I think marching is a more demanding activity, it has more elements and challenges than playing kit. It requires perfection, it is an achievement every time you put on a drum and step on to a field, whether it is running segs with a met or performing for the masses at a competition. The experience can advance ones life in ways that many other activites cannot.

However, i must still vouch for kit playing. Being in a band and performing at shows is just as exhilarating as marching in a stadium, just in a different way. Drumset also has a much much much broader range of musicality, style and technique. Plus, there is no such thing as graduating or age-ing out.

Both are a massive part of my life, and I dont know what i'd do if i had to choose.

Drumset is cool and fun when you are good at it. There are so many things you can do with a drumset, so many styles and different combinations of things, possibilitys are endless. I think that turns drummers away. Lots fo drummers are lazy and don't want to take the challenge of learning something new. Drumset is a hard thing to master or even ujst get really good at. It takes a lot of expanding your mind, research, takes a lot of time. Once you are good at it, you can have so much fun. Lots of people think drumset is so boring and a waste of time, but if you actually put the time into it, you can get really good, and then its Loads of fun. And besides, if you aren't teaching somewhere and you majored in percussion or music, how many of you actually think you can get enough gigs to pay for food and whatever else you need by just playing a marching snare or tenors on your own. After you get too old to march, besides, marching costs money. You can make a living off of playing gigs and stuff with drumet, but how many gigs can you honestly get with just a marching snare... not very many people get paid enough money to support them selves on just that.

Basically the same thing others have said... I enjoy the competitive aspect of marching as well as the experience of being on a drumline. I like to perfect the music.

I didn't really do much kit until 8th grade-my band director 4th-8th grades didn't really emphasize it that much. I guess I just like the difference performance aspect; whether your band (marching or otherwise) is popular or not, lots of people see you at football games and will compliment you on a job well done, not just the people who show up to your band's concert/battle of the bands-type-thing (although that may be lots of people).

I also like the fact that I'm part of something; the sort-of individualized uniformity. It's not so uniform that one person doesn't matter, but it's still uniform enough that if one person misses a note or is out of step, the untrained ear/eye will not notice. Even though our marching band leans toward the worse side of mediocre, I'm happy in the fact that I'm part of something.

Also, it actually keeps moderately in shape during the season, and it opens up a world of social opportunities that might not exist otherwise. In marching band, I feel like I'm part of a family more than part of a team.

My choice has always resulted from a few things. Mainly, in my opinion, if you play kit instead of march, you're missing half of the performance aspect. I want to be fully involved in the show, not sit on a throne for 8 minutes. I also enjoy the ever increasing challenge of making a snare line. It keeps me on my toes and you get a increased feeling of esprit de corps.

Marching>Kit a simple math problem anyone can figure out. Just the sound of 15-20 people playing perfectly in unison just sends a chill down my spine. also the sound of a great marching band is just somthing unlike anything else. yea bands are cool and all but marching band is just somthing else. i cant even describe it. it is just awesome!!

and being a great drumset player will make you lots of money..and get you hot girls...etc etc...

Just Kidding! I love both I love playing snare but I also love the thrill of being on stage with my band

True dat brotha

marching is more fun and satisfying. Plus I'm not as good at set

i play on line (section leader/snare) because it helps teach how to work with other players, keep perfect time, and builds really really good chops. drumset is useless without those things. i love kit but i also love the marching aspect of percussion. its just more fun snugglebunny of the time; even those long, hot, grueling practices that drag on and we all hate yet still love