Hi all! Now that I have some expirence playing drums and such I am going to try out for some drumline work for next year (my senior year). I would like to play marching snare but boy that is hard. Playing eggbeaters and cheesies and all those other rudamental things, I just don't have the chops for..yet.
http://www.rockwallband.com/Video.html That is the video for my schools drumline. The big guy on the end playing the quads is my basist. My question is..I think tryouts are in april. Brian and I are really good friends and music is something we both love to do. I'd love to be on marching band with him doing something like playing the quads or snare.  3 of the snare drummers won't be here next year, and I think one of the tennor quad players wont. I think tryouts are in april. Is there any chance that with me working with Brian(hes played for 6 years) that I will be ready in time? If all else fails, I can always be in jazz band =]

I played bass drum in my early years of marching band ... and although I wasn't crazy about it at the time, I'm very thankful now. It really helped with my time keeping, reading and, believe it or not, love for music.

I went from last chair in the 8th grade band to first chair throughout my last few years in high school. In fact, as a sophomore, I was labeled as a mallet player, mostly because no one else could really play mallets ... and my senior I made the rounds playing snare, quads, mallets, and even bass drum when we had various individuals out sick.

Just keep in mind that in a marching band, it's team work. Every voice is important. Sure, snare drum has a lot of flash and glamour, but you typically have to work up to that point. So ... give 100% and embrace whatever you have to play. It's going to REALLY help your drumset chops ... I guarantee you that.

Marching is extremely difficult and tedious.There are so many rudiments,and so many speeds.You will have to practice for more than an hour a day.They will probably expect you to do many of the main rudiments are varying speeds and if you can't do either the rudiment or the correct speed they won't bother letting you take the time to fix it.If you really wanna pursue this avenue of drumming practice all the time,learn every rudiment,flam,paradiddle,etc...inside and out.

Get some of the music they palyed last year from your friend.  You'll get a good idea of the level of proficiency you will need.

I noticed in another post of your you said you can't play a double stroke roll very well.  i hate to say this, but double stroke rolls are the backbone of rudimental playing.
To be SDer, not only will you have to be able to play them, you will need to play them EXACTLY perfect with the other players.  If you can't, the line won't sound "clean" and you won't be in it.

Jett,

One of my fondest memories was of my highschool drumline winning the championships!  I can't believe how longs it's been now; 1986  It was, for sure, the highlite of my highschool career!  The year we won, I played snare drum.  This is where I really put good time in on my technique and to this day, was my largest growth period as a drummer.

I remember this one time, at band camp,............. NO REALLY!   hehe actually every summer, we would go to a 2 week marching clinic in Westchester PA and the head instructor was Thom Hannum!!!  This guy seemed not so nice, but it didnt matter, he KNOWS his marching.  If you dont know who Im talking about, hes the guy who is in charge of the marching percussion for the Cadets of Bergen County. They used to be called the Garfield Cadets back then.

An alumni of our highschool played toms for the cadets, and was hired to train us during the marching season.  I recall one exercise that Thom Hannum preached on us was very simple and Ill explain it.

All strokes at full volume.  This exercise is for chops.  Youll want full stick heighth on this exercise but don't ever compromise technique when practicing.  Play nearly at maximum volume maintaining control.   Here is the pattern

rest = ( - )

~SINGLES (8th notes)
R R R R R R R R L L L L L L L L
R R R R R R R R L L L L L L L L

~DOUBLES (16th notes)
RR-RR-RR-RR-R-R-LL-LL-LL-LL-L-L-
RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-R-
LL-LL-LL-LL-L-L-RR-RR-RR-RR-R-R-
LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-LL-L-

~TRIPLES (16th motes)
RRR-RRR-RRR-R-R-LLL-LLL-LLL-L-L-
RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-R-R-
LLL-LLL-LLL-L-L-RRR-RRR-RRR-R-R-
LLL-LLL-LLL-LLL-LLL-LLL-LLL-L-L-

All 3 sections are in 4/4 and are played one after the other then repeated.  

Also Jett, I have an mp3 of my old highschool drumline Judges tape from our championship night!  If it interests you, I played snare on this mp3.  We won 1st

http://www.bumpandsway.com/Marching_judges_tape.mp3
   
The whole show was recorded in one mp3, so might be abit much so be sure to at least catch the Drum Solo "Encore in Jazz" at 5:45!!

I'm on the drumline in my school. I've only playing since June, and I was one of the marching bass drums. You could definately make the line if you work really hard until April. But you have to be committed, and you have to wanna practice for hours upon hours if you wanna make it. It's hard work, but you could do it. http://www.vicfirth.com has great videos online that show warmups and whatnot. I hope that helped!

Just curious:  You keep using the phrase "right handed traditional grip".  To my knowldege there really is no such thing as "left handed traditional grip".

It's either traditional or matched.

We did that as a gag in college for a tune or two, but that is certainly not a "normal" thing.

If you can find me two method books that show that as a grip, I'll eat 'em!

(Not meaning to pound you on this, just hoping to enlighten you to the norm)

I have never noticed that  grip in a book myself.  Show me the books and I will WATCH Jon E eat them.  

LoL...I remember that chef, strangley enough ew have the sanem name =]

How 'bout some onyawns?