This next year we're going to have a series of problems...

1.Too many drummers not enough equipment.

This mext year we have at least 6 drummers commin in, and theres only 2 spots open, and we don't want to tell them to shut up and go because we don't have enough spots. However we do have pit spots open, however, we have the equipment for it, but don't have the skill, and we have never had a pit before except for a guy a few years ago that played xylo was the closest thing.

2. Very low budget.

Our budget is very low, it gets even worse because the director only spends money on us every 3 or 4 years. And even when she does it always something small. Never any money for a percussion instructer, as much as we need it...

3.Unruley Students

Well, this is kinda a plus and a minus here. We can't keep a lot of the winds off of our stuff! Sometimes during pep ralleys the football players pick up our stuff, but usually the ones that do are ex drummers. We've came in on some days and their dings and even sometimes holes in the heads. Nobody has any respect for our stuff!!! Not to mention we have some drummers that don't even have any respect for their own drum. I mean, I'm not sayin they should sit there and not play the drum unless their practiceing or performing, the extra stuff is what keeps a lot of kids in band, but sometimes it just goes to far, and our director is to dumb to stop it.

4.No Skill

I hate sounding so selfish here, but I'm one of the only drummers that has any good playing quality. Not to mention we have 0 motivation and 0 self convidence. Theres a few somewhat eager learners, but it's so hard to tech them when you have everybody else screwin around.

5. "band is dumb"

Almost every Junior high band geek that is good enough for our standards now, and they have had the opportunity. But they don't think it's cool, or they call it and the director some other words I won't mention. Or another thing is that they hate the uniforms. Around here football takes precidency over about any other sport or activity, and we have one of the worst teams in our confrence, as much as I hate to say it. So we have about the smallest band around.

Thats the 5 I think I'm allowed to share, just wanted to get that off my chest, it feels good.

Happy New years all!

1.Too many drummers not enough equipment.
Well some people coming up are just going to have to deal with doing pit. It's not the end of the world. As for instruction well maybe you can teach them a thing or two.

2. Very low budget.
One word fundraisers. Fundraisers especially mandatory ones are the money makers. There is a fundraisers topic on this website so I will leave that up to you to search for ideas there.


3.Unruley Students
You do have band lockers right? If you do then you might as well put the instruments there. If you have a drum closet put them there. You just have to get the drums out of the people's way of touching it.

4.No Skill
That's where punishments come in place. You have to be a leader to them. The only thing that you guys should do in practice is review and learn new things. Tell them that there is no time for screwing around. If they do not cooperate punishment rules can come into place. Confidence builds on trust. Have them go and get together on weekends or during the week at a local bowling alley or park to just hang. Friends can give friends confidence. Show them that drumline is not just work but good times also.


5. "band is dumb"
Well football is a big sport almost in every high school in the country. Uniforms should not be a big deal. It's the clothes you wear for a contest. The judges are not going to care what you have on as long as is in uniform matters. The drumline is usually the hardest and most confident people in the band. If the drumline steps it up and does not complain about the stuff then other band members will follow the example. Maybe because your drumlien is fooling around or stuff gives the brass, woodwinds, and maybe guard and image that band is not a practice hard, play your best activity.
If you hve any more questions please feel free to PM me anytime.

1. this is a serious problem though, there is nobody that has ever played in pit, except for the one i mentioned, nobody can teach it, including our BD. The only real solution i can think of is bringing in an outside instructor, which cost money.

2.We have fundraisers, quite a few of them accually, and we have to music boosters and stuff. but none of the promised money ever seems to make its way to the drums.

3.No, we don't have lockers of any sort, except for the everday school lockers. Or is their any other place for storage at our high school. maybe there will be in our new school that we get in 2005 or so...

4. I like the suggestions in this one. But as me, its not exactly confirmed that i'm going to be section leader or anything next year. And our band does often go bowling, especially around the summer. The best thing i could think of for this type of gathering would be a local mom and pop's restraunt that gave discounts to the band.

am i on 5 now? the whole screwing around roots back to one girl, luckily she graduates next year though. So that will be a plus. again, i said this in another thread recently, they have no respect, and no self-confidence, maybe i should send them to our LANCE(a juvinile boots camp) program, jokingly that is.


thanks for the imput CHS!!!

Well you don't have to have fundraisers with the band boosters. The good fundraisers can happen with just the drumline. Gather everyone together and figure some good ones. Look back in other threads in here for ideas.


The guy who did pit, can't he teach the upcoming people. I mean he is experienced right? There one solution.

You can always ask your BD if there is an extra truck or place that you guys can put your drums.

yeah i dont think he ment have the whole band hang out just the drumline. the more you guys hang out the better friends you'll become. get em ahving fun with it. Go see a movie as a line. You dont always have to drum whenever your together. me and my line hang out all the time. As for fundraisers the drumline doestn see alot a lot of money becaue they are doing it for the band not just you guys thats why you guys should jsut find a way to make your own money. If equipment is a problemgoto the boosters about it or the school board and let it be known that you need instruments to fill the spots. Its not like you have to buy new drums all the time a few new drums this year wouldnt kill them. My school is poor as hell and they sprung for us to get some new instruments this year so i know it can happen. If your guys arent really happy with what they are doing they will act up and be stupid we used to have that problem until we gave tham all an ego boost. I know it may sound like a bad idea of giving them some ego but trust me it works. You still want the idea that that band is a band. But try to make it more like the band is the band and the drumline is the drumline. Get drumline shirts made up. tech them to have some pride in what they are doing. Learn a cool cadence and play it at football games. Give em a big ego boost and tell them that the drumline is the most important part of the band and therefore should be setting the example and be making the band come up to there level. Just dont be corny about it and it will work good. Get them to have pride in what they are doing and you'll have a better line. This also helps with the equipment if you get a better drumline going and school board people see this that you are putting alot a lot into what you are doing and enjoying it they tend to be more giving in the cash department. But if they see an unruly drumline playing badly at football games and such your gonna be sol becasue not alot a lot of people want to sponsor a drumline that is bad..

I'm very good at doing fundraisers as my dad is a pastor and I usually get involved with oraganizeing the fundraisers and events we throw. Also when i said a few of the band members go to the bowling alley and stuff, i was just sayin that because our line doesn't do anything, were not too active like that. Not to mention theres only 6 of us, and we don't get along at all. Dont take it wrong, I'm not trying to shut out your thoughts or anything, but these people are just so stuck-up sometimes. And I'm the cocky one, can't you tell? Another thing on the money issues, the music boosters spent around $6000 this year to redo a tuba and to put new covers on the drums, and they're not to wild about spending money on us, neither is the school board as we are getting a new school here soon and money is tight because they're buying a lot of the new things that we can use now, and also will be able to use in the new building. I know all of the school board and the principles and staff very well, even yet, I'm still not at the position to be asking for money, and I am almost positive our lazy director won't get off her butt to do it.

You guys can go out and get sponsors. The shirt idea is a great one. Ask restaurants and places around your town or city if they would sponsor the drumline.In the shirts you can put in a side or something this place sponsored us and people will see that when you wear it. It's kind of like advertising but a lot of businesses go for it. Make a few sponsor letters and mail them out just to random places like banks, factories, and companies. Email people from vic firth and pro mark and Innovative Percussion and see if you can pull something with them. MAke some sort of deal.ANything can happen if you get the right people. If you can find some businesses out there maybe the boosters and the school board would not have to worry about it.