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| Are you a current drum major, past drum major, or band member? |
| Are you a current drum major? |
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33% |
[ 59 ] |
| past drum major? |
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7% |
[ 13 ] |
| or band member? |
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59% |
[ 106 ] |
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| Total Votes : 178 |
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 Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:40 am
yay!!! i just figured out i'm the saxophone section leader!! its still not drum major or ww captian, but hey, at least its something. There is one senior and me (a junior) a sophomore, and 2 freshmen. I got it by seniority and leadership capabilities, plus i'm the only sax that plays the entire show (may i add that i'm the newest sax just learned it last year) and have the best marching technique. Even better than the one that has been there for 4 FREAKIN YEARS!!!! whatever, i'll straighten them out. may i add that the sophomore thinks he's the leader when he's even worse than the freshmen with marching and playing. i guess it helps that one of the freshmen are the drum major's little brother. Sorry, random bragging lol i do that a lot smile
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:37 am
My experience as a Drum Major for two years in a row:
At my school, only Sophomores and Freshmen could try out for Drum Major because we had a Junior and Senior Drum Major all the time. It was tradition and it never failed. (Freshmen never made it either)
The summer before my Junior year, I went to Drum Major Academy with George Parks, learned a lot... went back to school, had the best season thus far.
The next year, the school didn't have the money to let the drum majors go to Drum Major Academy again. But, we had inherited a new assistant Band Director who had much more experience than our current director in terms of winning Championships in Marching. This new director also has a Masters degree in WIND CONDUCTING.
EVERYTHING CHANGED...
... but for the better!
I soon found out that most of the things I learned at Drum Major Academy did not apply anymore. In fact, they were looked down upon. Especially in Conducting.
In Drum Major Academy, I think they leave out some very important things. They do tell you that you really do not have any real "power", but they neglect to inform you that you are really a glorified babysitter that flails your hands in front of a group of people who pretend to watch you. You also become a symbol: Like the queen of England. She WOULD have had power a LONG time ago, but now she just sits there and looks pretty. (I'm saying this based from what my friends tell me because they're A- Holes -.-)
Yes, it's true you need to be a leader, but when you look at it, what does Drum Major do most of the time anyways?
"Can I go to the Bathroom?"
"Sure, make it quick"
I'm not feeling well..."
"Okay, well go ahead and sit out and drink some water."
"Is it okay if I wear my Shako Backwards?!"
"...No."
"Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah"
"STOP TALKING AND FOCUS!"
"What are we doing?"
"...I haven't the slightest clue."
Oh, and then you get the Director...
"CONDUCT THE DRUM LINE!"
" eek "
Although, that year we achieved the highest score in our division in the state and went further than any group out there. Unfortunately, we were screwed over at Semi-Finals. (How you go from being 1st in the state with a 85 to 9th with a 78 with the best damn show ever is beyond me!)
I guess is what I'm trying to say is that Drum Major Academy hypes you up for something it actually isn't. Or at least in my case it is. I think if you play the babysitter part well enough, the job becomes much easier and probably more fun for some people.
I loved being Drum Major, and this next year I'm trying for Drum Major with the Sun Devil's Drum and Bugle Corps smile (http://sundevilscorps.org/)
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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:47 am
hey, TJ again...can anyone tell me how to conduct 5/4? i see it conducted several different ways but the main thing i hear is that it's conducted like 6/4 just minus a beat. is that true? also if possible, can someone send me a drawing or something to show 5/4? other than that...i really have no problem
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:21 pm
So, DM tryouts are already in the spring, but we're already talking about them and speculating over who might be our new drum major next year. xd Our senior drum major wants it to be a freshman baritone player. He's really skilled, likable, and respectful. I'm definitely going to try out, but...I don't mind if I lose to this kid. =D
As for my chances, I'm not really sure. My director likes me, and I think I work with others well (and I have a good understanding of conducting), but we've always followed a pattern of one male and one female drum major (two males might be possible, but I think the whole two girls thing scares everyone xd ). Buuut, since I've never been involved in drama or anything, and I don't get angry easily, I think I'd be able to work well with the drum major next year.
Conducting question, though- how much of your arm do you usually move while conducting? I'm not sure if it's generally the whole arm, on only up to the elbow...I get time signatures and stuff well, my middle school director taught us how to conduct when we were bored in class one day, but that's my only problem.
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:51 am
Terra of the Lilies So, DM tryouts are already in the spring, but we're already talking about them and speculating over who might be our new drum major next year. xd Our senior drum major wants it to be a freshman baritone player. He's really skilled, likable, and respectful. I'm definitely going to try out, but...I don't mind if I lose to this kid. =D
As for my chances, I'm not really sure. My director likes me, and I think I work with others well (and I have a good understanding of conducting), but we've always followed a pattern of one male and one female drum major (two males might be possible, but I think the whole two girls thing scares everyone xd ). Buuut, since I've never been involved in drama or anything, and I don't get angry easily, I think I'd be able to work well with the drum major next year.
