Yet another question....drum major stuff

[lula]

I apologize, I apologize, I apologize. I feel horrible for always asking so many questions.

A band parent recently contacted my mother and told her that I would be a good candidate for drum major next year. I would love to try out but there is a problem: I'll be a junior next year and there are two or three others wishing to try out. I'd need to take lessons also and that is an expense I'd hate for my parents to pay.

The only way the odds would go in my favor is this: The two that wish to try out are very much needed for playing the parts. She is a trumpet and he is a trombone and the leaders of their sections. I am section leader for the flutes, but there will probably be six flutes next year. If they picked me it would be because that I am not as needed as the trumpet and trombone.

So should I try out?

I hope some of you guys have an insight on drum majoring if any of you have had that experience. Possibly you could tell me the pros and cons of it and the difficulty and responisbilities.

Thank you in advance.
- Lula

[Kshel]

Don't apologize for asking questions! That is what forums are for!

As far as I know, NO ONE pays for conducting lessons to become a drum major. I was a drum major in my high school band. I was also the only flute player in our band who could actually sightread well or count rhythms correctly. It doesn't really matter how invaluable you are to your band as a player because your director is going to choose the best candidate to be drum major. Sometimes they even like to choose upcoming juniors so they have two full years of experience (you can get practice your first year, and be really good the next year).

You need to be confident and relatable to be a drum major. In addition, you need to be able to read rhythms and teach well. Keeping your bandmates in line during rehearsals is also a responsibility that drum majors exercise. There will be great days, there will be stressful days. You need to be able to accept all of it for what it is.

I would suggest watching videos of other drum majors and imitating them by practicing in front of a mirror. Make sure you are keeping your lines straight (when you move your arms up down, in out). Practice to music. Once you get the basics, add in cues like dynamics and cueing sections where they come in. Just like flute playing, you must practice, practice, practice!

[fluteguy18]

It doesn't really matter how invaluable you are to your band as a player because your director is going to choose the best candidate to be drum major.

Not necessarily true. I was passed over for drum major because I was too good of a player. My director pulled me aside after the results were announced and told me that if I weren't needed for a lot of flute intensive solos in the music that I would have been chosen.

[Kshel]

Our band director used that excuse to let down players that were good at their instruments but terrible at conducting (of course, I am not implying that is your situation ). It lessened the blow to the students who were really cocky going into the audition.

[fluteguy18]

Our band director used that excuse to let down players that were good at their instruments but terrible at conducting (of course, I am not implying that is your situation ). It lessened the blow to the students who were really cocky going into the audition.

Sure... sure...

I just happened to get top scores in all of my conducting classes and my professors were pestering me to switch to a conducting major instead of flute. So yeah... I totally suck at all conducting related things. And I totally made up the fact that 1/3 of our show was a piece with a woodwind trio with a really strong flute part, and that I had been first chair since I was a freshman. Did I also tell you that I climbed Mount Everest and then jumped off with my hang glider and flew to Brazil?



I gotcha.

[Kshel]

Oh goodness... I hope you could tell I was not implying you are a bad player or conductor! I was just trying to say that the, ahem, talent in our 60 person marching band was a little lacking. The fact that I was chosen to be a drum major testifies to that.

We had three candidates the year I tried out. I was the only one who conducted without flailing my arms. I hope this is more clear now- I was trying to make a joke mroe than anything.

[fluteguy18]

I understood. I was just making a point. I'll keep that in mind though when I have my yodeling lesson with my Yeti friend right after I race Santa Clause to the moon. I'm riding Prancer and he's riding Dasher. Even though Dasher is faster, Santa is fatter that I am, so the race will be close I think! The Easter Bunny is betting against the Tooth fairy. Evidently they're both suffering in this bad economy. The Easter Bunny is complaining about the price of gas for his Hoppity-Hot Rod, and the Tooth Fairy is complaining about how inflation is causing cavity covered canines to cost her more cash.


::

[lula]

Oh what an imagination, Fluteguy; think that was the best remark I've heard in well, ever. My band director approached me this week and asked me to please try out for drum major. He has a friend that could give me lessons, so I guess I might try.

Thanks guys.