Does anyone have any ideas for individual exercises for the cymbals,instead of just chopping out all day.Is there any written exercises or ones we can learn in a couple of days?Basically the situation is that we dont have anything to do while our cymbal tech is gone.

Stretch, exercise. That's what the plateline I'm in does.

We also have rather hard music, so we're usually working on splits. I wouldn't think your school does that since it's High School (I'm not trying to be mean, just assuming your school is just like every other high school with a plateline).

Umm . . . There are split and timing exercises. I don't have them anymore, though. Sorry.

ahh...its okay but we do have a split exercise but its a little to hard for the new coming cymbal players.We have been teaching them the basics Chokes,SlideChokes,Ripples,Flip-ups,AVA's Ect.

yeah, I mean all you can really do is just perfect technique and different parts of the show. I know just how hard it is to get everything perfect.

Just write up a simple split exercise. Start out in unison, move to split quarters, eigths, sixteens (tap-diddles), and sixtuplets (tap-sixes. Basically three taps in rapid succesion.).

You don't even need FINALE. Just grab some staff paper from your band director, or draw it out yourself.

Teach the new kids the fundamentals of splitting. It's easier once they can understand the concept and apply it to their feet. Subdivision and all that.

One major thing the cymbal line I'm with practiced a LOT on was excecution of every single thing. I'm not sure how your technique is, but we made sure to pop and muscle every single move we did in unison (unless the visuals were split up or in ripples).

Just random advice.

Yeah man thanks for all the advice i need all the help i can get right now.I think im going to have to go over marking time more and counts with them the most

My best advice is take a warmup the rest of the line does (8 on a hand, or whatever) and make up a chart that goes with it. The warm-up IMO should include various positions you play in (horizontal crash, verts, etc.) with choking, transition from horizontal to vertical, work on timing and uniformity.

One of the best things you can use for conditioning is just to hold the cymbals in various positions. Have your section circle up and have your section leader move from one position to the other while everyone else follows along. Hold each position for so long, and every day, hold them just a little bit longer. I've even heard of people listening to a CD or the radio while they condition, as it will help relax you more.

Before you begin, stretch! This is SO important! The more you feel sore, the more you should stretch! Stretch before and after you play, when you're taking a break, before you go to bed, when you wake up the next morning, etc. This will help you SO much. I guarantee it! Then, start your conditioning.

1. Start down at your set position.
2. Fully extend your arms so they form a T. Hold this "iron cross" position with the plates hanging loosely.
3. Move them so they're straight up in the air with the insides angled just slightly down.
4. Bring them down to an "A position" making sure that you are holding them out in front of your body. This one will work a lot of the muscles in your arms.
5. Go through the various playing positions making sure that everyone is looking uniform. Don't be afraid to be picky! Its the little things that will make or break your line!

Don't forget to stretch afterwards!

Hope this helps you warmup a little better. Make sure that you spend time alone as a section, but that you are also warming up with the rest of your battery.

Have fun, and good luck!

One thing to keep in mind. I am very much against the Iron Cross. I spoke with many doctors about this. Keeping a muscle in any position for more than 30 seconds is dangerous and can tear muscle. The best way to build up endurance is through anaerobic exercise.

Cymbalman-
I don't know what you're talking about with the Iron Crosses.
We usually go to each position for each 2-4 counts to get the blood flowing.
Our instructor does like to make us stay at vertical set for 2-3 minutes though.

Iron Cross: Do the Jesus pose. That's an Iron Cross.