Advice For Marching Band Drum Majors: A Dozen Considerations
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Update (6/1/2007): Hey current and future drum majors, This article is being read dozens of time a day (by people just like you) and there is still no discussion on this article. Please leave us a line, tell us about you, your band -what you experience as a drum major, fears with tryouts etc. We would love to hear from you and have a conversation with you! Let’ start a conversation about this today! Again you can remain anonymous if you would like or provide a link to your band page in the website box at the end of this article! ~J. Pisano 
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Lately, MUSicTECHnology.net has been searched a lot for “drum major help” and “drum major advice”. I guess it’s that time of the year! In August of last year, I had a student submit an article about helpful drum major warm-ups and I published it. It was well done, very insightful and will provide another great reference for current drum majors or those seeking to be a drum major.
As a marching band director, conductor and adjudicator, I have specific ideas about what I look for when considering a drum major and what is expected of them throughout the year. I have composed a list of a dozen items that I feel are necessary attributes for a good drum major to have.
Each band director will have their own ideas about what constitutes a good candidate for a drum major or a good drum major. This list is not exhaustive but it does provide a good framework for thought.
There is one pre-requisite that all drum major candidates must have before any of the following is considered and that is a strong desire to actually be a drum major. Some people may have all the qualities listed in this article and more but if they don’t really have the desire to become a drum major then they should not consider it as a matter of practicality.
1. Drum majors must be masters of meter, rhythm and time:
A drum major that does not have a good sense of rhythm and an “internal clock” to keep and provide a tempo is not much use on the field.
2. Drum majors must be clear and concise in their conducting patterns:
A drum major that does not provide a clear ictus and an even takt is doing more harm than good to the ensemble. Clear, large, easily visible patterns are more useful than fancy and ornate ones.
3. Drum majors must be respected by their peers:
A drum major that does not have the respect of their peers will find themselves having a very difficult time being in the leadership role.
4. Drum majors must be respected by their directors:
A person that has not earned the trust and approval of their directors will find themselves not being a drum major in the first place.
5. Drum majors need to be disciplined:
If a drum major is undisciplined in their day to day routines and with their course work, they will not be disciplined on the field. In order to be an effective drum major, scores and routines need to be memorized, resolving field placement issues needs to be second nature and there are a host of other things that need to organized, deployed and implemented by the drum major. Unorganized people will find these tasks daunting if not impossible.
6. Drum majors must have a resilient personality:
Being a drum major is not for the meek. There will be times when you will feel pressure from both your peers and directors. Drum majors need to be able to channel all the feedback they get, both positive and negative, into the proper places and learn and grow from it.
7. Drum majors must have a commanding presence:
The drum major must execute their whistle commands and vocal commands with authority. They must direct with confidence. They must act the leader, play the leader and become the leader that the drum major role demands.
8. Drum majors must have the heart of a servant:
The drum major is not an all glory role nor should it be thought as such. In actuality, the drum major is a servant on multiple levels. They serve the ensemble, they serve the composers, they serve the directors, they serve their school or organization and most importantly they serve the musicians and drum majors of tomorrow by providing a model and blazing a path for them.
9. Drum majors are part of a team and they need to be be an integral member of the team:
The drum major is a key component in a larger community, the band itself. The best leaders are both leaders AND “team players”. The drum major doesn’t have to have all the answers; however, they need to know where to get them and more importantly: how to work through them when needed. The band is a group and every single person has their own important role.
10. Drum majors need to be in good physical shape:
Directing the ensemble from the field is exhausting. Drum majors are called upon to climb ladders, run up and down the field, wield the mace, direct while moving backwards and deal with a lot of other mental and physical challenges. A person who is not in shape may find themselves in a medical predicament that they do not want nor need to be in.
11. Drum majors need to be huge supporters of the band and inspirational:
There are few people that can inspire the band to get “pumped” like their own drum majors. Drum majors need to be able to inspire the band to be the best that they can be and after a hard day of performing or rehearsing, the drum major needs to not only reflect on what needs to be fixed but also what was done well. The band members require constant encouragement and feedback.
12. Drum majors need to realize they are human too.
Often times it seems the weight of the “world” is brought to the shoulders of the drum major. A drum major is not super human, nor are they expected to be. A good drum major is able to let down at times and enjoy what is happening around them. Mistakes will be made, learn from them. I was once told that perfection is the enemy of true excellence. Nothing will ever be “perfect” but we can make things better and we can be excellent! True perfection is unattainable and if you focus on every little thing that is going wrong you will never realize the amazing things your band has accomplished on their journey.
The drum major is not alone in these roles and the burden of theses responsibilities are carried by many. The directors, advisors, officers, section leaders, squad leaders, and the members themselves all share and are part of the “community”. To be an effective leader you must be able to see the “big picture” and realize that every single band member, audio/visual and band managers included, have large roles to play. All members are part of the “whole” and when the band is excited about being the band (Esprit de Corp) and everyone is functioning in their capacities -success will, no doubt, follow.
I would appreciate your comments or additional thoughts! Please drop us a line and/or leave a note of encouragement for all those reading this post by replying below!
