Drumline

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 and erroneously used to refer to just the battery. Dividing the battery further are the sub-sections: snare drums, tenors, bass drums, and sometimes cymbals.

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A practicing highschool drumline.

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. A specific example is the well known "V" formation formed by the cymbal line of the Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps.

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 (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 always marching crashes).

Marching Snare

Although all parts are important, the snare is considered to be one of the harder drums to play. Marching Snare music is usually more intricate than that of the bass drums or cymbal, therefore is being a snare drummer in a drumline is a highly aspired to position. Snare solos are very complicated and sometimes incorporate visual tricks that one performs with sticks. The snare line's function is melodic, providing the top voice and sound creating the center figures of rhythm that could be 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 practises, the lead snare drummer will "Daht" to the drum major's tempo.

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A drumline with sling-harness snares.

Tenors

Tenors (also called toms, trios, quads, quints, squints, timp-toms, hexes or six-packs depending on the number of drums) are a set of tonal drums similar to tom-toms. The Tenors usually weigh about 40-45 lbs. making them the heaviest of all the battery instruments. Tenors are usually four or five (sometimes six) different drums that graduate in size. Since there are several drums to play, the tenors require excellent coordination. Different from snare technique, tenor technique requires the use of the arms as well as the wrists. Tenors can have visuals too, but the sheer complexity of a lot of tenor solos makes enough visuals by just the movement of the arms around the drums. The tenor line's main objective in the drumline ensemble is to add melodic color to the snare sound, as well as create an ambient yet furiously strong color to the palette.

Basses

Bass drums are the pulse of a drumline. They are the voice that create the basso melodisism of the line. Bass Drum solos are written for multiple drums. Instead of being played by one person, the solo is split from drum to drum. To perfect bass drum sub-dividing takes much discipline, and is extremely difficult to master. Bass drum players must be very rhythmically secure in order to have a satisfactory section. Some consider the bass drum to be the easiest drum, actually, a single bass part is difficult enough. Learning parts for the Bass section is the hardest part of the drumline and sometimes the whole band. Since the bass drum part is played by multiple drums, every player must "feel the beat" and count until they have a note that is to be played by the drum they are carrying.

Cymbals

Marching cymbals are not quite as common in high school marching bands, but are often seen in drum corps and university 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.

Front Ensemble/Pit

Main article: Front ensemble

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 in the center of the 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
• http://www.marcusdrumline.org/ 9-Time National Champion Marcus High School

Drumline

• http://www.ldbellband.org/ home of the renowned L.D. Bell High School Drumline