Does anyone know about being a drum major?

[FoogieFighter]

Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone was in a high school or college marching band and happened to be a drum major. I really would like to be the drum major for next years season and I wondered if you guys could give me some pointers?. I really appericate it!



"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
-Bill Cosby

 

[taboo]

Be loud, stand firm, and be totally sure of your actions. dont be afraid to yell at people, make them never forget their steps. Be a leader because thats what youll be. You will have to lead a group of people to be the best band they can possibly be if you want to get anywhere.(figurativly and literally) anyways thats what my drum majors are like. But we're military style, so maybe we're weird. and we're from texas so it's really hot and people get agitated real eaisily so its either shape up or ship out.

 

[Kilted Stranger]

Hey, not a Drum Major myself, but my Uncle or Great Uncle was one in a Pipe Band (im a piper myself) but i think the main thing, after getting to know the commands is just to look Strict, and to hold the baton thing as if its the most precious thing in the world !

 

[SigaACristo]

My good friend was drum major this year (she did a good job at it). Don't be afraid to tell people they are wrong if they are doing something wrong, it will help the band. I don't know what style your band goes for, we do a pretty standard voice command for our band, but if you do whistle commands, be sure that you know which one is which, I've done street marching when the DM has messed up a few commands, makes things really interesting on the street.

 

[Kilted Stranger]

lol! that must make it fun to watch!!!

 

[remy]

be prepared to take abuse and treat your bass section with respect. people say how much they're needed but totally outcast them.

 

[Kilted Stranger]

thats quite shallow of people isnt it??

 

[Drum Major 22]

well, hi there everyone. I was a drum major for our band last year, and will be again this year. I loved it, and you will too.
Some key things to keep in mind:
1. Respect for your band. they'll respect you if you respect them.
2. Service. (Servant leadership)
3. Attitude. (keep it positive!!!
4. SMILE, you'll have a blast, and i'm sure you'll do a great job!

 

[ASU Belle]

Yes, I know about being one! If you have heard of George Parks/Drum Major Academy, I work with him over the summer in Illinois where there are 600 drum majors on the field we are training at once! It is QUITE insane! The main piece of advice I can give is hopefully you won't be a drum major; you will be a role model. When you a drum major, you are a commander in chief, you're a secretary, you're a doctor, you're a peer mediator, you're a teacher, you're a listener, and most of all, you're a friend. You hear this jibberish about how people will look up to you....it is MORE than true! Your pride, your integrity, dignity, whatever you want to call it, is what you do off the field as well. If you have upcoming freshman who love the marching band and what they are doing, they will watch every move you make, whether it is during rehearsal, going to class, or in the mall! The feed off of your energy, your reactions. NEVER wear your emotions on your sleeve if it's a bad situation. And I'm sure you know what it's like to march, so be one of them! And if you get anything, LEAD BY EXAMPLE! If you act tired, they'll feel tired...if you cut up, they'll start talking...if you stay on top of things and know what is going on at every given second, hopefully they will take that initiative as well!

As far as commands go, etc. good luck! Every program is different, but it's always the fun part! The other thing is, in your conducting, be MUSICAL! It's what you love, show it! Have expression, just don't keep time!

I hope this isn't totally off the wall, or to insightful or anything, but these are just a few of the things I have learned in years past. If anything with this, have fun! It will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life! Best of luck with your season, and you will have to be sure and keep us all updated as the summer/fall progresses!! God Bless!!!!

 

[AustinBrister]

I have been Drum Major and Section leader for the best Marching Band in my region. I went to the best marching band Drum Major school in the nation. On top of this, I have been to a George Parks school, and 3 other leader ship schools. I have had a lot of training as well from other College Drum Majors, as well as famous Symphony conductors for help in that area. On top of all of this, I am in a top Music College studying Music with many of the country's best.

Let me tell you this. DO NOT go to George M Parks. It is terrible!!! They give you this tingly feeling that everything with your band is just going to be great, and everything will be like heaven. They give you out of date commands and styles that are no longer used. In todays marching programs, you have to be up to date and have a modern look on things. You also need to be shown the reality of a Drum Majors position, and know how to run an ENTIRE band yourself.

The best place to go is Eugene Oregon. University of Oregon. U of O. Trust me, they will teach you how to run a program from the ground up. THeir philosophy is, you are the director and everything while you are in that position so you need to be able to effeciently do it all as well. You will learn conducting techniques from modern proffesional conductors. You will get to study with some of the country's best conductors for this. You will get Modern Marching techniques from the man who taught the Blue Devils and the Blue Knights. This will give you a head start in the field when the other bands are still in the 1920's...(and most bands I have seen are!!)

You will learn motivation from the top Motivational speaker in the nation. He will teach YOU how to motivate, not motivate you into thinking the band is candy world. You will learn modern drill writing techniques, and also learn how to correctly warm a band up and how to TEACH a band their music. George M Parks lets you know that you are nothing but a metronome so not to try and do anything just becuase you are the Drum Major... (WRONG!!)

On top of all of this, you will be given the most up to date modern techniques to teach your band their drill. We learned an entire song per day on the camp with these magnificent steps. It worked with my band as well! We learned everything so quickly that everyone had it STONED into their minds by the time we were to competitions. Again, just look it up on the internet, it is the Drum Major Camp and Eugene Oregon, in the University of Oregon.

Thanks, and good luck. I will guarantee you will have the tools to be top dog once you are finished.

 

[jesus died for ME!]

get to know people, not think your better then others, and admit when you are wrong

 

[akagordon]

practice with a metronome. i hate it when a drum major can't keep tempo. practice in a mirror.