Conducting question, though- how much of your arm do you usually move while conducting? I'm not sure if it's generally the whole arm, on only up to the elbow...I get time signatures and stuff well, my middle school director taught us how to conduct when we were bored in class one day, but that's my only problem. Ok...sorry if you saw what this message was before...it was very faulty haha. so anywho, it is generally ur whole arm. ur shoulders should only move up and down but at really big moments you have more movement in your shoulders. also, your ictises (where the beat hits and you change direction...i'm not sure i spelled that right) are mainly your elbow but you can use ur wrist to emphasize like if its legato, marccato, staccato, etc. like my conducting pattern is mostly staccato which my wrist stays still for the most part, but if you ask me to conduct in a different pattern like legato, i can...i move my wrists a lot more in legato.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:44 am
oh and how u said that the whole 2 girls thing would be kind of scary...it was in my band last year haha both of them pmsed around the same time XD. yeah and the current drum major (that i know is going to get it next year but we need a second one which will hopefully be me) and i do NOT get along...so if i make drum major next year haha that's gonna be funny. i even got into a fistfight with him in middle school...kid drives me nuts XD and he cant conduct worth the crap either
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:36 pm
Our drum major, his name is Eric Deck. Hes super hot but is snotty and arrogant. I play bassoon in concert and clarinet in marching. BTW whats a mellophone? wink biggrin
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:40 pm
L0rd Asriel My experience as a Drum Major for two years in a row: At my school, only Sophomores and Freshmen could try out for Drum Major because we had a Junior and Senior Drum Major all the time. It was tradition and it never failed. (Freshmen never made it either) The summer before my Junior year, I went to Drum Major Academy with George Parks, learned a lot... went back to school, had the best season thus far. The next year, the school didn't have the money to let the drum majors go to Drum Major Academy again. But, we had inherited a new assistant Band Director who had much more experience than our current director in terms of winning Championships in Marching. This new director also has a Masters degree in WIND CONDUCTING. EVERYTHING CHANGED... ... but for the better! I soon found out that most of the things I learned at Drum Major Academy did not apply anymore. In fact, they were looked down upon. Especially in Conducting. In Drum Major Academy, I think they leave out some very important things. They do tell you that you really do not have any real "power", but they neglect to inform you that you are really a glorified babysitter that flails your hands in front of a group of people who pretend to watch you. You also become a symbol: Like the queen of England. She WOULD have had power a LONG time ago, but now she just sits there and looks pretty. (I'm saying this based from what my friends tell me because they're A- Holes -.-) Yes, it's true you need to be a leader, but when you look at it, what does Drum Major do most of the time anyways? "Can I go to the Bathroom?""Sure, make it quick" I'm not feeling well...""Okay, well go ahead and sit out and drink some water." "Is it okay if I wear my Shako Backwards?!""...No." "Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah""STOP TALKING AND FOCUS!" "What are we doing?""...I haven't the slightest clue." Oh, and then you get the Director... "CONDUCT THE DRUM LINE!"" eek " Although, that year we achieved the highest score in our division in the state and went further than any group out there. Unfortunately, we were screwed over at Semi-Finals. (How you go from being 1st in the state with a 85 to 9th with a 78 with the best damn show ever is beyond me!) I guess is what I'm trying to say is that Drum Major Academy hypes you up for something it actually isn't. Or at least in my case it is. I think if you play the babysitter part well enough, the job becomes much easier and probably more fun for some people. I loved being Drum Major, and this next year I'm trying for Drum Major with the Sun Devil's Drum and Bugle Corps smile (http://sundevilscorps.org/) Our drum major is cute yet snotty and arrogant!! He does the same exact things you blogged about. tee-hee! -ralyn123
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:16 pm
ralyn123 Our drum major, his name is Eric Deck. Hes super hot but is snotty and arrogant. I play bassoon in concert and clarinet in marching. BTW whats a mellophone? wink biggrin haha. a mellophone sounds like french horn except its easier to march with a mellophone than a french horn.
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:01 pm
So people, I jhave decided to try otu for drum major! Except i'm a bit nervous. My main worry is if I get it and I am the only one. I don't know if I could do it on my own my first year. maybe a second or third year, but not first.
I need advice. What should I do to prepare?
Also, I have a slight problem withraising my voice. I have a naturally quiet voice. Is there anything I can do to project my voice more? Right now, screaming at the top of my lungs(also painful) does not work well. My BD was always telling me to talk louder during student staff workshops when i tried out for SL last year. I have a slight problem with clapping loud, but I've been practicing.
