What are my chances of marching snare if...

[Relink]

I have never marched snare before? This is my last year in high school, and i have been in the marching band all 4 years, but played sax. Always wanted to play percussion but for various reasons have not been allowed to switch. I watched various DCI stuff on and off for a few years, but only just recently even considered the possibility of doing it myself. But, unfortunately, as it is drums and brass, i could not march sax (don't even think i would want to anymore anyway...)

So. Real question is this. If i dedicated a lot of time to learning to read snare music and practicing rudiments/exercises the corps use, would it be possible for me to play? Maybe not next year, but the year after.

And just to clarify, I'm not talking about going with the Blue Devils or something... probably one of the open class ones (if i can find one near enough to where i live that i could make it to auditions :)).

Any thoughts?

[Christian01]

I say give it a shot man!

[The Dreaming Tree]

You can't go wrong with auditioning. I learned more during my SCV auditions than I did all marching season in HS.

I highly recommend going for an Open Class corps. You'll learn much more that way. The World Class corps won't be as receiving to a newbie.

[Relink]

Yeah, that's what i figured. Was doing some research on some sites for corps near where i live (not many) and the open class ones seemed like they would be more for the educational purposes and less for the competitive.

I'm not even considering trying out this year, considering some of the auditions are in less than a month and i can't even read snare music yet. I think i will probably go to one of the auditions anyway just to see what it is like, with hopes of doing it next year.

[ChiaPet]

Just go in there and try your best man.

I know A LOT of people who are beast on the snare drum and could make any DIV 1 line they tried out for but they never had the courage to actually go out there and really try.


You won't loose anything man.

[vulcan]

Teal Sound is the only OC corps in GA that I can think of. But wherever you choose to go, if they offer you another spot you should deffinatley take it and learn everything you can that year then try again for snare the next year.
Also, dont feel like you have to go for the closest corps to you. I know I sure didn't lol and after starting you could find some people you could possibly carpool with anyways.

[Jazzycat1]

If you want to play the snare drum you do need to practice the rudiments, etc. but by all means take lessons from someone with a Rudimental Drumming background. If you can find a teacher with that type of background and make it clear that's what you want to learn above all other you will be better off. If you're just beginning you definitely want to start with proper technique, grip, etc. It's a lot better to learn correctly then to go back and break bad habits later. If you learn correctly and put loads of time into it you can do it. It's been done before. Go for it! Good luck! :cool:

[Relink]

I was looking at Teal Sound as a possible choice. There is also music city up in Nashville that is actually a bit closer to me, although the extra distance down to teal isn't that much more.

Other than those two, it would be probably a day+ drive to get to wherever it is that i needed to go. Maybe after establishing that i could do it, i could make a trip a bit farther out, but for now it would have to be a close(ish) one.

As for teachers. I have tried. There is no one in my area that does lessons, except for one guy who seems a bit "My way is right and everything else is wrong and if you are wrong you suck"... Don't really want to deal with that.

Anyone know any good websites/books i should check out?

And thanks for all the replies.

[DrumYoda]

Although it would not be my best suggestion, you might also check into your home state "All Age" group, "CorpVets". They may also know of someone that you have overlooked as a potential instructor.

[Jazzycat1]

Although it would not be my best suggestion, you might also check into your home state "All Age" group, "CorpVets". They may also know of someone that you have overlooked as a potential instructor.
Good call! You might even find an instructor from within their line!

[Relink]

I'll look into that, thanks.

Maybe im just not looking for the right thing, but other than DCI corps, the other ones are hard to find. DCA has a decent site but its still a bit of a pain.

[DrumYoda]

CorpsVets can be found here: http://www.corpsvets.org/

[Relink]

Thanks. Seriously might have to shoot them an email and see if i can do it.

[Mr. Hadouken]

Although it would not be my best suggestion, you might also check into your home state "All Age" group, "CorpVets". They may also know of someone that you have overlooked as a potential instructor.

whoa whoa whoa man you cannot forget about.... Alliance! All age as well! http://www.alliancedrumcorps.org/

[Mr Johnson]

I think it is pretty neat that Georgia has two solid DCA corps. Everyone talks that the Northeast is the DCA powerhouse, but the South and Midwest are really picking up steam and you can never count out the Renegades from WAY out West.

I remember going neck and neck with Alliance in '06 for the drum title with Chops Inc in Class A and it looks like Alliance will now be one of the corps that I'll have to beat in Open Class if we (Kilties) hope to make top 10 this year.

I'm already itching for first winter camp three weeks away... tick, tock, tick, tock - the new season is almost here!

Ryan J