snarepaint's, post is on point. The problem with posting something like this is that you're going to get some crazy numbers. As he said in his post, " score what you hear first, then adjust as needed to fit the ensemble."

but since you want an "average" than I'd suggest scoring for: 2/3 marimbas, 2/3 vibraphones, xylo, bells, chimes, and 4 Timpani for starters and adding more color like crotoles, hand drums, accessories, ec tetera. where you feel is nessecary. Have you went to www.rowloff.com, www.drop6.com , or www.tapspace.com ?? Since this is a marching ensemble project, I'd check out the scoring from some published ensemble works from those sites and go from there. Good luck.

Sounds pretty awesome,but how big is your band program?

Our set up is pretty similar to that of East Coast Jazz, like ECJ94 pointed out. This will be the biggest pit we have had at Memphis Sound since they were formed in '03 to accomodate the growing interest. It's also the first time we will go on tour owning most of our mallet instruments, as now the front ensemble is endorsed by Dynasty like the rest of the corps (horns, battery).

Anyway, judging by years past this year our set-up is looking to be something like this based on what the percussion arranger's music is calling for (so far):

4 Marimbas w/mounted suspended cymbals and toms

4 Vibes w/mounted suspended cymbals and toms

*Cymbals vary - some mallet instruments may also have small splash cymbals, china cymbals, etc. for sound/color as well as large floor toms instead of mounted.

1 Set of 4 Timpani

1-2 Glock(s), 1 Set of Crotales - to be played by various mallet players as the parts call for

2 Concert Basses

1-2 Sets of Conga(s)

2 Racks w/various cymbals, snare, toms, gong, hit-hat, break drum, hand drums, etc.

We will have 11 performers in pit this year, don't know if that part mattered or not.

Good luck with the composing/arranging! Let us know when you get the music up on a site, can't wait to hear it.

thats snugglebunny of keyboards. we had only 13 people in the pitt but less instruments (keyboard wise) so we had most on auxiliary

We had 12 players in the pit at UNL this season and had 3 low A marimibas, 3 vibes, xylo, bells and cymbal rack every show and added timp and aux as needed.

1 Marimba (4 octave)
2 xylo (3 octave) & (2 1/2 octave)
2 bells (2 1/2 octave) & (2 octave)
2 keyboards
2 timpani (not 2 sets, just two drums)
Drums Set
And lots of aux.

Our pit is 17 poeple now so we have.
3 4 1/2 octave Kelon Marimbas (no mounts)
2 4 octave Rosewoods(no mounts)
2 2 1/2 octave Xylo(one has a mount)
3 Vibes (no mounts)
I rack with 9 toms and cymbals
2 Basses
1 Snare
2 Gongs (one has a 2-foot hole in it)
1 congas
1 bongos
1 timbales
i drum set
and a whole crapload of accessories

all of these are over 2 years old now

The only time we ever had a pit was 2 years ago, lol.

We had vibes, xylo, drumset, and suspended cymbal.

One marimba
One xylophone
Cymbals
Timpani
Accessories

Our pit is really pretty sad.