I was talking to my director yesterday, and she was telling me how there's a chance that the battery could be in the pit. My initial reaction was that I didn't want it, since I prefer being out on the field. There's nothing wrong w/ the pit, it's just my opinion. However, the more I thought about it, since we only have 50 people and we have the world's worst pit, it makes some sense, due to all our better players are in the battery, the vast majority of our mallet players are in the battery, and we could do some really cool stuff with ten people and triple the experience. So my question is, how do you feel about a battery playing in the pit, regardless of size, experience, etc?

I'm not asking what I should do, just your opinion on it in general.

I'm not a big fan of it, but sometimes it's necessary. My opinion is that a battery ought to have at least 5 or so people to be fielded, but some directors will field one with only 3 or 4. I also think there ought to be at least like 3 people in the pit to make it worth having one. Anyway if you have a fielded battery and a regular pit, how many people would probably be in each?

I think if the only reason for eliminating the battery is to help the pit improve, then a better solution would just be to either work more with the pit or to shuffle some people around. But not knowing the in's and out's of your program, that's just my opinion.

Kevin is the guy to talk to about this question.

~ Jen

first of all if there is no battery there is no groove out there on the field.
the battery is what keeps the WHOLE band together Im in pit so i should know that.If your director is going in that direction then whoa how long has she or he has been around marching bands or music in that aspect.Whoa thats all i have got to say about that.

good luck with that

Well, jddrum didn't exactly say they wouldn't still be playing battery drums. Although it would look funny to see a person with a snare on, playing a marimba part with the drum cocked over to their side.

I've seen bands that had no battery drums at all, and they were a well rounded section, but their sound, as far as the music itself, was too light. We'll have battery drums in the pit, so this way someone could play snare on one part of a song and maybe move over to marimba for another part. We'd put the drums on stands so everyone could move around. This ins't final; it's just a possibility, though. There's still a good chance that we'll be out on the field.

I'm starting to think that I should've made this a poll, since I just want to know if anyone prefers the battery in the pit (for band, definately not for corps). After all, it's a great way for less experienced lines to focus more on their playing.

In my experiences with smaller bands, I've seen many smaller bands go out with the entire section being in the pit and seen it work very nicely. I also agree that in order to really have a drumline, you need to have at least 5 people (but I don't know if numbers are any of the director's reasoning for this). As far as "loosing the groove", if you have the right equipment and teach the kids to play, a pit an groove very well if they have some good latin percussion equipment to use. Bottom line, if your director does go this route, don't get discouraged. The advantage not marching has is that you get to spend more time working and cleaning music which is always a plus. <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

-Rob

although the tone was a little condescending, chsgirl2 actually did make a good point --

the band is taught to listen back to the drums to get the pulse. if the drums are all in the front ensemble, the band has to change their listening drastically -- now, if they "lock in" to the beats being played by the drums, they will be phasing massively.

they have to change their listening/watching to listen back to other wind voices, which can be a difficult thing to do, especially in a high school situation.

b

The bands I have seen with a pitted battery have usually put the pit backfield (or sometimes on the side?) - that way the band can still listen back and lock in with the drums. Of course then you have trouble hearing the other instruments in the pit, so obviously that's not an ideal solution. Another reason I'm really not a fan of putting the drums in the pit.

~ Jen

There is actually a school in the area who's band has consistently been under 60 people....but REALLY friggin good. They "post" their percussion midfield. I'm talkin slap in the middle of the 50 yeard line. Some years it's been to the side like near the 40. Almost like an orchestral percussion pit. But the drill is centered around the percussion section. They usually use props for backdrops behind the percussion. Good for guard flag changes and stuff. But I tell ya, people underestimate this band because of their size. But their marching is clean and the music is awesome. So a posted percussion section can work

Some points people have made could work but with a lot of hard work.Ive seen pit in the middle of the field and towards the backfield and i talked to some of their players and they said that it was hard because they are used to listening back instead of always looking at the field commander. If i would be a director i would not recommend that choice because if you change something you could change many things.I have also seen the pit going to the battery and the battery going to the pit.It was in the BOA in Atlanta Cordova High School their drumline did that and it worked pretty good since it was only for 1/4 th of the show.All i can say is have a battery before having a pit. thats all i have to say about that.