Okay, here is the situation. I play snare for my drumline, and I probably will until I graduate.(Im a sophomore) Next year there is a really good chance that I will become Section Leader. Since there are no juniors in the line, who ever is section leader will be for two years. Our band director is partial to the tradition of the section leader being a snare drummer.(him being a drummer himself) But I have become really partial to tenors lately. and i think that I would really like to play them. But the whole section leader deal is sort of getting in the way of that. I will probably play snare next year, but i would like to play tenors my senior year. of course, this is my opinion now but by next year who knows. what should i do?

Our section leader is a tenor, and does a good job. He showed the most leadership, so I picked him. The snares have a center player who keeps taps and kicks off exercises. The section leader is responsible for much more than playing, so it shouldn't matter what instrument they play as long as they are good musicians and can lead the group.

im in he same situation so try this.next year play snare senior year you freak the tenors.get a scholar ship and bam you got it made

I also play tenors, and I am the sectionleader of our line.. You should probably talk to your director and tell him how you feel, maybe he'll understand. If you want to play tenors so much, why dont you consider not worrying about section leader and try it?

Garrett, long time no see on here.
I'm not sure how Eitmann will take that, (I love tenors too) but you can try. And if he doesn't like it, play tenors next year, let Damian be captain, and then take back over senior year. (You may have to get Damian to aggree to let you take over for the last year.) Do you want me to talk to him?

Its always been my opinion that section leader and center snare are two separate things. Your section leader is your best leader - schedules rehearsals, makes sure everyone knows their parts, announces important things, has the answers to any question and is an overall, quality leader.

Now center snare is flat out your best snare drummer at keeping a tempo during warm-ups, show music etc. He must also have a consistant stick height and have precison marching so everyone can dress to him. Unfortunatly, my school (director, actually) does not see it this way and the two positions go hand in hand. Our section leader is a good guy, very smart, knows his music and drill and is great with organization. However, at playing snare, he tends to get on the wrong foot, lose tempo and flail, leaving the other snares baffeled. He's a great leader, but his technique and other stuff needs some improving. Also, he's kind of a stickler when it comes to "modifying" easy parts to make them more interesting.

The point is, the section leader could be your worst cymbal player, or your center snare. But I just don't see the two as having a direct relationship. So go play what you want and see what happens.

My director is just the same. He wanted the section leader to play snare, since you can boss people around a snare?????? This year guess what, our section leader plays tenor. Our drum instructor told our director, that he would better the drumline on tenor than on snare. If he didn't go, then we would of had 4 snares and 1 tenor. Our section leader just started playing the tenors one day, and he never quit. Our drum instructor just told him to move there, and he never told him to leave. Just try to start playing them, and never put them down, that is what our guy did. lol

In the drumline I play in, we actually dont have a Center Snare.. I act as the center snare, and I am the section leader....

702,
i was in the same situation as last year man. i had to choose and this kid (who i dont particularly care for) wanted the open tenor spot even tho i did.i let him have it even tho i wanted it SO BAD and i took section leader on the snare. now i love my snare drum and would never lead it. i am a junior. the kid who beat me to quads doesnt know most of his parts and complains a lot about his "back hurting."

stay snare!

It doesn't matter what you play, section leader should be based on leadership and responsibility, not what you play. The Admiral ( inside joke ) for the line I teach now is a cymbal player. So don't let wat you want to play throw you.