Alright, So 4-5 games from now will be our homecoming game, I'm an excellent snare player but drumlines are definently not the "Thing" were I come from. Well our homecoming game is against a very band "Based" town and they have an excellent drumline, with a very excellent snare player named "Rod" lol... So what my real question is, is What can I do to show this guy up? The coolest new tricks, visuals, Anything to show these people that our school is not to be tampered with, Especially on our own field... So, any answers you guys? or girls?

I guess taking the high road and not getting into a pissing contest isn't cool anymore?

I've always been a fan of clean beats. Nothing more, nothing less. Anything else is just fluff.

Battles = overrated

Unless you like giving into peer pressure.

battles are totally awesome, but you should get the whole line involved

Battles are like corporal punishment (running, pushups, situps, etc) for musical mistakes. They serve no point whatsoever to the overall goal of a program and only serve to hurt.

Thank you Cadet. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that. In my neck of the woods, bands typically don't travel with the football. However, at band competitions, it's amazing how many groups watch and cheer for other groups as they are warming up or performing. There is a lot of comradery in this area and it's a good thing to see.

Heck, even a few of the instructors in the area will trade schools for a day and help each other out.

We don't have that camaraderie up here in Jersey as you do down there. Then again, we don't have many drum battles either.

Actually, up here, schools are lucky to have a quality instructor - let alone one who can handle multiple tasks such as I can (for example, able to competently help the brass sections in addition to percussion).


But, back on topic - the only real benefit to showing off like that is to stroke your ego. Do the Cadets go battle Cavies after a show? SCV versus Coats at intermission? Nope. If the best don't need to battle, why to the worst?

Mind you, worst being a comparative word in terms of skill level only. Not implying that anyone's line blows.