The way I teach my section, is to ALWAYS watch the drum major, but, only follow the drum major for Initial Tempos, Down beats, or when its a pit solo. Other than that, Basically just blankly stare at the drum major and listen back to the section that is the furthest back field. You want to make it seem like you are following him, even if its a time where youre not.


Tell me if that doesnt make sense... It did in my head...

The drum major is always to be used for assistance with tempo, counting, cues, entrances, and timing. dont really blankly stare. listen back, watch foward, and match the two. sounds hard, and may be too advanced for high school, but it is the best way. It took a while for my pit to grasp the concept.

Sometimes I watch the field commander just to be on the safe side. I know that I will be a little bit behind her tempo because of the sound delay and the actual timing. However, I do start a solo at the end of our opener where I have to watch the field commander throughout the solo. So I am playing the solo and watching her at the same time. The band behind me is moving to some sort of drill. Then to the near end I put my sticks down and play this bell solo that I have to watch the people's feet in order to quickly tap off the tempo to the triangle on the other side of the pit. Sometimes the drum major is a good key to watch but sometimes you might as well not have them there for you.

why watch the drum major if you're not actually going with their tempo? all it does it add confusion, by giving you another tempo (that you have to ignore), and makes it look to judges like you don't know what you're doing.

look at the crowd, look at each other, look at the drumline's hands or feet.

don't watch the drum major.

b

Read the rehearsing section of up front by jim casellsa and jim ancona. you can read it online at tapspace.com

i have the book.

watching the drum major for a particular section is totally different than always watching the drum major.

you should always listen back, yet always watch the drum major for referance

we'll have to respectfully disagree then.

the casella/ancona method does not advocate constant watching of the drum major, either.

b

yup. differant styles, differant groups, differant opinions

As have been a member of all three. I think that you should watch the drummajor. He/she is the was put there to do one thing...keep a beat. If your not going to watch the drummajor then why put them there.