New Beats!

We have just completed uploading the first of the "Essential Skills" series of exercises.  These exercise packets will each focus on a variety of skill sets that should be mastered by every rudimental percussionist.  Essential Skills for Battery Percussion: Volume 1 can be found under the new Beats section of the site.  This is also the new home of the Transcription Library.

Please download and share Volume 1 with your friends and look for more material in the near future!

motivation and encouragement

Perfection is what this activity (drumline) boils down to. Every note, every step, every time. As staff we strive to minimize the opportunity in a show for things to go wrong, and as marching members we strive for consistent playing and marching to eliminate any errors during a performance. During the process of perfecting the show there is at least one point where we want to quit. As staff we need to know how to keep the members moving forward and motivated while making sure they know what needs to be worked on. In my time teaching I have run across a few factors which impact a student or members ability to stay motivated.

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Bad Habits - WATCH OUT!

Everyone has them. No one likes to talk about them. In fact, most people don't KNOW that they have as many.... bad habits.

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Building good practice habits

To maximize your individual progress it is important to go into each practice session with a goal beyond merely "choppin' out." By creating a basic structure to organize your practice time around you will be able to learn more in less time and improve faster than someone who hacks for a few hours a day.

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