I played in my school’s concert band beginning in the sixth grade, and I continued all through middle and high school. Subsequently, I also played in various types of concert bands within that time as well including the symphonic wind ensemble, the philharmonic orchestra, and of course, was a member of the drumline during high school. The benefits of being in the school band are vast and dramatic to say the least. Not only do you learn the most basic rudiments that serve as the foundation to speed, technique, and variation, but you are also exposed to instruments, and types of playing and music, that you might not otherwise encounter.
Concert band is different from drumline, and therefor yields different benefits and develops different techniques. In the band you will learn how to read music, both notes and rhythms. This will prove to be helpful when you either want to learn a piece of music or set of drum tabs, or want to write down your own drumming beats or creations. Along with that, you will also learn how percussion fits in well with various types of melodies. For example, playing a faster song, like an African variant or something, requires the percussionists to play a certain way, which will differ from their part in a slower symphony. The beats and rhythms, even from concert band pieces, can prove beneficial to all types of drummers because it broadens your repertoire and adds to your bag of tricks. Even during your jam bands songs you could use that knowledge of a typical African beat, and transpose it to your set playing for a really unique sound.
Depending on your school, or music program, the importance of practicing is another important part of drumming that is instilled in all band members. Just like playing a sport, progress in drumming requires practice and hard work. Having a strong sense of this idea already set in your mind early on, will make dedicating time easier. Even just twenty or thirty minutes every other day will yield amazing results and progress if you know how to practice well. Knowledge of how to practice well, and what to practice well are also taught within a school band. The most important practicing tips that I learned and can share would be if it is easy and you’re good at it, than it is time to move on. Also, if you are having trouble with a certain piece, section, beat, technique, or rudiment, it is best to slow down. Start playing it at the slowest speed you can at a constant, and then slowly speed up. The absolute best advice I can give would be to always practice with a metronome. Even if you have mastered the beat, it is useless if you can’t perform it at a constant speed.
Drumline delivers another set of lessons and drumming values that differ from what concert band has to offer. Speed and consistency, I believe, are the most beneficial things I took away from being in the drumline. Again, depending on your specific band and the way they run things, being a member of the drumline, and marching band in general, requires a lot of work, time, practice, and dedication. I played cymbals my freshmen year, and then moved on to make the snare line and was section leader during my senior year. All four years, we held drumline practice three times a week for two and half hours. The first half of the day was spent on warm up exercises that were basically variants on different rudiments such as triplet rolls, didits, eight notes, flams, paradiddles, and so on. If you perfect these types of things, you can transcribe them to the different drums in your kit as well to add some flare to your playing.
Along with speed and consistency, marching band also introduces you to even more types of music. During my time in marching band we played a “horror” themed show which included Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the classic “Frankenstein”. Juxtaposed with those songs, my senior year we played all Beatles songs. Some of the beats and rhythms in those songs, I still find myself incorporating in my own drumming today.
My experiences in band were all beneficial. My high school had one of the best band teachers and music programs in general. I learned about instruments that would have otherwise gone unknown, mastered reading and writing music, and also learned the best ways to practice to obtain ultimate results and foster improvement. If you are wondering whether you should join the school band, or perhaps have children who are interested, than definitely do it, or at least give it a try. The benefits are numerous and the friends you will make last a lifetime.
