So guys i need some help here.....i have been playing in my high schools drumline for 2 years....i played bass my Freshmen Year, Tenors My sophmore year, and this year im trying out for snare.....anyone got some useful tips or pointers you could throw my way????
I am told that my technique is ok.....and that i can sight read pretty well so.....idk.

THX Guys...

Learn your rhythms perfectly so sight reading's extra easy. Make sure you grip the stick right, most lines don't like any gap between the thumb and pointing finger in the right hand. Don't use your arm to move the stick, use your wrist. Have the right accent tap heights. You know, it's basically all the basics. When you have the basics down perfectly everything else will be nature.

Practicing the basics is boring though, so find some exercises you can loop forever and play to some music or watching TV. Every now and then check to make sure your heights, technique, grip and so on are all correct.

First of all I would recommend any one of these tools: DVD "Playing with Sticks" by Jeff Queen. The book "Rudimental Logic" by Bill Bachman.

Both of these guys along with many other great teachers, emphasize fundamentals. I would say from the beginning really understand the correct grips & the 2 main stick motions. The Rebound (flow) & Downstroke (freeze) is absolutely essential. I have been practicing many years & I still revisit these strokes every day.

The Big 4 Elements to Growing in Percussion

1. Chop building or Warm-ups (metronome)
2. Revisiting Rudiments (basic & hybrid)
3. Method Books & Sheet Music
4. Visual Studies (performances, dvd, etc..)

Make sure your left hand is up to par with your right hand, also make sure your diddles are strong, clean, and open. Work your basics even if they are boring and make sure you know all your rudiments.

Make sure you can lead with both hands (rudiments, grids,sheet music)equally(or at least almost). Really focus on basic strokes and solid fundamentals(it's not impressive to play complicated parts, yet be unable to transition/be uniform right to left hand on 8's) Also, be able to do double and triple beat using legato strokes so all strokes are uniform height.

1.Technique
2.Your left hand has to be as strong as your right.
3.Timing; work with a metronome a lot.
4.Make Tap and Accent heights very noticeable
5.Rudiments, diddle quality.
6.Be Consistent with everything you play or do.

Thx guys this has really helped snugglebunny, my schools drumline's telling me im improving......

Coolio...

accent to taps all day i can't stress it enough. controlling inner beats is key

Well the best advice for you is to play with a met, mirror, and a friend. I put that on all of my post. It took me a while to figure those things out. I am buy no means a great percussionist but definitely go in there with confidence. Probably one of the best things that I learned from this summer was to practice like you will in a performance. No matter what play like you would at DCI finals. This past year at Crown I wish that I would have done that more often during the summer. It would have helped me out a lot. Go in there with a great attitude. Show them you want to work hard and learn. That was my biggest flaw.