LEFT TURN - ALTERNATE
Drum Major:
Signal a LEFT TURN. (The signal for the alternate left turn is the same as that for the primary left
turn.) PIVOT to the left on the step after the signal of execution. MARCH FORWARD until you
are the appropriate number of steps past the first person in the left file. The appropriate number of
steps equals the number of files, minus one. For example, for a five-person front, continue four
steps past the first person in the left file; for a four-person front, continue three steps past the first
person in the left file. MARK TIME until the front rank is on line in the new direction of march.
STEP OFF with a full step.
Band Commander:
On the signal of execution, continue to MARCH at a full step. Two steps after the file to your left
stops and begins to Mark time, pivot to the left on the ball of your right foot. Continue to march at a
full step in the new direction. Your are the guide for the front rank until the entire rank has
completed the turn. At that time the guide reverts to the center.
Band Senior Sergeant:
When the drum major raises his arm in preparation for signaling a Left Turn, take one step forward
with your left foot, rock back on your right foot, and step forward with your left foot. This will put
you in line with the second rank. Continue to march in this position until the drum major gives the
signal of execution. Mark Time one step after the signal of execution. Pivot to the left on the ball of
your right foot two steps after the person on the left flank of the front rank pivots. This will return
you to your original position two steps to the left of and in line with the front rank.
Left File:
If you are the first person in the file, stop on your right foot one step after the signal of execution.
Bring your left foot even with your right foot and begin to MARK TIME. Continue to MARK
TIME until the person to your right pivots to the left. Two steps after the person to your right
pivots, pivot to the left on the ball of your right foot. Continue to march at a full step in the new
direction. Dress is to the right until the entire rank completes the turn. At that point the guide
reverts to the center file, or to the right of center in a band with an even number of files.
If you are not the first person in the left file, stop on your right foot one step after the signal of
execution. Bring your left foot even with your right foot and begin to MARK TIME. Continue to
MARK TIME until the file to your right steps off. Two steps after the file to your right steps off,
step off at a full step. Pivot to the left on the ball of your right foot two steps after the person in front
of you pivots. Continue to march at a full step in the new direction. From the signal of execution,
the right file is the guide file until your entire rank has completed the turn. At that time, the guide
returns to the center file, or to the right of center in a band with an even number of files.
Right File:
If you are the first person in the file continue to MARCH at a full step on the signal of execution.
Two steps after, as the file to your left stops and begins to MARK TIME, pivot to the left on the
ball of your right foot. Continue to march at a full step in the new direction. The right file is the
guide file until the entire rank has completed the turn. At that time the guide reverts to the center.
If you are not the first person in the right file, continue to MARCH FORWARD at a full step after
the signal of execution. Two steps after the person in front of you turns, pivot to the left on the ball
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