The DUT DUT Poll

[skajerk]

For me it's not how often they dut. It's how LOUD they dut.

[louielouie]

w/Stp: w/Stp: w/Stp:

[cowtown]

Is there a difference between dutting and someone playing a woodblock to keep time for the section?

Why?

[drumcat]

Is there a difference between dutting and someone playing a woodblock to keep time for the section?

Why?

Two very clear distinctions. First, duts are introductory, not clanked out through the piece as you suggest. Second, blocks tend to have a very clear, distinct tone that tends to carry much further than the human voice at their normal, projected "mf" level.

If you wanted to say, could someone ever so lightly tap out a woodblock count in, I'd still bring you back to the frequency, and ability to "cut through" an ensemble sound. A human voice does not have the same characteristics.

[tubacurt]

they don't really bother me that much, but i do think they are used too liberally in the marching arts today.

in certain situations, were the drill/staging/ensemble demands require it, then sure, dut.

but if you need to dut before every entrance, then i think there is a problem with either the teaching or the students.

you should be sub-dividing in your head before an entrance anyway, so why is there a constant need for an audio cue? as someone said in either this thread or the other dut thread, the downbeat is the downbeat. even at 220.

as for comparing it with the woodblock, i think that's ridiculous as well, no one has perfect tempo control, turn the beat on and get it right.