Battery Percussion

1) Eights on a Hand (PDF)

2) Double Beat (updated) (PDF)

3) Stick Control (PDF)

4) Rolls 1 and 2 (updated) (PDF)

5) Doubles Strength Training (PDF)

6) Timing (PDF)

7) Grids (PDF)

8) Diddle Flam Training (PDF)

9) Rolls (PDF)

The ABHS Cadence

Snare Drum Part (PDF)

Tenor Drum Part (PDF)

Bass Drum Part (PDF)

Cymbal Part (PDF)

Pit Ensemble

1) Scale Exercises 1 (PDF)

2) Scale Exercises 2 (PDF)

3) Cadence (Cymbal Part) (PDF)

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Below are some common questions that you may have about the ABHS Marching Percussion Ensemble, along with answers for each.

1. Q: What do I need to play for my audition?

A: It depends on which instrument you are trying out on.  If you are auditioning for the Battery, you will       be asked to play a few of the warm-ups used by the Drumline, as well as an excerpt of the Cadence.  If you are auditioning for the pit, you will be asked to play some of the scale-exercises used by the pit.  You won’t be asked to play them in every major key, but be prepared to play them in any key the instructor asks for.  You will also be asked to play an excerpt from the Cymbal part of the Cadence (see question #5 below).  All auditions will include a sight-reading piece on the instrument you are trying out for.  All audition materials are available at www.anchorbaybands.org/mt/drumaud.htm

2. Q: The Battery warm-ups include parts for all three instruments.  Do I need to know the exercises for all three instruments?

A:  No.  You will only be expected to perform on the instrument you have chosen to audition on.

3. Q:  What happens if I audition for a spot and I don’t make it? 

A:  You will still receive a spot somewhere in the percussion section.  Auditions are not to see who makes it in to the Drumline, but rather to see which instrument you are best suited for.

4. Q:  If I audition for a particular instrument and get placed somewhere else, does that mean that I am not any good?

A:  Absolutely not!  If you audition for a spot and don’t receive that spot, there are several possible reasons, including:

• The person judging your audition felt that you had strengths that could best be utilized on a different instrument.
• Several people auditioned for the same opening.  Unfortunately, we only have so much equipment, so sometimes there aren’t enough openings for the amount of people auditioning.

If for any reason you receive a position other than the spot you auditioned for, we guarantee you will still have a blast, and, more importantly, you will grow as a percussionist.

5. Q:  Why isn’t there a marching cymbal section?

A:  In keeping up with the most modern marching percussion ensembles, the cymbal parts were moved entirely into the front ensemble starting with the 2003 season.  This allows for a larger pit percussion section, which allows for more complex (and more fun) pit parts.  As a result, members of the pit will play either ride cymbal or crash cymbals during parades. 

6. Q:  Why do we have to buy our own sticks/how much do sticks cost/why do we tape our sticks/do we have to buy our own heads?

A:  Because most students have to buy their instruments (trumpet, flute, etc.) we feel that it is fair to expect the percussionists to buy their own sticks.  Snare drummers will undoubtedly break sticks throughout the season, but this is reduced by taping our sticks with white electrical tape.  This absorbs the shock of rim-shots and heavy accents.  Sticks range from anywhere from $7-40, however bass drum mallets (the most expensive mallets) will last an entire season, as will most tenor mallets.  You do not have to buy your own heads, unless frequent head breakage becomes a problem.

7. Q:  What is the “Cadence?”

A:  The ABHS Cadence is a piece of music that the Percussion Section plays during parades.  It remains basically the same from year to year, although minor tweaks do occur.  The old Cadence was written by Chris Lata and Justin Wrobelewski and was retired in 2004.  The new cadence was written by Jordan Ferraro, loosely based on a rough draft by Bryan McMullen.

8. Q:  I have heard that Drumline is really hard.  Am I going to have fun?

A:  Yes!  I don’t know of anyone who has ever quit the Drumline because they weren’t having fun.  And yes, Drumline can be challenging, but if you practice I guarantee that you will be more than capable doing it and you will have a great time.

If you have a question that isn’t included here, or if any of the above is unclear, or if you just want to touch base before your audition, feel free to Email Josh Miller, the ABHS Marching Percussion instructor, at Mille8jr@gmail.com

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