AY Honors/Drumming & Percussion/Answer Key
A drumline is a group of percussionists who play a variety of marching percussion instruments. A drumline may be an incorporated section of a marching band, a drum and bugle corps, a pipe band, or a pep band, but also can exist independent of these larger ensembles. Indoor percussion ensembles serve as the most common outlet for stand-alone drumline performance.
Most drumlines can be divided into two sections; the battery and front ensemble. However, the term drumline is sometimes used to refer to just the battery.
The instrument members of the battery (also as batterie) typically include, but are not limited to, marching snare drums, marching bass drums (commonly consisting of multiple drums with different pitches), marching tenor drums (commonly as mounted sets of 3-6 drums), and crash cymbals. The snares, tenors, and basses are designed to be carried by the player through the use of a harness. Crash cymbals can be carried, but do not require a harness. The mobility of the battery members allow them to play while moving in a marching oriented ensemble.
The front ensemble (also pit or frontline) can include any percussion instrument. This wide selection of instruments allows for the front ensemble to produce the greatest timbre variety in a marching ensemble. Front ensemble instruments are typically stationary during performance and are therefore not bound to the limitations of being mounted to the player. Instruments usually played in the front ensemble include marimba, vibraphone, bells, xylophone, and chimes.
Drumline was also a 2002 movie starring Nick Cannon and Zoe Saldana.
