AY Honors/Drumming & Percussion/Answer Key
- This article is about the percussion unit of a marching band called a drumline. For the 2002 film, see Drumline (film)
A drumline is a group of percussionists who play a variety of percussion instruments. A drumline may be an incorporated section of a high school or college marching band, a drum and bugle corps or indoor percussion ensemble, 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 frequently used to refer to just the battery. Dividing the battery further are the sub-sections: snare drums, tenors, bass drums, and sometimes cymbals.
The marching percussion instruments of a battery section features high tension drumheads so as to produce a loud, short, and articulate sound, ideal for the intricate passages played by contemporary drumlines. Marching snares are either 13 or 14 inches in diameter, depending on whether the line is playing indoors or outdoors. The circumference of the rim is lined with 12 evenly spaced lugs, designed to maintain the high tension of Kevlar or PET film heads. Tenor drums (Also known as "quads", "quints", or "six packs") are sets of multiple drums worn by one marcher, usually in sets of 3 to 6 drums. Plastic and synthetic heads are most common in tenors and are tuned with a lower tension than snares, providing the drums with a more resonant, tonal sound which gives the drums a midrange, or tenor pitch support to the line. Marching basses consist of groupings of 4-6 individually carried bass drums. They are marched sequentially according size, with drum 1 being the smallest in diameter and weight and drum 4, 5, or 6, known as "bottom bass" being largest in diameter and weight. Marching cymbals are generally marched in groups of 2-8, though the range is simply by convention. Cymbals are held by each member of the sub-section and are either played by the individual holder, by a snare or tenor player, or used for visual purposes because of their reflective surfaces. Some specific examples are the well known "V" formation formed by the cymbal line of the Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps, and the "F" formation by the Fairfield High School drumline from Fairfield OH.
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. Oftentimes, in order to add special sounds to a piece, many auxiliary percussion instruments will also be implemented by the frontline ensemble.
Battery
There are four different types of battery percussion instruments. Marching Snare, Tenors (Trios, Quads, Quints, or Six Packs), Bass Drums (usually 4 or 5 graduating in size), and Cymbals (can be anywhere from 3 to 8 different size cymbals, usually marching crashes).
Marching Snare
Although all parts are important, the snare is a position held in high regard, due in part to the extreme dedication of the best snare players. Marching snare music is virtually always played in complete unison with the entire snare line unlike the bass drums. Therefore, being a snare drummer is a position highly aspired to. Snare solos are rhythymically more complicated than a horn solo and may incorporate visual "tricks". The snare line's function is melodic, providing the top voice and sound creating the center figures of rhythm distinguished as the melody of a segment of music being played by the drumline. The snare section leader is usually the main tempo reference for the rest of the line, and band. Often during practices, in more intimate band settings the lead snare drummer will click, or tap the drum major's tempo, to keep the band in time while practicing, especially marching drill
Tenors
yah man wayne garrett rocks his tenor, man. He fierce as a mug on dat tena' o' his!
Basses
Yo kid, you know dem bass set the central beat in dem hot cadences man. YEEAH BOI!
Cymbals
Marching cymbals are not quite as common in drum corps, but are often seen in high school and university marching bands. Cymbals provide color and accentuate crecendi and louder dynamics. Cymbals may be played by the musicians holding them, or the individuals holding them may march with other drumline members who will play them. Marching cymbals roles are nearly as much visual as they are musical. Cymbals, often bright gold in color will be used to provide visual aspects to a band's show that accent and accentuate the band's performance. Cymbals range in diameter from 12 inches to 22 inches, and the larger cymbals can be quite strenuous to play. They require much arm strength, upper body strength and endurance to play due to great use of the entire arm, yet are incorrectly seen to be easy to play. Their visuals can range from hitting each others cymbals to jumping over themselves in a theatrical show.
Front Ensemble/Pit
Template:Main The front ensemble, often called the pit, is comprised of two sections. The mallet instruments (such as the marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and bells) are typically placed at the fifty yard line of the football field in front of the band. The mallet percussionists provide melody to the drumline, and are often required to perform complex musical passages called 'runs'. Mallet players must be well-focused and knowlegable of proper technique to be successful musicians.
The front auxiliary percussion instruments (like the timpani, tamborine, concert bass, gong, claves, and toms, but depending on the music, more unique and unconventional auxiliary instruments may be used) are usually placed on either side of the mallet instruments. The auxiliary musicians give personality to the music, by employing 'color' instruments such as suspended cymbals and tamborines. The mood of a passage of music can be drastically changed depending on the actions of the auxiliary percussion section.
External links
- Drumline Discussion Board
- Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Website
- The University of Minnesota Drumline