[tags] marching band, drum major, music, advice, tips, help [/tags]
The Advice For Marching Band Drum Majors: A Dozen Considerations by MusTech.Net!, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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May 9th, 2007 at 1:18 am
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June 2nd, 2007 at 9:17 am
Thanks for the help! I’ve been using this site for the last few weeks while writing an application essay for the position of drum major in my band.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Anonymous,
Hey! Thanks for being the first to write! I wish you well with you essay. If you get (or anyone) get a chance, let us know what some of the reasons are for you wanting to be a drum major!
J. Pisano
June 5th, 2007 at 1:25 am
Joe,
It is great to hear your take on Drum Majors. I mm looking forward to my marching band next year because of the 3 young people who will serve our organization in that captacity.
In regards to points 1 & 2 - it does fall on the Director to outline expectations for their student conductors. Musically - what are they responsible for? How should they conduct? I have seen plenty of fancy student conductors in 12 years in front of a band that does not play with clarity. Clear and accurate downbeats must take priority over any clever tricks designed to garner points from judges. Drum Major and Field Commander positions are also great ways to develop students who aspire to a career in music education. The important part for the director is to develop ways in which they are involved with teaching music and drill, handling small administrative tasks, and serving the band in the best way possible.
Respect is a tough rung on the ladder for student leaders. I constantly tell mine to lead by example - not words. Be the first there, the last to leave. Know the drill for every squad or person. Speak from experience, and do not take anything personally. It is a student conductor with a disciplined mind, who cares only for the good of the organization and the quality of their performance that can best serve. Furthermore, they must have a quality about them that helps them rebound from any setback. There is an old adage I remind my student leaders - “No pressure, no diamonds.”
Our drum majors and field commanders - for lack of a better way to say it - must be the stud around which we build this band house. In them we should see everything that we want the rest of our band to aspire, and they should inspire every senior down to every member in their first year in the organization. The message that these leaders can send to younger members when they go about their duties in a professional, diligent, and timely manner is so powerful.
Director’s can not go it alone. Football coaches have the Quarterback, Basketball Coaches have the point guard, and Band Directors have Drum Majors. Drum Majors are not part of the show. They help the show succeed. Drum Majors are not more important than other band members, they have been saddled with more responsibility. So to all you future drum majors, quit conducting in the mirror all the time and learn how to serve your band too!
T. Weller
June 19th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Joe
I came across your website while doing a search on identifying leadership models. Congratulations on compiling a wonderful list of “must-have” DM qualities. Thank you for including the need for a “heart of a servant”. You made my day!
I no longer teach high school, so I don’t have the opportunity to watch the wonderful things that happen from the start of summer band camp until the end of a competitive season. I miss it a great deal. Good luck to everyone who is gearing up for the 2007-08 season. Joe, keep up the great work!
June 20th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Anne,
Thanks for your kind words! Please feel free to stop “by” anytime!
J. Pisano
October 15th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Joe,
I was drum major my senior year of high school and another great idea is sending your drum majors to a camp specifically for drum majors. I attended George Parks Drum Major Academy and found the information I learned there so important not only for being DM but for teaching in general. Sending your DM’s to camp also gives them time to really solidify their styles, teaching techniques, and relationships so that come band camp time you have DM’s who are on the same page and with the same goals.
Pont 4 (respect of the directors) is, I feel, one of the most important as well. Too often I have seen directors publicly criticizing their drum majors. When band members see that the respect is diminished and the drum major has lost a bit of their authority. If corrections need to be made pull them aside and yell and scream and criticize as needed, but never do this in front of the band.
Once again, thanks for this post, it should be helpful to many directors and drum major hopefuls!
May 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I want to try out for the drum major for my high school and there are also three other people. But the thing is that last year they tryed out just to learn how to conduct and I have been searching everywhere to figure out how to conduct without a baton but everything is with a baton or something stupid. And try outs are in two weeks and i was hoping that you would tell me how to conduct and what is the best way that i could win over three people who already know a lot more than me.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I admire you wanting to become a drum major, but think you may be going about it the wrong way. You hit on some really important items in your email… It’s hard to win over somebody that knows more about you anything because they’ve taken the time to learn the subject… This is something that you need to do… I teach conducting at a College and I can tell you it’s not something that you can learn or do well in three weeks. There are so many things involved.
Baton conducting is almost universal among wind based instrumental groups… it’s rare to see the baton not used in anything but marching bands. That being said they same basic principles apply to conducting regardless regardless of whether or not you use the baton as a techincal instrument.
My advice would be to approach your directors or assistant directors and let them know you are interested in trying-out and seek their advice and help.
I am not aware of any internet sites that can help you with marching band conducting techniques. Maybe one of the readers can point you to a site that I don’t know.
Best wishes!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I am going to be a drum major as a senior next year and I want(High School) and I want to know how I came break down the fundamentals to the upcoming freshmen without being too harsh.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Hey,
just wanted to say thanks I’m not going to be a drum major but I am going to be a section leader and I needed to get some ideas to put in the essay I have to write on why I think I should be section leader
this site helped a lot!
thanks again
HGB
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi guys,
I’ve been away for a few days here, I’m going to get back into things tomorrow. Gene…stay tuned.
HGB… Congrats!