I see videos of people all of the time showing and saying that they are the coldest drum major because:
They can do a backbend or
They can dance better than majorettes
But what do you guys think is the characteristic of a truly successful drum major?
I will comment later.
Replies
To direct bands, warm them up.....authority as that of a band director....
They are not suppose to just lead the band in and dance.........COUGH.......
be a leader!
To be an extension of tbe band director.
basically
all that dancing an gyrating is optional....EXTREMELY optional O_o
Funkie Junkie said:
To stand there and Pose.. according to some bands...
ALOT of what drummajors do is determined by the Band director. Some Band directors only want them to shake their behinds and put on a show, some want them to only conduct, and some what them to do the whole 9 yards. I feel that a drummajor should be well rounded and be able to do a little (or alot) of everything ( conduct, dance, teach, run the band, etc)
Drum Majors are supposed to be authority figures period
Have characteristics of a band director. Have the ability to direct(correctly), know how to read scores...well music in general. Have the ability to go back to their primary instrument at ANY time not just concert season. BE A LEADER, NOT A FRIEND!!!!!!! The minute everyone is in that bandhall, friendship plays no role into being a leader. And with show style, yeah they could have the ability of dancing, i mean shit we are known for doing stuff that other bands do not do. the dancing adds taste to the shows and what not but if that is all these drum majors want to do....to hell with even having that position available. The MLK BOTB battle between a few certain bands and the video was focused mainly on those drum majors...i think thats all I have to say, not talking down to those respective band directors but come on. dancing should be almost a FINAL priority
Now I can only speak for the drum majors at JSU and with that said, the "J5" are an extension of the band staff. You are a "field commander" as Doc used to say. With this being said your duties include: warming up the band, conducting, polishing/cleaning up music, teaching marching fundamentals, teaching music, enforcing discipline, calling songs at football games, motivating/hyping up the band up, etc. You are also the eyes and ears of the band directors. The first ones in and the LAST ones out. Your job is to serve the band.
When we would be on the road and get to a restaraunt the band staff would go in first and eat while we used to "man the buses." It was dmjs job to keep everyone on the buses, slowly dismiss each bus so everyone could sit down, eat, and not flood the restaurant. I can remember doing that in the cold rain after some games. We were also the VERY last ones to eat (even after the freshmen)..and we would usually get MAYBE a good 10 mins before Doc hollered "back to the buses!!" smdh.
Most people see the "show" side of J5 and ASSume that is all we do, but we work on moves/the "Get Ready Routine" the ENTIRE summer. We work on that all the way up until bandcamp and once that starts, its strictly BAND. Band is priority..moves come secondary. Don't get the role of a drum major twisted because you see J5 getting funky. That's just the icing on the cake. (Game day)..but those other 5 days of the week...you slaving for the band. Now that's how we do it. Some of thes other schools dmjs might be dancers/negroes who do back bends but at Jackson State...WE DO IT ALL..and BEAST at it. That's probably why all these other schools hate us and tend to cry and say "that's all they do is dance"..not knowing we'll get in their band room and run a CLINIC on this band/drum major $hit. LOL.
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