my high school drumline seems to catch a major case of senior-itis.
by the time our drummers are seniors, they become 'pretty boys' and loose their chops
our center snare, who just graduated, was at his top form his sophmore year.
and he just sort of declined
the same thing happened to our bass gurus and one of our tenor players.
however the other tenor player seemed to stay amazing with little outside influences.
is there anything to be done to help the seniors stay motivated? this year is going to have almost the entire bass line in their senior year and we have won high basses at winterline championships for the past 2 years. im personally a little worried about, well, not winning it again!

if they want to win then they will practice. if they don't care about winning then they woln't. as a member of the line you must set the example and talk to your BD and instructor about your concerns. the last thing that you can have happen is for you to catch senioritis.

I saw the same thing in my school except it was in the entire band... then they wonder why they don't win

Precisely. If they care any at all, they won't give in, and will stay immune to the inevitable senioritis. If they want to have a great last year, then they going to have to care. My only suggestion is that when you or your other members are Seniors, don't do what the others did, and it will get better.

that happened last year at my school. it was a pain. our center snare got pissed one night, cussed out our instructor, and was kicked off the line. then he appologized, and was allowed to play again. but he was a douche bag the rest of the year

I am teaching at a local high school and there 4 seniors. From what I can tell, all of them have senioritis. It is nerve wrecking to have seniors that have so much potential and for them to throw it out their last year.

I think this happens to all drumlines. They think since its there last year why care about winning or drumming. Talk to the seniors and get them motivated by say things like it's your last year you should play the best you can and show everybody who you are what you can do

Senioritis?

Meh...the marching band season ends within the first half of the academic year. You don't graduate until May or June, heck, maybe earlier depending how your school system works. The point is, you aren't in marching band during the latter half of the senior year so senioritis shouldn't apply here...

In my opinion, its probably just them not caring and wanting more of a social life. Thats not senioritis (though, is definitely a symptom ), thats just a little bit of growing up after 3 years or so of being restricted socially to the rigors of the marching band schedule.

I tend to agree. Senoiritis at this time of the year=scapegoat for pure laziness.

my drumline is the opposite. the seniors want to do well but the underclassmen just dont care. does anyone have any suggestions?

like at my school, all the freshmen and sophomores practice when we get time, but the juniors and seniors go walk around and talk when get a break

That's pretty hilarious seeing how I'm probably going to have senioritis due to the fact of me sucking at classes over drumming =) haha.