2. A Note to Directors and Instructors

First and foremost: thank you for dedicating your time, effort, and energy into the music education of your students.  I won’t go over the benefits that go coincide with being involved in the marching arts, but know that you are appreciated for passing on your knowledge and love of the arts.

This resource is structured in a way that makes it as accessible and easy as possible to use.  Each Level will have the following:

• Introduction, Summary, and Considerations: The exercise name and summary of its purpose will be provided. To start, the language will be non-technical and written in way that most people with a musical background can understand, even if they aren’t trained in the percussive arts. As the lessons progress, the language will become more technical and specific to reflect the increased difficulty and training goals. I’ll provide examples of common issues that may crop up with certain techniques or exercises so that you can keep an eye out for and correct them.
• Exercise: Sheet music will be provided for the exercises. This will include individual battery (field percussion) parts, a full score for the instructor, as well as reference MP3’s to listen to. In some instances, a video will be included to demonstrate and narrate some techniques.

Ultimately, your most valuable tool will be creating a culture of practice and a love for the activity. If you see your drumline outside of rehearsal just playing around on pads, you’re doing your job.