Question Home

Position:Home>Performing Arts> If school band teaches you everything you need to know, why are there tryouts?


Question: If school band teaches you everything you need to know, why are there tryouts!?
My friend told me that the band teacher says he lets anyone join band, whether they know how to play or not, because they can learn in band camp or during the year!. So why are there tryouts!? I want to be in the drumline, and I'm starting lessons soon because I can't play a drum right now to save my life! If I'm not as good when tryouts roll around , whats gonna happen to me !? I'm dedicated and I'm willing to work for it!. Percussion here I come!

Another question !.
I play guitar, so is guitar sheet music anything like drums!?
(I wanna play snare)Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The biggest issue is with marching band- the snare parts need to be precise and exact!. The snare has a natural echo, and outside while marching, an echo from a snare can create mass confusion on the field!. If the part isn't played EXACTLY right, amongst ALL the snare players, the part becomes convoluded and sounds like nothing but constant noise!.!.!. kind of like trying to find a beat in a train wreck!.

The reason auditions are held is so that the best players can be put on the hardest and most important parts!. Usually, upper classmen with the experience get put on snare and quads, lower classmen with less experience on the cymbals and bass!. There are exceptions if you are really good!.

If you take lessons until next year's marching season rolls around, you MAY have a shot at snare, but likely not- just from lack of experience!. You will likely be put on a bass or cymbals!.!.!. but take the opportunity! It counts towards experience, so the next year you will have a GREAT shot at getting the part you want!. also, it requires work OUTSIDE of lessons!.!.!. not marathon practicing, but CONSISTANT practice, every day!.

Another thing I should mention, is that marching technique is different than concert technique!. There are specific ways to hold your sticks / mallets in marching band, as well as certain postures, upper and lower body movements, and "flashy" stuff that drumlines are so fond of!.!.!. make sure you ask your private teacher about this when you get into lessons!.

As far as reading the music!.!.!. drums are KIND OF like guitar music, but there is no note indication!. There is only ONE line on the staff!. There can be 1 or 2 lines of notation!.!.!. if there are 2 lines, the bottom is the left hand and the top is the right hand!. You may also see stems with weird slashes across them!.!.!. if there are 2 slashes, play 16ths for the duration of that note!. Here's an example of snare music:
http://www!.gottrypercussion!.com/lessons/!.!.!.

With cymbals (whether for marching or for drum set) there are no heads for the notes!.!.!. they are marked with "x" and a stem, with special symbols for what to do at the end of the cymbal hit (that's a mouth full! LOL)!.!.!.
http://www!.gottrypercussion!.com/lessons/!.!.!.

Now if you end up on a bass drum in marching band, your music will look almost exactly like guitar music- but you read it differently!. There are usually 4 bass drums, and each is a different size!. The music will have 4 notes (usually placed in the spaces for F, A, C, and E!. The lowest (biggest) bass drum plays any note that lands on the F space, the highest (smallest) bass drum plays any note that lands on the E space!.!.!. make sense!? So it LOOKS like a broken melody and chords, but each line denotes a different drum, and a different person!. This is the same for quads- but it is ONE person reading them all and assigning a different drum to each different line!.

Anyways, I've babbled enough!. Good luck, and have fun! :)

PS- here's a great site for learning all about drumline and drums in general!.!.!. there are great exercises and techniques, so just browse around the site!. also, be sure to click on the link for "drumline"!.
http://www!.gottrypercussion!.com/lessons/!.!.!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

well when u join a band they give you try outs just to see where you are!. my band will pretty much take anybody unless they really don't know how to play!. there are also tryouts through out the year called chair auditions which basically just see how good you are!.
in my band only the must expirenced and oldest (seniors) play snares!. new ppl play bass or symbols!.
if u trying ot join a high school band and don't know how to play now chances are they won't take u until next year after u've had some lessons!.

good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

To pick the best from the wanna be's!.The teacher has to have a certain amount of ability in every student or his teaching would be wasted!.Guitar is melody,Drums are rythem;two oppposing musical forces!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

m nt at all from this streamWww@QuestionHome@Com