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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: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:42 pm
Savvy Bee 
I just graduated high school, but this past year I served as the drum major of my high school band. It was a new BD's first year with us, so he and I got close pretty fast. My high school band was really small (about 20 members... eeesh. Country school.), so it's a radically different experience from being in a big band, which I was in for my 8th grade and freshman year.
I really enjoyed being the drum major, but I'm not sure if I want to pursue the drum major position in university band... Are there any university drum majors here?
I'm not a university drum major, but I've heard a lot from people who tried out. I'm going to college next year too, and I've decided I'd rather try to be section leader than drum major. What I've heard about college drum majors is not good. They devote a lot of time to the band - I've heard from my brother his drum major didn't finish his degree, as he was too busy with band errands. A lot of the running of the band is dumped on the drum majors, including the paperwork and filing, as well as the running of rehearsals. My brother tried out for drum major two years in a row when he was in college, but he didn't make it. He was amazing - the best drum major my high school has ever seen (after me - haha, jk). If you've been to DMA, he really reminds me of George Parks, as he had the precision, the expression, the skill, everything. But he didn't make it. So, to sum up, I don't think it's a very good idea to be drum major in college, but if you want to, go for it. Make sure to take lessons from the current drum majors there and to get along with the band members and all. Good luck! And .Savage_Kitten., have fun at DMA! I'm not going this year, as I'm technically not drum major anymore. sad I graduated.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:55 pm
WickedSong I'm not a university drum major, but I've heard a lot from people who tried out. I'm going to college next year too, and I've decided I'd rather try to be section leader than drum major. What I've heard about college drum majors is not good. They devote a lot of time to the band - I've heard from my brother his drum major didn't finish his degree, as he was too busy with band errands. A lot of the running of the band is dumped on the drum majors, including the paperwork and filing, as well as the running of rehearsals. My brother tried out for drum major two years in a row when he was in college, but he didn't make it. He was amazing - the best drum major my high school has ever seen (after me - haha, jk). If you've been to DMA, he really reminds me of George Parks, as he had the precision, the expression, the skill, everything. But he didn't make it. So, to sum up, I don't think it's a very good idea to be drum major in college, but if you want to, go for it. Make sure to take lessons from the current drum majors there and to get along with the band members and all. Good luck!
Wow, that's fierce... what size band did your brother come from?
OHHHH, George Parks. That is an amazing man. I taught my band sparkle-hut and they LOVED it.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:02 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:02 pm
Incredibly flexible DMs are the coolest thing EVER. I can't even work a baton without injuring myself/someone else... (Seriously, there was no baton last marching season because I'm too clumsy. sweatdrop ) He's definitely got a drum major look about him. xD I'm SO excited to start university band... I come from a small band (like... 20 people... 30 tops) and I'm going to a band that's about 150!
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:45 am
Savvy Bee Incredibly flexible DMs are the coolest thing EVER. I can't even work a baton without injuring myself/someone else... (Seriously, there was no baton last marching season because I'm too clumsy. sweatdrop ) He's definitely got a drum major look about him. xD I'm SO excited to start university band... I come from a small band (like... 20 people... 30 tops) and I'm going to a band that's about 150! That's why we love Tyler (wearer of the sunshine pants!). Plus, our announcer never knows how to pronounce his last name, so I get a kick out of him trying. He does the drum major thing every game, but that was plumeless just to be special, since it was the last game of the season. All of our drum majors have to be able to do the backbend in order to be considered - no questions asked. Plus, he can do about an 8 foot (probably higher) mace toss. During practice, he just kinda wanders around in an end zone, tossing his mace. The really good pics of him (and my band) are on the band photo site, but it's a pain in the a** to sort through, since it's mostly shots of people and not so much formations. Though, if you're bored and have time to kill, the site is PittBandPhoto.com, and the password is "PittBand" (I'm allowed to tell, and have been encouraged to). There's REALLY good shots of his backbends if you're willing to sort through the pics.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:20 pm
How do you become a university drum major?
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:10 pm
band nerds rock there so sexy XP
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:38 pm
Natures Sin How do you become a university drum major? It's about the same as high school, but there may be added stuff depending on your school's traditions. For instance, my university requires that drum majors be able to do a backbend and touch their plume to the ground. I'm not sure if there's year restrictions, but you'll be more favored if you're an older bandie (like rising junior/senior).
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:53 pm
Dang. That's amazing. Yeah, I can hardly touch my toes, but then again, my high school's drum majors only conduct, teach, lead, and solve problems. No maces or stunts allowed. sad
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:37 pm
Do you have to play an instrument for the university first?
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:44 pm
WickedSong Dang. That's amazing. Yeah, I can hardly touch my toes, but then again, my high school's drum majors only conduct, teach, lead, and solve problems. No maces or stunts allowed. sad holy cow, really? i end up using my mace all the flippin time... xp also, that means i end up hitting myself with my mace all the flippin time.... BUT, i am the drum major, that means i must have my staff of Greater retribution. (that would be what happens when you mix a gamer with a band nerd... heart )
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:21 pm
Natures Sin Do you have to play an instrument for the university first? I don't think it's technically required, but I think it's impossible to be drum major if you're not already a part of the band, which would mean you would play an instrument. I'm not sure if color guard counts. I believe the drum major at a university is still elected by the band, but the director and other adults must approve of them. It is really, really hard to get the position though, especially as you'd be competing against a lot of former drum majors and you are expected to give all of your time to the band (I've heard of kids who couldn't get their degree because they spent all of their time in the music building running errands, etc. for the band teachers, as they were drum majors).
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:03 pm
Natures Sin Do you have to play an instrument for the university first? I can't think of how you could be drum major without somehow being part of the band. You can't just be drum major and nothing else. Maybe you can make your question a little more clear?
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:09 pm
hey all, im mark and im a Junior Drum Major, myself and my friend Kristen(shes a junior too) are the 2 DMs of our band which is 230 strong with 50 colorguard. i must say that the auditions were INSANE, like a few of the things were, we had to high step for 100 yards without messing up, fill out a 10 page packet on leadership, write a 2 page essay on why we want to be Drum Major, conduct our Fight Song and the star Spangled Banner, box drill and a few other things. our last 3 DM's were all senior girls and we havent had a boy DM in 4 yrs, so im abit nervous, im really good at conducting, drill and other things but im nervous that i'll mess something up.
any advice?
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:22 pm
I am trying out for drum major in a few days but I need to get my friend who was drum major last year, (who won a trophy for being a ******** awesome drum major at the Strawberry Festival, ) to help me with my conducting.
She is the one who told me I was trying out, so....
and I'm wildly in love with her so that helps.
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