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So, i am a high school sophomore who has the opportunity to play for Jersey Surf this year. My band director works with them and has gotten me an opportunity to become an alternate. The only problem is that i am overweight and i am not sure that i am good enough. I made 1st chair all state and play in all of my school ensembles on first part. I know there is a lot of physical conditioning, but how much weight do i need to lose to not be miserable? I am 6 foot and weight about 240lbs. Also how good of a player do you have to be? Any advice would be helpful!(I am very new to this site)Thanks!

This is hard because of Bmi
Well if you have enough muscle to make it through the practices then i wouldn't worry about the weight what you need is the muscle to be able to pull off everything
As far as needing to be a good player it's sort of like no Bs hardcore marching band so yes you have to be good, If you are everything you say you are then you'll be fine.
Have you ever marched contra?

tuba227 wrote:So, i am a high school sophomore who has the opportunity to play for Jersey Surf this year. My band director works with them and has gotten me an opportunity to become an alternate. The only problem is that i am overweight and i am not sure that i am good enough. I made 1st chair all state and play in all of my school ensembles on first part. I know there is a lot of physical conditioning, but how much weight do i need to lose to not be miserable? I am 6 foot and weight about 240lbs. Also how good of a player do you have to be? Any advice would be helpful!(I am very new to this site)Thanks!

I marched for 4 years in a World Class corps with a 2 valve contra then a 4 valve marching tuba, then I worked as an instructor and tour director for another 6 years. I loved the experience, so I say this with tough love: You're going to be pretty miserable your rookie year no matter how much weight you lose. Skinny or fat, that contra is going to bring a lot of pain, especially on tour. But it's a joy to perform and a great experience to tour if you 100% commit to it.

As for your health, losing weight is a start. Marching DCI requires strength, agility, and cardiovascular excellence. So yes, lose the flab, but you need to increase your muscle strength, agility, and cardio. Corps hire strength and conditioning coaches and medical staff these days because the activity is so intense.

So get on a low-carb, high-protein diet. Increase your veggie and lean meat intake. Cut the sugar and sodas. Start walking (then jogging) every other day. Begin basic body weight strength workouts on the other days. You don't need dumbbells to gain muscle. Pushups, squats, situps, crunches, and other body weight workouts can do a lot. Do stretches every day to improve your flexibility.

As for your holding your contra up, nothing really helps you do it except for holding that instrument up. So don't give up!

Thanks so much for the reply! Sorry for the confusion, I live in Maryland so I was first chair here.
Also,my school marching band uses contras so I have some experience at least. I'm kinda just chunky but strong and have no problem maneuvering the contra

As long as you have decent stamina, you'll lose the extra weight anyways once the season starts. I marched contra for the Madison Scouts in 1990 and lost 25-30 lbs in the first 2-3 weeks in Madison after we went "full time" in the summer. I don't know what corps schedules are like now but at the time our commitment was 1 weekend camp per month from Thanksgiving until the summer and then full-time through the season. I had a great experience and wish that I had marched my age-out year in 1991 instead of working a job. Go for it!

If I could get to 240 again, and stay there, I'd be thrilled. Of course, I'm 40 yeasts older than you too... Go for it. getting in better shape will benefit you no matter what. Your playing should be more than adequate. Get your confidence up and get in shape. .. You'll be fine. Best of luck!

You'll be fine. I marched with the Spartans up in Nashua, NH for 4 years in HS (03-06)(back when Surf was div II as well) The contra will hurt, you will hurt, but then you'll lose a bunch of weight and it'll get easier. I'm about 5' 10-11" and was 260+ when I stared my first year in 2003, by the time I walked off the finals field in Orlando I was closer to 210 and pretty well built. HS Marching band was a breeze after that. As far as your playing: you'll be fine. I don't know about Surf particularly, but at least in the lower divisions it was a very "take all comers" kind of attitude, if you could take instruction well, and had a good attitude and work ethic you had nothing to worry about. Since you're already set as alternate, just go for it a be happy about it, if you're good enough you'll be in and if you're not you won't not that big a deal. If you like the Corps mentality but going Div I (or World Class these days I guess) right off the bat seems too difficult look for a top Open class corps, They're cheaper, easier to do while holding a job in the summer, and you still get 90% of the 'Drum Corps experience' and it'll set you up to go to a big time corps like a Phantom or Cavaliers or such.

When I first decided to march a corps in 2007 (Oregon Crusaders), I was not athletic, horribly overweight, and in way over my head. I showed up at all days to fill a tuba hole with 8 days of clothes, one pair of cheap shoes, and $40 spending money. (LONG SUMMER but at least it was just a west coast tour)

As long as you are prepared to work hard mentally and physically you will be fine. I would start working on a routine, if you dont run much then I would recommend start walking a minimum of a mile a day every day and build it up weekly. By all days if you can walk two to three miles no problem without hurting or anything then you should be solid for all days. Mind you this is not perfect way to approach training but if will definately help your stamina.

Your rookie year is always the toughest and it will be difficult. Work through it and you will have some of the best memories of your life.

If you have any more questions or concerns feel free to message me.