So, I am ALRIGHT at tenors, this being my third year on marching quints, (I semi-marched quads as a freshman) and I am also a drum lieutenant (Where-as a have to solo). I can learn the our show music fast, and have little trouble with it. The problem is that during football games, our cadence line up involves one, possible two four bar sections where a solo would be inserted. And I always freeze up. I suppose I can hold my own for about two bars, then do some weird rhythm that throws me off time. So, is there any tips for making soloing easier?

I should also note that sometimes do a one drum solo when I'm lazy, and I can keep time and it be a fairly "okay" solo. I think the problem is I want to solo snare, but I want to march tenors.

just play something out on snare, make it sound good,
and then move around the drums when you put it on tenors.

When it comes to making something up "on the spot" it can be
pretty tough, especially when there is pressure.

So try to have a solo that you have pre-practiced just in case you freeze up, that way you don't mess up.

Or if you do mess up, dont show it...make it look like thats what its supposed to sound like...(unless you really mess it up =P)

and just have fun, no one is gonna kill you if you mess up a solo.

my fail safe is just play a duple roll sweep around the drums or some split hertas and youll be fine

If your playing for the crowd: Just do some simple double stroke Scrape/Sweeping pattern, the crowds like to look at it.

If your playing for yourself, Playing to play hard things: Make up a snare lick, its usually easier, get the snare lick, then break it across the drums.

Sweep patterns do rock..oh and so to hertas..I love them...snugglebunny of times you can still make up something thats not too hard but when people hear/see it their like "Oh My God, did you see/hear that?"

We do this as well and I often just either do hertas if I can't think of anything. Or I will come up with some sweeps and scrapes around the drums and finish of with syncopated spanks on the bottom drum.

Scrapes for show is a good standard, but if you really want to know what you're going to play, you're going to have to prepare it beforehand.