And our female dm is awesome. She is amazing. Everyone lieks her. She is one of the most liked. She always has been. I also hate one of the guys. He has been dm for 3 years, and has a huge ego. He only likes his new "friends". We grew up together, our parents are good friends, yet he treats me like dog crap. My SL does too. SL story:
We have this hard 4 to 5 move across the field, which I have a few problems with because I'm just a bit short, and in the line it is me, a freshman clarinet, and then her, me leading(not really. We are the end of the line, but i'm at the front of the three of us. In other words, we are going left) Anyway, I finally made my spot, but the freshman overshot it and stepped on my foot, which hurt really bad and I'm surprised didn't break it, and then my sl wwas like "You ahev to move faster!" I made my spot! He overshot it! So why is it my fault? If I made my spot, and the people aead of me made their spots, how is getting run over by a persn who overshot it my fault? and then my freshman year the flute sl marched on my foot in a close move, and then blamed me, saying I wasn't in my spot. Ever eard of dressing the form? and No, I wasn't in my spot. I had overshot my spot. i was runnign into the bari sax behind me because i thought I was out of my spot when she started stepping on me. My fault she started marching on me? No!
Edit!!!:
I just found a fun way of practicing conducting. Find a show you like on youtube and conduct with the DM for that bandXD Not only do you get the experiance of seeing their show, but you can practice conducting an actual showXD
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:03 pm
surge5 hey, TJ again...can anyone tell me how to conduct 5/4? i see it conducted several different ways but the main thing i hear is that it's conducted like 6/4 just minus a beat. is that true? also if possible, can someone send me a drawing or something to show 5/4? other than that...i really have no problem I found this but it doesn't have 5/4. It seems like when we played mars in 8th grade symphonic band(had some 5/4 in it) our BD did it like you said above, 6/4 without the extra beat. I just tried it a few different ways and it seems more simple to(looking at it as if it were 4/4 conductning) add a beat at the two count, and then just follow through like a normal 4/4. The only other way I see is to do the normal first 2 counts and then add one on the 3 count. my attempt at drawing my horrible explanation The top is 4/4, the lower is my drawing of what I just explained. I probably could have just put my drawing, but the 4/4 was mostly for my own referenceXD
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:51 am
ClarinetGoddess surge5 hey, TJ again...can anyone tell me how to conduct 5/4? i see it conducted several different ways but the main thing i hear is that it's conducted like 6/4 just minus a beat. is that true? also if possible, can someone send me a drawing or something to show 5/4? other than that...i really have no problem I found this but it doesn't have 5/4. It seems like when we played mars in 8th grade symphonic band(had some 5/4 in it) our BD did it like you said above, 6/4 without the extra beat. I just tried it a few different ways and it seems more simple to(looking at it as if it were 4/4 conductning) add a beat at the two count, and then just follow through like a normal 4/4. The only other way I see is to do the normal first 2 counts and then add one on the 3 count. my attempt at drawing my horrible explanation The top is 4/4, the lower is my drawing of what I just explained. I probably could have just put my drawing, but the 4/4 was mostly for my own referenceXD Hey thanks! that's what i thought it was, just confused me because i see drum majors/band directors/student conductors conduct 5/4 in several different ways
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:49 pm
So, I've been practicing my conducting all weekend(I think I finally have 2/2 down, as well as 6/8! Yay!) but i have a question. At the moment, the muscles in my arms fell ready to burst. If I move them in certain ways, it hurts. Is this normal? Is this only temporary, or is it going to happen everytime i conduct for a long period of time?
Now if I can get stuff like cues mixed in with conducting, I should be fine, with plenty more rpactice. Another question about that: does it matter what arm you cue with? I've tried with both arms, and so far it seems like my left is best for the cues, because when I try cueing with my right my left arm goes wacko while still conducting. A side note: My left arm has always been this way. It barely works for stuff on its own, or in other words, it is nearly impossible to stop my rigth arm adnd moove my left arm. I can stop my left arm and move my right arm, but not the other way around. I can't write with my left hand(I can barely write with my right, but I think that is genetic) Yet my fingers work pretty well, so i can still play an instrument.
So yeah, can anyone answer these questios?
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 7:12 pm
Your arms hurting is probably just the muscle, it should stop after awhile. The pain reminds me of my calves when I first started marching...then they were probably my strongest muscles. xd
I think it's the left arm, but I'm not sure. I still can hardly do cues...or anything else that involves having one arm doing something different. It's why I completely failed at teaching myself piano...I can do both separately, but when together, my mind just kind of explodes. >_>
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:38 pm
Bwahaha! I've returned to the dM thread with more questions!
So, my muscles aren't aching anymore, and can conduct a whole song that when I first started I couldn't even hold my arms up that long(song is about 4 minutes). But the oddest thing is happening. My left arm, again the one that barely works, is gaining more muscle then the right arm, my dominent. And I mean it is fairly noticable if I flex my arms. You can see the muscle pretty well on the left barely at all on the right. Shouldn't it be the other way around? And just to add t the oddness, if I am doing cues9aka pausing accasionally) with my left, but still going with my right, shouldn't that give my right arm the harder workout and therefore make the right arm stronger then the left?
Yesh, I is very confuzzled
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