Please I'm a Junior in HS and I've been playing cymbals all 3 yrs. I want to try to make field shows look spectular. I've tried in the past but i want new ideas. I have a newbie cymbalist with me this yr so its gotta be something i can teach fairly easily but if you want to give me a challenge I'm up for it! I promise I'll keep yall informed on our progress on the tricks.

I definitely recommend watching some SCV videos. Also, check out some WGI lines. They generally all have some pretty awesome cymbal lines and I have gotten tones of ideas for visuals by watching some of their videos.

Also, just some side notes. Make sure you and your fellow cymbal players get some good stretches in because I have known several cymbal players that have injured themselves by not stretching properly. I also recommend doing some push ups to build up that upper body strength.

Don't underestimate strength and good technique. Visuals come last - it's the music and safety of the players first. Like banddirector514 said, look for some Santa Clara Vanguard cymbal line videos and also Murry Gussek's SCV audition videos on good technique.

Best of luck with your studies.

Definitely agree with banddirector514 here, check out some SCV cymbal stuff. One of their most famous visuals, known simply as "the Viper," can be found at the end of this video here.

It should also be noted that before you go putting visuals into the show, you need to make sure that you have the best quality of sound you can achieve. A lot of times, with high school lines, the cymbal line forgets about this, but this is the cornerstone of any good cymbal line. Are you getting a full-bodied crash/choke/sizzle/ting sound? Are you playing with good technique, like an "A-V-A?" Is everyone on the cymbal line playing at a uniform height?

Also, you can't just have someone pick up a set of cymbals and expect them to play comfortably. It would do a lot of good to have a daily warm-up, stretch, or workout of some sort with the line. You could do what are called "clock drills," where you have one person in front of the room calling out different clock positions, and you hold your cymbals out (facing front, facing outward) at the called-out clock position. For instance, "3:45" would have your arms completely straight out. Sounds trivial, but the muscle memory you develop from stuff like this really improves control over the cymbals, throughout the entire body, especially the core.

It's very important that you address some of these things first, and make sure that you have them down pat before you start complicating things. Just the same with the upper battery, you can't have a lazy sticks-out or -in, you can't have a lazy cymbals-up or -down. Cymbals are a really understated instrument. They are not easy to play (at least with proper technique, control, and good quality of sound) and can be really fun to watch. Do yourself a favor and have your line watch some DCI/WGI cymbal lines, even some I&E performances, just for some inspiration.

Here's a few of my favorites:
SCV 2001 Cymbal Ensemble (In this one, they play the intro to Tool's song "Eulogy." Cool as anything.)
SCV 2006 Cymbal Ensemble
Magic of Orlando Cymbal 2005 Line
Music City Mystique 2006 Cymbal Line

Sorry for the lengthy response. Just remember that cymbals are what you make them, and a good cymbal line is really something cool to watch.

thanks but its only me and the newbie cymbalist so i need something that 2 cymbalists can do

UPDATE: I sent my band director the VIPER link, my section ldr and the tenor drummer approve of it so does the newbie. Now to just hope that my band director approves of it.

hey entertheocho thanks for the link btw, can u give me a non youtube form of it cause my school bans youtube

UPDATE: my band director likes the idea and my drumline is gona possibly try it out

OP: Just a couple words of advice. When you're the original poster, you're given the opportunity to edit your posts. Then, in addition to that, as long as it's in... I believe 24 hours, you can edit any other additional post that you make.

This is why you've received negative karma on most of your posts in this thread. Take advantage of the edit feature. It is your friend.

EDIT: Edited just to provide sanction that the Edit feature is still functioning.

... it is.

Have a good one!
B

Just got an alert to this post today:

Here is a solid video about the Bushwacker's plate line. Some real solid ideas there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKDYjoCR67I&feature=uploademail