Let's see, no need to sugarcoat anything, I personally am not a good player that can read music that well, especially snare music. That's one of the main reasons why I haven't been to a DCI try-out or anything like that. I usually learn how to play by ear an then I follow the actual sheet music. On top of that, I go to a public high school that isn't serious about marching band at all, considering that theres like 27 people with 9 being the drumline, but luckily this is my senior year and I want to march in college. Any tips on becoming a better reader instead of just learning the rudiments because that's what I'm trying to do?

Thanks

I would just read LOTS of music. Thats what i did and now im a lot better at it. Read music like youd read a book. Buy something like Just Desserts/Rudimental Cookbook and just read through solos (and try to play them while reading too of course).

Could I just order those books offline and are they decent books to read out of? I have a lot to do as far as reading the music in such a little amount time. Would jeff queen's "The Next Level" work too?

The Next Level is more on playing, and how to improve chops, i think. I cant say since i dont own it, but it looks like a great book. The books i mentioned are pretty common, your local music store should have them, but if not just google and youll find them.

And yea theyre great to read from, and they have lots of good solos and stuff to play. Id start out just trying to sightread and play one of the ridiculously easy solos (ala hot licks ). You should be able to just breeze through those at a decent tempo.

ok coo, thanks, i'll look them up

I had the same problem about two years ago. I just got as much sheet music as I could possibly find and read through it.

Is their anything in particular that you are having trouble with, like accents, flams, or check patterns, or is it just reading in general?

It's just reading in general. I know how to do the accents, flams, rolls, paradiddles(my favorite) an such. I just think by me becomg a better reader, I can also expand my drumming skills to a new level. Like, I can't tell when to do a roll in a 6/4 time signature or a basic 4/4 time.

yea, it would be in one measure

For sightreading stuff, buy different corps technique books, or if you search hard enough, you can find stuff on the internet. This will improve your sightreading skills, and thus prepare you for corps auditions.