Drum Majoring Flashcards
Standard Verbal Commands
Ah-Ten-Hut
For-Ward (pause) March
Right (pause) Face
Preparatory commands of turns, counter march, and concert formation
RightTurn (pause) March
LeftTurn (pause) March
MarkTime (pause) March
CounterMarch (pause) March
ConcertFormation (pause) March
Drum Major’s role on the battlefield
Leadership and tactics
Name the four parts of the mace
Ball, Staff, Chain, Ferrule (ball and chain on a staff)
Type of command used to execute a forward march with no established cadence or drum tap
Voice
Two count mace moves (things you might do while playing)
Parade Rest
Carry
Instruments Up
Cadence Mace
Forward March
Left and Right Turn
Countermarch
One count mace moves excluding Ready the Mace
Alternate Parade Rest
One count mace moves including Read the Mace
Mace Salute
Spin
Three count mace moves
Mark Time
Four count mace moves (has to do with starting and stopping music and movement)
Roll Off (2 and 3 silent)
Cease Play (winds only and full band)
Halt
Concert Formation
Mace Walk
Sixteen count mace move
Mace Walk (slow)
Mace moves without a Ready the Mace
Attention
Parade Rest
Alternate Attention
Alternate Parade Rest
Carry
Cadence Mace
Turn About
Gate Turn
Verbal-only commands
Fall in, Fall out, Rest, Dismissed
Four types of commands
Preparatory, Execution, Combined, Supplemental
Instrument positions
Carry, alternate carry, ready, prepare to play, rest
When does Instrument Up happen?
At attention or on the march in conjunction with an eight beat roll off or sixteen beat drum cadence
Two count instrument manuals
Alternate instrument up, alternate carry down, alternate carry up
Three count instrument manuals
Instruments up, instruments down
Commands to assume position of parade rest
Parade Rest, Rest, At Ease
Prescribed tempo for marching band
108-120 bpm
Marching step size
24-26 inches
Which section keeps toes on the deck during mark time?
Percussion
Which instruments can swing the right arm?
Piccolo and drumsticks
When is the left arm locked to the side?
Pivots, half step, mark time. Locked on the left step before and after executing instrument manual
When does counting steps begin?
On the first left following command or signal of execution, except right turn. RT begins on first left in new direction
What is the standard form for a ceremonial band on the march?
Block band
What is the distance between the guide file and Drum Major?
One pace more than the number of files in the formation
Where is the Drum Major when the Conductor is conducting?
Two paces to the right and on line with the first rank
Where is the Drum Major when the Conductor is conducting?
Two paces to the right and on line with the first rank
If there is not enough space for the Conductor’s normal position, where is the conductor?
Two paces to the rear and two paces to the right of the Drum Major
Which instruments are always in the front row?
Trombones
Describe percussion position
Near rear of band with bass drum on most outboard right file
Where are the sousaphones in a block parade band?
Last rank, if possible outboard files
Where are trumpets in a block parade band?
Near the rear of the band in front of percussion
Where are euphoniums and horns?
Fill in the gaps; if there is a gap in the front row, euphonium is preferential
Front rank movements in the countermarch
Three left steps forward, right flank, two chopped steps, right flank, full step
Who executes Protect while at Carry in countermarch?
Trombones, euphoniums, saxophones, trumpets, and horns one step before pivot. Horns begin on command of execution.
When does Protect change to Carry?
Third left in opposite direction
Who does Protect while at Prepare to Play in countermarch?
Trombones and horns. Trombones on first pivot and horns simultaneously.
When does Protect return to Prepare to Play on countermarch?
Trombones on first left in reverse direction, horns upon clearing last rank
How many paces the left flank takes when executing a left turn
One forward, left face, eight steps, then executes half step. All others in the flank march to the pivot point.
Conductor moves during a right turn
Halt on signal of execution, right face, steps forward with front rank and executes half step with front rank
Two formations the Drum Major conducts
Block band and concert formation
Mace position when conducting
Carry
Formations of right hand when Drum Major is conduction
Palm downward or palm of right hand facing left
Conducting area of Drum Major
Top of head to chest and left and right lateral limits of right arm
How does Drum Major conduct on the march?
Cadence Mace for tempo, dynamics, and articulations
Role of conductor in a band formation
Musical and military leadership
Conductor’s primary position on the march
Two paces to the front and on line with the first rank of the band, “gutter guard,” except when there is only one conductor and the reviewing stand is on the left
Positions when there are two conductors in a block formation
Senior ranking on right, other on left
Parade rest for conductors
Baton in right hand, left over right clasped approximately two inches below belt buckle
How many counts is the conductor’s salute?
Three: bring hands together and transfer baton, return hands to Attention, render salute
How many counts is conductor’s “order, arms”?
Three: bring salute down, transfer baton to right hand, hands back to Attention
Where are the conductor’s eyes when rendering a salute during a parade or pass in review?
Always to the front
Cues for dropping salute
Provided by Drum Major: slightly flex arm, create fist with right hand, turn head to front. Salute cut on next beat
Conductor moves when exchanging with Drum Major
Forward six paces, left face, proceed to Drum Major’s position
Drum Major moves when exchanging positions
Forward toward center of band past first rank, left face, continue to two paces past right flank, left face, align with front rank
