So this years marching season has ended, I played 5th bass(we placed 2nd out of 30 at MSBA finals btw :)). Well most of our basses are graduating and our instructor wants me to be 1st or 2nd bass. I'd much rather play tenors, but he says i'm needed on bass more to beat the freshman line into shape. what should I do?

Assuming your instructor is familiar with your playing and personality, you've talked this over with him, and he still thinks you're a bigger asset to the ensemble as a member of the bass line...

Play bass and kick ***.

Congrats on 2nd at MSBA. The circuit is becoming more and more competitive every year. We placed 17th in AAA, but we were competing up a class. We had our best run of the show, and percussion scored in box 4, so I am pretty happy.

What makes a bass line great is having leadership. You need somebody on 2nd bass who is a great player, knows what he is doing, can lead sectionals if you don't have a bass tech, and can help the younger members of the line improve. Our bass line had 2 middle school students and a non-percussionist on it, but was one of the best sections of the band thanks to a senior percussionist's leadership.

If you go play tenors and the entire bass line is inexperienced and struggling, you may find yourself frustrated late in the season that your battery is underachieving.

I haven't talked to him all that much, but I do not think I'm a very good bass drummer, I'd much rather play tenors because I just don't have the same feeling with bass.

great job dgaking! we are AA, scored box 5 for percussion, I think our overall score was 77.5.

AA full recaps are here: http://www.kingsmusicassociation.org/

Looking at those recaps, I'm pretty sure we would have made finals if we had been able to compete in AA. Ironically, they called and told us they had room after we had already booked our hotel and buses for AAA. I hope we'll see you guys at finals next year.

hey! i'm lasalle!

What year are you going into? If it is your senior year I would say go for tenors, however if it isn't then I would say if you really are the only person for the job to take one for the team. Just my oppinion.

junior

Do bass line, and pick up Bill Bachman's Bass Logic and Quad Logic books from Row-Loff. You'll find some great tips to help develop your bass line, and you will also have plenty to practice to ensure you're on quads as a senior. Bachman's Reefed Beats DVD is also really helpful for quads.

Then in my oppinion you should stay on bass if your the only person who can do it, I guess you should really see what the freshman coming in are going to be like.

I'm curious, are you being offered an "either/or" scenario? What is the audition/placement process like with your line?

In every line I've ever played in or taught the members earn the spot they desire by showing that they are a greater asset to the line on the instrument of their choice than the next person.

IMO you should take the bass spot and bust your butt to make that bass line the best in the state/circuit/world and work up your quad chops outside of rehearsal for next season. This will also prove to the staff that you're willing to do what is best for the line as a whole.

- Worst case scenario: you're bass section leader again next year (Senior year) and can be part of one of the best bass lines in the state/circuit/world and can try out for quads at an indy, DCA, DCI, or college line.

- Best case scenario: you earn a quad spot with your hard work.

see this for some more insight into what (most) staff members look for when setting the line

It started with me asking what the line would look like next year, and asking if we would march tenors. He said yes we probably would but he planned to put me on 1st bass. I didn't seem to have much of a choice.

Hello, I'm new here. I've been a member for awhile but haven't posted.

First, I would like to say is that MSBA judging has been extremely bad this year. Scores have jumped and dropped for my drumline/percussion. We had two big jumps this year. We went from scoring around a 100 then to a 120 then the next competition we got a 152 (75) then we got this judge who gave us a 102. Then at MSBA finals(AA) the percussion judge gave us a 96. Pretty sure the percussion judge was originally a music judge.

Drummer, I saw Lasalle at Centerville and Finals. I saw your scores. Our drumlines I would say are pretty close. How your line scored 40 more points then me, I don't get it. Not saying your line isn't good but the judging this year has been down right horrible. A lot of directors have said this is the worst year of judging they have seen.

Anyways, do whatever is best for the line. Your instructor knows what he is talking about.

I don't know glareonthesnare, but I didn't say we were better

I agree with cousinIt, take one for the team. I believe that a bassline is the determing factor in a drumline, basses doing 32 rolls and playing split parts with a variety of rests.....

I had the same situation in high school but with snare. I choose to play bass and worked by butt off practicing snare and blew everyone away the following year.

Whatever you do have fun with it.

My personal preference is to be where I am needed most in the aspect that it will help the line as a whole, so as a ensemble we will be better and have more fun. That is if there are good tenor players that are at your disposal

If you are competent in your ability on Tenors, bring it to his attention. If he says no don't be discouraged all sections need chops, not just snares or tenors. If you put yourself before the line then you should look into just doing solo performances. On your off time practice. Above some great videos have been mentioned and there is a wealth of knowledge in this forum to help you achieve your goal. Get a tenor practice pad and put in work. Learn a couple licks from your show, change them up a little and before practice play a few of them when the instructor is around show him your ability. Offer up ideas on how you think maybe some areas could be spiced up a little to make them more technical. In high school the book we started with never looked like what we had at state finals they looked almost like 2 totally different compositions from everyone in the line offering up ideas.

And talk it over with him ask him why he feels you are better off where he wants you and see his point of views. He may feel that you are the best leader for the bass line if he is going to have a full freshman line. Don't take it as discouragement take it as a complement. No matter where he puts you do your best and enjoy it.

"If your not having fun, your doing it wrong" - ScoJo