre Dame)
• Marching Chiefs (Florida State University)
• Spirit of Troy (University of Southern California)
• University of Washington Husky Marching Band (University of Washington)
• North Olmsted High School Eagle Marching Band (North Olmsted High School)
• The Ohio University Marching 110 (Ohio University)
• Spruce Creek High Steppin' Hawks (Spruce Cree High School)

See also

• Glide step
• Ankle knee step

References

• Smith, G. (2003) The System: Marching Band Methods. Savoy, IL: Smith.