well like you I was involved in a ton of sports...
and then I started playing percussion. I, however, didn't start 'drumming' until about 6th grade. I spent the majority of my 10 years as a percussionist playing mallets. And I just never really got into playing set. I dont know why. It just doesn't appeal to me. Or rather playing it doesn't...I enjoy writing drumset parts and hearing good set players. But I just don't like playing it myself...

a lil off topic but timing is never "perfect"......if it was it would be robotic(input from my bd when i asked about my timing) but i think i love marching percussion more than anything else, my BD wants me to learn set for jazz band and I am willing to do it, but i am the kind of person that gets annoyed if I don't see progress being made.I don't think i can make a great set player

There is just a dynamic you have in drumline that is like nothing else. I think I probably enjoy teaching it just as much as being in it. I guess because you get to stand in front that wall of sound. Nothing like hearing that first 8 on each hand at the first of each season. Really gets ya going.

I still love set but thats a different animal. Style, sound, & technique wise,.. it's so different to me. But hearing a drummer that can play with precision with a band is cool too. They both have thier strong points.

I personally like both equally.

One of the high points of a drum set is that there is an infinite more amount of creativity and variety involved in it. There are more drums/cymbals/whatever else you can think of to hit on to be played. You can play the same pattern that anyone would be able to play on snare and move it across a plethra of drums. If it is doable to be played with one hand you could add a complete other rythm with your other hand and you could do this with your feet also.

i personally like marching better because it never gets boring. its something i can sit down by myself without the music and do all day long. however a kit im just not satisfied unless im playing with music whether it be havin a guitar player there with me or to a CD w/e. also marching is more competitive, the sound of the line is just plain awesome, and marching is my life so i mean..

and the funny thing is..i was interested in a drum set before i was ever even interested in band period. and now its kidna backwards as far as most of my drumming is focused on marching band.

I just enjoyed the sound of the line more than i did the sound of a kit. I thought it sounded more crisp and clean

I like both a lot, but marching more. Just hearing a clean snareline play a sweet lick is awesome. Playing is even better!

I like both equally probably

i mean, a line is fun cause its a group, its loud, has a sweet sound to it, and once you hit a certain lick or play a show you just feel amazing

but on kit, i can do a lot more than what I personally can do on one drum...and i love playing rock shows haha, there just lots of fun

I kind of find drumset boring. Something about having to learn parts and play them in time is just more appealing to me than improvising on set.

Well just like most people who've responded, I've always enjoyed playing set. To me it's a fun way to relax and let out some aggression. I actually started out wanting to learn how to play a drum set but I figured I should learn how to play one drum before I tried playing a bunch and adding my feet into the mix. I couldn't afford private lessons either so I signed up for band class in 6th grade.

Once i started learning about marching percussion it just appealed to my analytical side a lot more. It was not only a challenge to my hands but my head as well (not that playing a set doesn't have it's own challenges). Plus I really enjoy the friendships I've made in marching; that's one thing you just can't get behind a set. Yes you can and probably will become good friends with the musicians you play with but you don't have that one thing in common: a love for drumming.