This years line at Cass has been great but I am having the problem with no devotion to the line. I have guys who are not putting 110%. They are not even putting 90%. They expect themselves to get better with no practice or any hardships. I have had two guys quit the line during the middle of marching season and I probably lose my best tenor player because of family issues. What should I do with a line that is falling apart. I try to explain that if they can't fully devoted to the line that they should not tryout but they seem to not be listening. How do I weed out the unfaithful? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Can you get minimum scores on auditions for them to be on the line? That might help establish a bottom line and lose some quitters who'll just give up when they can't sightread a piece.

By the way, it is completely impossible to give 110% that is more than the maximum. It is like expecting people to start school before birth or continue a suicide charge on one leg.

110% is a figure of speech. Sorry about that.

What exactly do you mean by "weed out the unfaithful?" Like, do you mean cut people that don't give it all they got? I have honestly never heard of that. In my high school line and in this college line, once the line is set you have to basically do something really really bad to get booted from the line. Only the BD would have the authority to do something like that. If you mean "how do I see who is faithful" just take a look at the people on the line, you will automatically see who really cares. As far as replacing/gaining more members, maybe you should look for other people besides just percussionists if at all possible. Find devoted people who want to make your line better and put them in the open spots. I hope this helps man. Good luck.

I have had the same problem with a snare player on my line this year at my high school. He never practices, walks off during practices and expects to march every show even though he continually misses practices. Here is my solution.
I would talk to the BD and see if maybe you can arrange a system where every week the entire line is seen one by one by the BD, and they give their opinion about that persons performance and dedication. If the director sees fit that the person is pulling their own weight, then maybe they can make the decision to pull that person from one competition or if it continues, then remove the person compltetely. That way no person feels singled out by another one person. It is the whole line united against one common problem.
I have done this at my high school, and it has proved very effective. No longer has this person missed practices, he has started to practice more and he seems genuinely more dedicated. Just try it and see if it works.

Good Luck!!!

I do not know what to tell you to help you motivate the people in your line but my mine is much the same way, though it's mainly due to lack of music education on my line. The best peice of advise I can give you is to remember that you are dealing with people and when dealing with people you can't always expect them to have the same standard as you. Encourage them to hold a high standard of course but you can't always expect as high of a standard as yours.

I know what you mean. one drummer always playes the wrong cadence and one who back talks way too much thinks he is better that me although it is his first year in band and can't roll or even play a staright sixtenth note.
I sujest you ride it out or do somthing like have weekly test.

I have been having the same problems with my band but the important thing for you to do is to stay focused and dont loose the determination but sooner or later they will understand dedication and they will mature.

00-01(4th bass
01-02(center snare)captain
02-03(center snare)captain
03-04(center snare)captain
04-05(u guessed it)^