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pitboy06

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generally, being able to play very comfortably at 180 is crucial. many corps play runs that are as fast as sixteenth notes at 210, so of course, the faster you can play WITH GOOD TECHNIQUE the better. but honestly, the camps ive been to have required good technique, attitude and ability to catch on quick

good luck

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practice, practice, practice.

You also might want to hook up with someone that may have marched with them or another DIV 1 Pit player.

Kimela

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work your butt off and dont give up......

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I did not play in a dc pit but performed on general percussion in the off seasons, but I'd say it would take the right attitude and ability to take direction well, combined with good mastery of: various mallet techniques (e.g. musser grip etc), standard "set" pieces for marimba or xylophone, sight reading, tempo control, dynamic control, knowledge of various percussion instruments not just your favorite, and, a little rubato sprinkled onto your phrasings. Speed alone won't cut it but of course that can be a good demonstration of virtuosity, done right.

Also, practicing the wrong thing repeatedly (for example, playing really fast and rough with sloppy technique so you're hitting the nodes of the bars) won't get you anywhere, and in fact would be more damaging than not practicing at all. Maintain control and phrasing throughout what you practice, and be able to play passages both fast and slow, at various dynamic levels, with musicality.

It's a good start that you have the guts to ask. Let us know when you make it, and good luck!

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Howdy from the Spirit pit!

I would advise you to work on your 4 mallets as much as possible. Spirit uses standard techniques for each of the keyboard instruments; Stephens for woods and Burton for Vibes. 4 mallet technique is VITAL in making a division 1 drum corps pit. Also, as stated before, be able to maintain great quality while PLAYING YOUR ### OFF as fast as you can!! We had a nice little 216 bpm section in our show this past season that proved to be great fun! Anyways, read Methods of Movement....live it, learn it, love it!

Hope I've been of some help!

-Brandon Smith

(Spirit Front Ensemble '02 & '03)

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I'll agree with Brandon. A keyboard player needs to be strong in four mallet technique as well as ability to play sixteenth notes at top speeds. However, an accessory player needs to be strong in rudimentals and concert percussion playing. Some mallet experience is necessary, however not as much as a keyboard spot. A good book for a keyboard player is Simply Four by Gifford Howarth. Hope this helps a little bit.

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Well I'll give a lil feedback for you: First off you'd want to own and marry a metronome. Everytime you sight-read or practice it should be on at all times. Now with that out of the way here's some other tips: Learn you scales,especially Major, all permutations of minor scales, and appeggios. Get used to playing a keyboard instument , cause chances are you'll spend most of your college career behind bars (get it..it's a joke). You'll also want to spend time sight reading anything you can get your hands on. I'm going to list some material that'll help you get on your way and leave some room for others to help you out...

1.Modern School for Xylophone,Marimba, Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg

2.Portraits of Rhythm (snare drum) by Anthony Cirone. He has also written versions for timp, keybaord, and muli but the snare version is a must have.

3.Fresh Approach to Snare drum by Mark Wessel. Same with Anthony Cirone's book also available for timp and mallets.

4.Simply Four by Gifford Howarth...good beginning 4 mallet book.

5. Kinestics(spelling??) by Gordon Stout...it'll help you beable to not look at the keyboard so much

6. Any Whaley book. Very good for beginners

7.New Breed...good drumset book.

8.Method of Movement by Leigh Howard Stevens..once you master the Simply 4 book , thiswill be your 4 mallet bible

9. Jazz Mallets and/or the Vibes Real Book by Authur Lipner...good beinging Vibraphone books.

These are just some books many percussionist play out of/ still play out of. Once you get you hand on some of these you'll be takinga big step. Also check out www.pas.org and www.percussionspecialist.com. You can order most of the material mentioned on percussionspecialist.com or go to steve weiss. I hope that kinda helped.All this will help you with ANYTHING you do with percussion. I'll recommend a muli perc. book once I remember one, lol

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Los,

what great information to share, thanks!

Kimela

which reminds me....i need to practice

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