The Sewing Mom

Marching Counts!

17th May 2009

Marching Counts!

posted in family |

From the time my daughter was in kindergarten, she has always had some sort of PE class at least a few times each week. She’s always been active outside of school too, with softball and swimming. But, this 2nd semester of 7th grade, for the first time, she has not had a PE class. We’ve actually had to discuss ways to stay active in the winter to stay physically fit, whether it’s using the Wii Fit walking on the treadmill. It’s important to stay fit during the off season.

So, my daughter spent all day yesterday with the junior high Honor band. They had a contest performance and then, to celebrate the hard work they’ve done all year, they went to Medieval Times for dinner and all had a blast. After coming home last night, we got to talking about her future with band and what she wants to do when she gets to high school. She’s not sure she wants to do marching band, but then she informed me that marching band counts for PE credits in high school! Who knew?!

She’s only in 7th grade, but it’s never too early to start thinking about your future. She has a very good chance of receiving a college scholarship for band and, if marching counts for physical education, that’s something to seriously consider. If you’ve ever watched a marching band practice, or even perform, you know how hard it is and how many steps they take. It’s definitely a physical activity.

I wish I could tell anyone in a marching band to put on a pedometer and measure the distance that they’re walking each and every time they take to the field. They could then take that information, register at BeeWell Miles , log their miles marched and learn how many calories they’re burning! If they’re interested, they can even the meals they’re eating and get the caloric value. It really is a great way to living a healthy lifestyle.

I participate in BeeWell Miles by logging my walking and my Wii Fit time. To make it even more inviting, From 4/1/09-10/31/09, Bumble Bee Foods will donate $0.15/mile for every mile logged at BeeWellMiles.com (up to $200,000) to help Breast Cancer Network of Strength provide emotional support to those who can’t wait for tomorrow’s cure. And, as if that wasn’t enough, for any day that I log in (or you) and register my miles walked, I am automatically entered to win one of 15,000 prizes! I would love to win something, wouldn’t you?

Anyway, time will tell what my daughter decides about the future. I have no doubt she’ll stay with band, it’s just whether or not she’ll be marching that remains in question.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 9:17 am and is filed under family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

There are currently 8 responses to “Marching Counts!”

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  1. 1 On May 17th, 2009, Lin said:

    My son gets the gym credit only for the fall semester that is his marching band season. He is given the gym time in a study hall to get his homework done. Being that they spend more time on the marching field after school than the football team and the kids in band are more likely to be in honors or AP classes, they need the time to complete their homework.

    Also, it is not just how much they walk, but how fast and what type of marching they do–we did a high step in one of our performances. Try that while making formations, dodging other players, plus playing your instrument. It’s not as easy as the football players would want you to think.

    Band kids get a bad rap–I’d love to see the other athletes keep up. I hope your daughter sticks it out–depending on your band director and program, it can be the best thing she’ll participate in.

    posted on May 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am

  2. 2 On May 17th, 2009, Grace said:

    I think that’s why I was in good shape (and didn’t even think about it) when I was in school. I was in band, and P.E. and was always walking places. ahhh the good ol days.

    posted on May 17th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

  3. 3 On May 18th, 2009, A.Marie said:

    Wow! Great Post! My teen son is a Freshman, and he loved marching band last fall. He even loved Band Camp last summer!! In fact, he just mentioned this weekend that he can’t wait for Band Camp to start, because he needs to get back into shape!! Band is just an awesome opportunity for kids. At our school district, the band and the PE work in conjunction with one another. The band kids go to PE two days one week, 3 days the next week. The days they don’t do PE, they do band. So, since my son would rather be in band than PE, this has worked out well. And, the physical exercise that Band kids get is incredible. I would just love to see some of those kids that call my son and his friends “band geeks” be able to keep up with the physical side of band!!

    posted on May 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

  4. 4 On May 19th, 2009, Cascia @ Healthy Moms said:

    I have never heard of P.E. credits for band before. I was in band as a kid and also in college so I know how physically active they are. I suppose schools are providing more alternatives so that kids can get the proper credits due to budget cuts.

    posted on May 19th, 2009 at 6:16 am

  5. 5 On May 19th, 2009, lynne said:

    Lin – Well, she’s completing her 3rd year of playing the baritone, and I know she really enjoys it. She also enjoys playing in concert band and that was her question. I’ve discovered that all of the concert bands at the high school, there are 5, participate in marching band in the fall and do the concert bands in the spring. I informed her of this and she seems okay with it now. I think she was just nervous. She has another year before having to make her decision, but I’m pretty sure she’ll continue with band.

    posted on May 19th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

  6. 6 On May 19th, 2009, lynne said:

    Grace – I know, the computer age has resulted in us sitting on our buts way more than we used to!

    posted on May 19th, 2009 at 3:11 pm

  7. 7 On May 19th, 2009, lynne said:

    A.Marie – I’ve always admired marching band kids! I have 2 sisters that did marching band and a niece and nephew that also marched. My daughter will be following in some very cool footsteps!

    posted on May 19th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

  8. 8 On May 19th, 2009, lynne said:

    Cascia – I think the schools are realizing how hard band kids work and maybe that’s why marching counts for PE credits!

    posted on May 19th, 2009 at 3:13 pm