Drumline help, please!?

Question

i just finished seventh grade, and in our school 8th graders are allowed to be in the high schools marching band. our band is pretty small so even if u do badly in auditions, the director took you. im in the drumline. we've had practice for a few weeks now. i guess im doing alright, but i could use SO MUCH help! for instance...im having some trouble on our exercises. diddles are a huge problem for me. we already did one parade (it was only after like a week of practice so it didnt matter at all) and my playing was alright (we taped the music to our drums) but i just cant march! i need all the tips and help you can give me! oh and i play snare by the way. please and thank you so much!!!! i am the youngest one so i have a lot of pressure on being good, it means a lot to me. please helpp! =)

Answer 1

Practice constantly! The more you practice, the better you get.

About the marching, you may become a "geek" but if you march all the time, it becomes second nature and then you don't have to think about it and can concentrate on the music.

Answer 2

the only way to get good at technical stuff (diddles/rolls/flams etc.) is practice! the best trick i have seen my students use is to hook up with better players to practice with. my drum captains all have had the habit of chopping out with the weaker players. i suggest you go right to your drum captain and ask for help. a good great captain knows that the line is only as good as the weakest player!

as for marching; again-practice practice practice!

the objective is to be able to march and play simultaneously & the only way this gets easy is when one becomes second nature. try marking time to every excercise/piece of music you have every time you practice.

don't be discouraged-keep working at it! anything that is a challenge is worth kicking your own butt until it gets better.

Answer 3

Go to your local music store and buy a practice book, pad and sticks for drums.  Use your own sticks, (I did)  Practice, practice, practice.  Paradiddles are fun once you learn the stroke.  LLRL RRLR LLRL RRLR......My percussion teacher made me get my roll down first before I started anything else.  Take private lessons.  I did.  8 yrs. private