Marching percussion

The drums are designed and tuned for maximum articulation and projection of sound, as marching activities are almost always outdoors or in large interior spaces.

[1][2] Marching bands, drum and bugle corps, and indoor percussion ensembles are some examples of groups that include a drumline.

In the 1940's 1950's, 60's and 70's, state and national drum & bugle corps championships were sponsored by two Veterans organizations, the American Legion and the VFW.

[7] When rehearsing or performing, the center snare may "tap off" the ensemble, setting the tempo with a solo rhythm.

The instrument's role is that of the soprano line, typically carrying the melody or the main rhythm of the ensemble.

Smaller sizes such as 13x9 have become increasingly popular in recent times with the proliferation of indoor drum lines.

For outdoor use, a projector or "scoop" - a piece of curved plastic - may be attached to the back of the bottom hoop to help project the sound forward to the audience.

For maximum volume and stick articulation, a head made of woven Kevlar fibers is used and usually tuned to very high tension.

Additionally, if more overtones and the softest head-feel are desired, the player may want to consider a heavy clear head with a center reinforcement dot.

This type of head is rarely used today among competitive drumlines, mostly owing to its lack of outdoor projection in comparison with Kevlar, but nonetheless, it may still be used if a unique timbre is desired.

[9] Single tenor drums, also known as flubs, are popular in HBCUs, pipe bands or as starting points for inexperienced drummers and are beaten using soft or hard mallets.

Either in the single or the multiple form, these tenors can be mounted on the chest, like bass drums, or horizontally, like traditional snares.

Modern marching bands and drum corps use multi-tenors, which consist of several single-headed tom-toms played by a single drummer.

Mallets with felt or fleece heads, drumsticks, drum brushes, and other implements are occasionally used to achieve different timbres.

The playing technique used for multi-tenors is somewhat different from that of a snare drum, and more like that of a timpani because the drumhead is struck closer to the edge instead of in the center.

Lines can vary in size from as few as 3 players in small high schools to as many as 9 in very large college marching bands.

The bass drums used by pipe bands have seen an increase in size and more of a focus on tone in recent times.

This allows for a melodic passage to be carried throughout the bass drumline, having runs of notes that flow up or down the drums and in pitch.

This allows for greater control over the cymbals and for the cymbalists to perform visual effects – movements such as twirls and flips that are eye-pleasing.

The tradition of marching the glockenspiel as part of the battery is common in many countries, such as in the Filipino drum and lyre corps.

The 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps even rigged up homemade racks to march tubular bells.

[18] In several countries, there exists a Turkish-derived tradition of carrying a Turkish crescent as part of the percussion section of bands or field music, by itself having Central Asian origins.

[19] It arrived in Europe as part of the trend of adopting Turkish musical forms in the 18th century, when Turkish musicians from various Ottoman military bands in the Ottoman Empire, majority of them Janissaries, were employed to form part of a growing number of military bands, introducing this instrument to the West together with the cymbals and bass drum.

[20][21][22] By the 19th century, it had been adopted as part of the percussion battery of military marching bands in a number of countries.

[24] By the 19th up to the early 20th century, Turkish crescents were used in processions honoring important dignitaries as part of the band percussion section or in front of the leading ranks.

This aspect survives today in the use of Turkish crescents as mostly symbolic objects in military marching bands.

Today, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Chile, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, among others, still preserve the use of the instrument, albeit in the ceremonial form, but not playable, as part of the percussion unit or at the head of the band and/or field music ensemble.

Snares and tenors can use this chart to establish guidelines for stick heights, but techniques and specifications may vary between lines and can be changed depending on what the music calls for.

To practice playing with accurate stick or mallet heights, it is advisable to set up a drum or pad in front of a mirror.

There were poles on the high and low ends of the keyboards sticking up a few inches, with straps going around the player's neck, making them look similar to a peanut vendor.