Ok, so here's a "new" post.

Here's the situation, our drumline has no instructor and our bd doesn't write drum parts. So I am writing the drum parts for our show. At first I thought it would be fun and pretty easy, because i love writing drum cadences. Now i realize i have barely any idea how to go about it. My parts are ok, but i don't think that they're good enough to get a superior or win a best in class drumline award at competition. So any tips? I would post a link to some of the show to show you all where i am at, but i didn't write the entire show, I just wrote the drum parts, so i don't know how that would go down with my bd. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can throw my way.

CarrollDrummer

If you need inspiration when it comes to creating parts, watch some drum corps shows. See where the music is similar to your band's show, and then see how the drum parts line up. That should give you a basic guideline for how your parts should sound. As long as the drum parts go nicely with the music, you should be fine.

I would start by making a basic "framework" of what you want from the parts, without actually writing them (sort of like putting up the frame of a house before you put in all the walls, floors, plumbing, etc.) Once you have a guideline worked out, you can flesh out the parts, adding all the cool licks and flashy stuff. That will help keep you on track as a composer, and not lose sight of the music.

Obviously, keep the parts within your line's playing ability. As long as the writing is tasteful, all you have to do is rehearse plenty and get the parts sounding good.

Good luck! This is a really cool opportunity for you.

Ok, first off, your band director is making a big mistake by letting you write the book. Not saying that a HS student can't write for their own school, but if you've never written a show before, this is not the time to start. Honestly, you should talk to your BD and see if there is any budget to get someone that has written a show before to write the book.

If not, here is the biggest mistake you'll make when writing...you will grossly overwrite. Don't worry, everyone does it when they start out writing. You'll have your chances to show off during the show, but not during the whole show.

Don't write to win. Write to be musical. I hear HS books all the time loaded with notes and I just shake my head.

I find it helpful to "copy" parts of the horn score. You can use frameworks from the horn book to use as a basis for the bass parts (and sometimes tenor parts). Then you can branch from there.

Also, do not think you have to write the score in order. If something jumps out to you, write that section. Do not say, "I will get back to that later."

I understand about not posting the music, but how about giving us a set list so we have an idea of what you have gotten yourself into.

I'll give it up for this guy because he had enough sense to ask for help.

Those of us that have been writing for a while now definitely have the horror stories of boneheaded things we did that seemed like a good idea at the time.

Go with Bill on this and remember that less is more, especially at the HS level.

completely agree....but remember you can write with very detailed dynamics and get some awesome sounds without necessarily having the most difficult parts.

Perfect example of how playing with great sound and dynamics greatly improve a drumline is Star '93. Hannum definatley followed the philosophy of 'less is more', and he wrote (in my opinion) one of the greatest percussion books ever that year.

Thanks for all the advice. I completely agree with you drumcorpbc. We were going to get a college instructor to write it, but that plan fell through. I think it is too early to start writing the entire show. I know I can write it because I can write some really good drum music for cadences (not saying that writing for a drum cadence and for a show are the same, quite the contrary) anyway thanks for all the help and advice, keep it coming. please.

p.s what is a set list? (again there's some of my ignorance to writing shows) lol

Carroll, shoot me an email or PM when you can and lets talk more about this.

a set list is the same as a repetoire. A repetoire is the names of the songs that your school is going to play, thus the songs you are writing drum parts for.